Dallas Willard - The New Testament Theology of the Church

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The Spiritual Formation Forum and Renovaré sponsored a national conference in 2005 which worked through the theme of life with God in the various sections of the Bible. In this breakout session Dallas taught on the nature of the church.
Find all of Dallas's Renovaré videos in our KZbin playlist or on conversatio.org
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[@warrenchristianvision2314]

This is one of the greatest sermons i’ve ever heard

[@michaelbrickley2443]

Dr. Willard is a deep thinker and his wisdom and insights always lead me into new territory. A more Christlike man may have been Paul or Peter but no one tops him, in my opinion, that I have heard. Shalom

[@arielroa19]

A word in season to sustain the weary... so timely! Thanks for posting @Conversatio Divina

[@dedrejvr9069]

thanks fro sharing

[@b.terenceharwick3222]

A thinking person's "sermon" held in converation with real people.

[@pkpapers]

It's sacrilege. It violates industry standards of Consumer Christianity.

[@arielroa19]

The only thing that's a bit distracting is that shaky pulpit😆 but Prof Willard didn't even mind it at all! 😀

[@kevinerose]

I've noticed that not only does Jesus not tell us to go to church but it would also seem that going to church is the worst thing for a Christian to do. I know we all love going to church but just think for a moment about all the evils associated with going to church. [Note that the real church are the people or body of Christ.] 1. It takes us out of the world and segregates us from the world. We are to be Separate from the world not Segregated. 2. It creates a select group of people and calls them Pastors. And society is taught that only "Pastors" can or should speak about spiritual matters. Making them the "experts" such that our friends and family in our circle of influence will not listen to the gospel message from us. 3. A building is created for church to hide the Believers from the world effectively putting a bushel over the flame. In the OT, they were to burn down all religious gathering places. They were called "Groves" in the OT or "High Places". A place where the people met in secret to practice their strange behaviors. 4. In a church, the Believers are taught to only listen to the leader, "Pastor". The "Pastor" is taught to obey the "seminary". Causing us to be not "Bible Only" but "seminary" only or "pastor" only Believers. 5. The church began gathering into a "Grove" setting and was created by Rome after 312AD using Pagan structures and promoting Pagan priests to Christian status. 6. Rome took over the church and made everyone Christians and stifled the spread of the gospel from that time forward. 7. Even from the Reformation, they did not rediscover the faith. Only they got rid of things they didn't like from the Catholics. And every denomination since then was only to spread the "Grove" and get rid of things they didn't like. They never rediscovered the faith in all this time. 8. Notice that when we meet at church, we do not fellowship. We only gather together without fellowship. It has become a site of anti-fellowship. We are only gathering at the "Grove". In summary, the church inhibits the spread of the gospel to others and forms a cult-like "Grove" where man's doctrines are taught above that of the scripture.

[@kevinerose]

If we want to reach the world, we need to get out of the church building.

[@saraj2]

I completely agree. I couldn't have summarized it better myself.

[@beebold4379]

I am so glad I found this comment - Jesus has pulled me away from the church- I am now reading apprenticeship with Jesus - 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🙏🙏

[@kevinerose]

@@beebold4379 Amen! Yes, and we do need the fellowship of other Believers so I would like to eventually see a network of Small Groups or Home Churches as a congregation. Several of these working together could possibly rent a small meeting place and use individually or collectively. With no pastors but Elders and one Elder from each Small Group. And a Bishop or more to maintain the organization and settle any disputes internally. A larger network would be helpful to handle complex issues such as grief and marriage counseling as well as provide resources and instruction support to the congregation or individual Small Groups.

[@kevinerose]

I like Small Groups too as results in discipleship of the Family. Church has failed us in this regard. We can see with our own eyes that generation after generation are falling away from the Lord. Church fails to properly disciple or teach our children in the faith. But still parents have come to rely upon the church to be the primary source for their children's faith formation. This needs to change. And it can change with Small Groups and Home Church development. With the Home Church, the entire family will be affected and naturally draw closer to God.