Four words that will help you know if your church is pleasing to God

[@erikamonihen8873]

My jaw is literally hanging open from the iron man Jesus! Blasphemy. How did nobody in that church rebuke that behavior! Oh my.

[@mattmax11]

Because then they would be shunned.

[@erikamonihen8873]

That would not be a punishment in my book. I could never, ever, EVER attend something so against our Savior. I am so sad for the deceived Christians. That road is looking more and more narrow these days when you look at these churches.

[@jeffd1986]

Same here, also 7:50, what is that, The Gospel according to the Wizard of Oz? Crazy stuff happening in churches these days.

[@Lerian_V]

@@erikamonihen8873 You need authority to be able to rebuke. A layperson has no such authority.

[@rubiesofgold7698]

I had to watch it 3 times before I could even process what it was. Just horrible.

[@TheJeanette53]

The first church I ever went to wasn’t a church. It was a revival/gospel meeting held in an old Masonic hall (of all places!) where I received salvation. They had a leaflet entitled “Why we worship the way we do” - all practices taken from scripture. That was 40 years ago. Their music was simple, but full of scripture. I don’t remember much from the sermons but I still find the songs popping back in my own private prayers and worship. I don’t go to churches much now. But I will be forever grateful for that “Church” that met in rented halls and preached and practised the truth of scripture. I can’t stand the modern music, it’s like torture to me to sit through a meeting that’s so loud and looks more like a night club than a church. I’m glad I got saved back then. I probably wouldn’t if it was today. God’s timing was perfect.

[@nathanieljordan6144]

Great video Todd. Church is to be done God's way not to please us.

[@TheDivineCallingofJesusChrist]

Jesus Christ is the True Church not some building! They preach a false doctrine which is irresistible Grace and they contradict free-will. They are vipers, and false prophets. Get out of the organized church's they do not worship Jesus nor do they practice what they Preach. The Bible will not save you, organized Church will not save you, preachers will not save you, only Jesus Christ can save you

[@KM-zn3lx]

But it's not. I left RCC and all these Protestant churches are so divided. Sometimes I wished I hadn't left. We can't do anything about how church is done. No Pastor listens. Everything is casual!

[@nathanieljordan6144]

@@KM-zn3lx Not all pastors are the same. I pray you can find one that leads his church in a Godly way

[@BingoNamo-gb8pz]

⁠@@nathanieljordan6144 How can you do church God’s way if you don’t believe in any of the gifts of the Spirit? Todd doesn’t believe in the gift of healing, the gift of prophecy, the gift of teaching, the gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom, the gift of discernment, the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation, the gift of working miracles. He is a cessationalist. 1 Corinthians 12 is quite literally HOW TO DO CHURCH. To get rid of the gifts of the Spirit is to get rid of DOING church.

[@nathanieljordan6144]

@@BingoNamo-gb8pzJust because I agree with what he has said in the video doesn't mean I agree with everything he believes. Todd never said anything that would effect a continuationist christian. Its like if I have to be ok with gay marriage because muslims are against it

[@cleaningupforfive]

Thank you Todd. I am more and more heart sick and fearful for what passes as "church" these days. I live in the middle of nowhere in the Northeast of our once God fearing nation. The arrogance and shear lack of these principles guiding my area churches is horrifying. Pray for us. My family has no church fellowship to gather with and it's heartbreaking. We thought we found a fellowship but the people there were just awful. Pray for true Christian pastors/leaders to come here. We are the Frozen Chosen up here drowning in a sea of "liberal churches". We are starving for fellowship. Thank God for the internet and online sermons. At the least, we have that.

[@angelt.5276]

I know the feeling, friend. My wife and I went about five months after moving to a new city without becoming members at a local church before moving to my home state. In my opinion, really pray about this situation because maybe you're where you're at to help plant a biblical church OR perhaps leave and settle down elsewhere. I don't know, however, God does! Either way, keep fighting the good fight (2 Tim. 4:7)!

[@wayned803]

I love how modern American Evangelicals take it as a given that their brand of Christianity looks like it should, and that neckties and pulpits are the norm for pastors, whereas the collars, vestments, and altars that characterize ~90% of worldwide Christianity are some kind of strange sacerdotal cultish anomaly. I love that they would justify this with verses like "narrow is the way", and who cares what man thinks and what vain traditions man has invented, and what clearly matters is the clear will of God as revealed in Scripture. I love how the modern creative approaches to worship carried out by other Evangelicals with the exact same philosophy are so distasteful to more traditional Evangelicals like Friel. I love how the traditional Evangelicals will accuse the more innovative ones of rejecting the plain and clear authority of Scripture, and vice versa. I love how both camps would flat out deny being Anabaptists. I love how their patron saints, Reformers like Calvin and Luther would mockingly have them drowned for rejecting infant baptism. I love that none of this harshness matters to any of them, because, after all, we are all justified by faith alone apart from works, and that at the end of the day they will all shake hands and smile. I love that these smiles will hide suspicions that the others are volutionally bound to Satan because their fruits imply lack of faith. I love that after they go their separate ways, agreeing to disagree after those handshakes, they think to themselves "they went out from us because they were not of us". Indeed, what's NOT to love about modern American Evangelicalism??

[@cleaningupforfive]

@@angelt.5276 Definitely not called to plant a church sadly. My husband is a covert narcissist; we have enough of those in our pulpits 😉 I appreciate your comment though, truly. God knows where we are all at and can bring beauty from ashes. He can spring up believing churches too! 😀

[@davidhorsley1149]

No offense intended, and no disrespect to Lynyrd Skynyrd, but if I show up to Church and they start playing, "Freebird", I'll be looking for a new Church shortly after!

[@OneMan-wl1wj]

Gonna have to agree. Even as a real Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, if I walked in and heard "freebird" I'd have to chuckle, turn around, and head out.😆

[@lisawest1556]

I agree but I loved your comment and it made me 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@pmcmva]

Todd, our reformed church is six months in to a transition to a new leader replacing a beloved 28-year Biblical pastor. Much prayer involved. For over a year. And the Lord delivered. Our new shepherd came in to a biblically sound community (pregnant for our "next phase") with an intact, biblically sound liturgy (your outline is apt), and he has served us beautifully thus far. He exemplifies the traits you talk about here, by His grace. So thankful. I'm sharing this video, hoping that our community can be a blessing to more and more. Thank you.

[@TheDivineCallingofJesusChrist]

Stay away from organized Church! And reformists! Jesus Christ is the True Church not some building! They preach a false doctrine which is irresistible Grace and they contradict free-will. They are vipers, and false prophets. Get out of the organized church's they do not worship Jesus nor do they practice what they Preach. The Bible will not save you, organized Church will not save you, preachers will not save you, only Jesus Christ can save you

[@justinchamberlain3443]

How about witnessing instead of just riding a pew

[@urbanfarmer29]

​@@justinchamberlain3443how about witnessesing instead of criticizing?

[@5warpotentials258]

Ew reformed theology gross

[@thegoatofyoutube1787]

@@fredthe47thLiturgical worship is all throughout the scripture and it is what the first Christians practiced.

[@lesyaklein9788]

my favorite pastor that does a great job of convicting me is the late David Wilkerson. amazing man of God❤

[@eilissmith8591]

Our little church has produced many faithful servants who have dedicated their lives to the Lord. We are Irish Methodists who put scripture at the heart of preaching. I kid you not when I say the Lord is with us. Amen.

[@ArbiterDan]

God bless all of you. Greeting from evangelical brothers and sisters from Romania.

[@jairmoreno9807]

God bless Todd

[@georgesoncrant4648]

That was a very great video, Todd, and something that is just taking the real religious life out of peoples church. We go to a small church that is pretty much meeting all of the criteria you suggested. We have a worship group I sing along with the songs, even repeating the verses 7 to 8 times. I only wish they would sing one of the old classic hams just once a Sunday or even once every other Sunday. Young people are missing out on beautiful music, but also happens to be theologically, correct, generally much more than the stuff that passes for worship music today. Oh well, enough of me complaining. Thanks, Todd.

[@markthomas36]

Hey Todd, an excellent video mate. You’re spot on, it’s how God wants us to “do” church that is the beginning and the end.

[@BingoNamo-gb8pz]

⁠​⁠How can you do church God’s way if you don’t believe in any of the gifts of the Spirit? Todd doesn’t believe in the gift of healing, the gift of prophecy, the gift of teaching, the gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom, the gift of discernment, the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation, the gift of working miracles. He is a cessationalist. 1 Corinthians 12 is quite literally HOW TO DO CHURCH. To get rid of the gifts of the Spirit is to get rid of DOING church.

[@markthomas36]

@@BingoNamo-gb8pz I agree with you regarding the gifts of the spirit. They do exist but the problem is humans saying or thinking that they have a gift in order to get attention, when in fact they don’t have any discernible gift. Unless there is a tight control to ensure it’s known who has what gift then it all becomes a free for all and a sick joke.

[@waterbaby_princess]

Thank you Mr. Friel for the definition between preaching and teaching. I've had issues with that previously getting a real understandable difference. As a Christian woman who is new to this, I don't want to overstep my bounds when I teach my kids or mentor younger women.

[@annasoH323]

Zip code was an unexpectedly important one but also rightly ordered. It's a helpful way to capture the idea that there is a cultural component to church but we also aren't putting the cultural cart before the biblical horse (so to speak). It also frees us from unhealthy comparisons. Sort of a corporate version of what Paul tells us as individuals in 1 Corinthians to be content with where we are when we are saved (but also with appropriate ways to grow).

[@lauriaendy4595]

Thank you Todd, always bringing precious point to help our faith grow!

[@BusyBodyVisa]

6:43 this church was by far the most appealing to me. A few people who are really passionate about God doing the best they can.

[@jamesmccaughey7754]

Excellent to think about. Thanks Todd. Acts 2:42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Continually devoted to those key elements while - singing - speaking - admonishing one another in psalms - hymns - spiritual songs. Pleasing to God.

[@johnflorio3576]

This describes the Mass!

[@jamesmccaughey7754]

Acts 2 describes the mass?

[@Lerian_V]

@@jamesmccaughey7754 It does.

[@johnflorio3576]

@James McCaughey: Absolutely! At Mass we sing, open the Word, and break the Bread.

[@jamesmccaughey7754]

Lol. I went to mass all my life until I was in my 40s. Never was there expository preaching and teaching as Peter gave in Acts 2. As Paul commands in his pastoral epistles. It doesn’t say open the word it says teaching. Fellowship means working together to advance God’s kingdom and breaking bread means penitently remembering Christ’s sacrifice. Not sacrificing Him again and eating his actual flesh and blood. I’m ashamed to say tut I was deceived for a long time too. Ask God to remove the veil that lies on your heart and give you understanding. Repent and trust the person and work of Christ and you will be born again. Don’t trust men’s traditions and sacraments. Marvel not that I say to you you must be born again.

[@joelleonard8869]

I'm not a Roman Catholic but as a Lutheran I don't see anything unbiblical with a more liturgical high-church service. Afterall most of what they are chanting is coming straight out of scripture. Having structure doesn't necessarily mean that it's being forced in worship.

[@jasonjohnston94]

My Primitive Baptist church has been doing church the same way, a cappella singing, prayer, preaching, and the breaking of bread, since it’s constitution in April, 1866. We have been in the same building since 1900. We DO have electricity, HVAC, and indoor plumbing. 😉

[@scotte2815]

Question, do you use wine or grape juice?

[@floydlooney6837]

@@scotte2815 Why use either? How about gather, praise God and then go home.

[@floydlooney6837]

@@scotte2815 I'm pretty sure the Bible warns us against rituals and stuff

[@animaticToshiue]

​@@floydlooney6837He's referring to the breaking of bread for the remembrance of Christ's death on the cross, as He has commanded.

[@jasonjohnston94]

@@scotte2815 Red wine

[@jameshyde1501]

I have been a follower of John MacAuthor's teaching for now 43 years.

[@TheDivineCallingofJesusChrist]

You just claimed to follower of man and not Jesus!! Jesus Christ is the True Church not some building! They preach a false doctrine which is irresistible Grace and they contradict free-will. They are vipers, and false prophets. Get out of the organized church's they do not worship Jesus nor do they practice what they Preach. The Bible will not save you, organized Church will not save you, preachers will not save you, only Jesus Christ can save you

[@4309chris]

why not follow Christ's teaching instead of John's?

[@simeonyves5940]

@@4309chris Because MacArthur follows Christ! the best way to learn to follow the Teachings of Christ is to be Discipled in the Ways of Christ by a Solid, Biblical, Christ Following Elder, that , a Solid, Biblical, Christ following Elder, is, even with his odd mistake (we all make them, even *Spurgeon* owned up to making some Errors!) a very good description of MacArthur! Discipleship is a great way to learn to understand and follow the teaching of Christ, and I can think of few Elders in this world who can Disciple a Person as good as MacArthur.

[@Lerian_V]

@@simeonyves5940 Who made McArthur Elder? Is Elder self-made? Think about that.

[@simeonyves5940]

@@Lerian_V As man does *not* have "free will" , and only has "slave will" , for "free will" is not mentioned even *once* in Holy writ, for "free will for man" is a *lie of Rome* a, fond and Invented thing of the Papacy, and thus a lie of *Satan* , the Power behind the Papacy, which is Anti-Christ, he does not make himself an Elder. No. No more than a man, o Wretched, miserable and worthless piles of sinful dust that we are, can make himself an "apostle" (anyone who calls themselves such today, in fact, anyone who has called themselves such at any time after 105 AD, is a *False apostle* and a *Minister of Satan) no, a man who makes himself an Elder, is no Elder... but, MacArthur did not make himself an Elder, no, he was Ordained as Elder as Per the Epistles to Timothy! MacArthur is an Elder for only one Reason. He is an Elder purely because God ordained him to be an Elder before the Foundation of the World. *God* made MacArthur an Elder, because God, who *alone* has Free Will, and whose Will. Power and Total Sovereignty in all things are *irresistible* , Ordained it before the Foundation of the World. No, other reason.

[@stevenclayton2029]

A very balanced presentation here - Todd, you gave room for us to think through this ourselves. Thanks.

[@galaxyview2783]

Were in the last days i pray that we keep are eyes on jesus 😥

[@joshuaestrada6042]

Yeah.... Maybe not....

[@ellen823ful]

Point well taken. I feel like I’ve been to “church” when the pipe organ accompanies the congregation. I think Holy Communion is very important. The reading of scripture from both Old Testament and New Testament. Praying 🙏 on our knees as a group is part of a church service. I like a variety of hymns both old and new. I’m not comfortable with clapping or yelling “Amen!” I like to see the youngsters sing 🎶 . Flowers 🌸 are important on the altar or by the entrance to the sanctuary. I really prefer an introspective type of service. Sometimes I’m just so full of joy it’s hard to not sing full throttle.

[@johnflorio3576]

You would like the Mass then. Come visit the Catholic Church.

[@Lerian_V]

@@johnflorio3576 She's either Catholic or Anglican.

[@walterbenny4099]

​@@Lerian_V or an Orthodox Christian

[@margaretkur8161]

No one ever mentions a Messianic Synagogue.

[@NormanChester882]

God bless wretched man!

[@marjieyoung9570]

One of the problems with worship in today's church is people are more focused on the effects of worship on themselves, on how many seats are filled, on how it makes people feel, rather than on what worship is all about which is praising, magnifying, and glorifying our almighty and holy God. God tells us how to worship Him. If our worship is sincere we would be doing our level best to worship God in a way that pleases Him, not the carnal flesh. *Leviticus 10:1* Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and *offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.* 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: *‘By those who come near Me* *I must be regarded as holy;* *And before all the people* *I must be glorified.’ ”* So Aaron held his peace.

[@Lerian_V]

Are you saying we should go back to the way we used to worship God for 1500 years before the Protestant Reformation?

[@marjieyoung9570]

@@Lerian_V No. The scripture I quoted is from a time before Jesus came and worship was an archetype pointing toward the future when Jesus, the ultimate and perfect lamb of God would come and fulfill prophecy. Now that the prophecies of the coming Messiah have been fulfilled our worship has changed as demonstrated in the New Testament by the apostles and disciples. The reason I quoted that text was not to say we should be sacrificing sheep and laying our hands on scapegoats and driving them out of the city, but to point out the seriousness of worship and the point of it, which is to glorify God. The service we conduct is different, but the reason for it remains the same. Thank you for asking for clarification. I apologize for any confusion I caused you.

[@Lerian_V]

@@marjieyoung9570 Thanks for explaining. But in the midst of confusion, what style of worship do you think is the most appropriate to emulate: the ancient/Catholic way (liturgical) or the more modern way (freestyle)?

[@briant6164]

We've got thousands of pages from the very early church giving us a good hint what the apostles and those that knew the apostles thought church should be like. Didache 1st century and Justin Martyr's description in 155 AD of worship is where I start.

[@dman7668]

They don't know what that is Brian. It goes over there heads. On with the rock concerts.

[@joeschmoe709]

This channel does not really like tradition.

[@daveseibert9390]

Thank You Sir !

[@cat-bg3rv]

A very very important question to ask‼️

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

Wonderful presentation, thank you for this video.

[@iceJJenny]

Love this channel and just found it. What an excellent word that provokes us to think and to rely on the Bible and God for our answers. Thanks for stirring up hearts! Great delivery too, very entertaining talk with truth.

[@caroliner2029]

Good work Todd. Thank you.🇭🇲

[@PianoForte9096]

Hi Todd, I’ve been keeping an eye on your channel as I’ve sifted through different Christian groups (I was raised in a variety of denominations, had a period of questioning everything including God’s existence, and now I’m happily in a church home). I’ve always appreciated your no-nonsense style and your appreciation for specific language. Here you use four concepts: transcendence, imminence, office, and zip code. I agree that all four are important, and despite not being Reformed, was able to see that losing focus on any of these things results in a lack that is difficult to overcome. Getting to the point, I think you’d have a great appreciation for the Novus Ordo Mass. I know - you don’t agree with us Catholics - but hear me out. We have transcendence: the Mass itself is us responding to God’s reaching out to us, and nearly every part of the liturgy is linked to Scripture and the Judeo-Christian tradition. We have imminence: it is both a corporate and a personal experience, and God reaching out to us is always timely. We have office: while there are a great variety of pastoral styles, we do see the priests as fellow redeemed Christians who have been entrusted with an office, and every priest I’ve met has a deep sense of humility. Finally with zip code - I’ve been to small parishes where there may not even be a cantor, and I’ve been to large parishes with a full choir. If I’m to look at the Catholic Church from your perspective, it’s at least worth a few minutes of consideration.

[@davidr954]

I love the humble church!

[@kaitiscarlett9022]

I don't always agree with Todd, but on this issue, I do, for all the reasons he listed. Too many churches out there that have strayed unrecognizably far from Biblical teachings.

[@jonathananderson260]

@Robert Stephenson Jesus is God you heretic. Read the book of John.

[@TheDivineCallingofJesusChrist]

Jesus Christ is the True Church not some building! They preach a false doctrine which is irresistible Grace and they contradict free-will. They are vipers, and false prophets. Get out of the organized church's they do not worship Jesus nor do they practice what they Preach. The Bible will not save you, organized Church will not save you, preachers will not save you, only Jesus Christ can save you

[@kek490]

@robertstephenson6806 So you think, and what ? what's the point of you writing this ? what is the reason ?

[@simeonyves5940]

@@kek490 Reads like the Satanic Scribble of an unsaved and unbelieving Judaizer who denies the Divinity of Christ trying to drag CINO (Christians In Name Only) Types into Apostasy (as the Apostle John was *very* Clear, anyone who Apostatizes was Never a Christian in the First Place!) and back to the passed away laws of Moses, including the Animal Sacrifices, utterly Trampling the Messiah underfoot (as Per Hebrews), thus it is the writings of an enemy of the Cross and of the Gospel, and thus someone to be Shunned and Prayed for Until or unless they Repent and believe that Jesus Christ Is GOD (as Per John Chapter 8), God the Son, God in the Flesh (as Per John Chapter 1), and that His Death Upon the Cross has put away all the Sins of the Elect, meaning the law was nailed to the Cross along with Him as revealed in Colossians Chapter 2. Mark, Rebuke, and Flee is my Advice!

[@Lerian_V]

@@kek490 The Reformation.

[@johfu4705]

Thanks! Very helpful

[@lesliemiller6216]

Thank you.

[@alfonsobecerra7960]

Reverence, Holy Spirit-led, always giving God glory, anointed

[@AnnabelleJARankin]

Don't slip into enthusiasm though....

[@jameshyde1501]

Thank You! Todd.

[@davidmuth4571]

Been attending Calvary, and I miss the HYMNS!!! C'mon Calvary, would it kill you to have ONE HYMN in worship???

[@Fern_Thaddeus]

Thank you, love your channel. Praise Jesus our Redeemer & Lord!

[@Allorn2015]

It not, "how we do church". It should be "What is acceptable worship while the Church is gathered together."

[@conanmarchi]

Thank you so much for that very succinct differentiation between didactic teaching and authoritative preaching. You have been a great help to me today, Sir. God bless.

[@shellygrant4905]

We just got our oldest son out of the church doing the beauty and the beast Easter program and into a solid Biblical church. Sad that that Easter program got so much attention. Doesn’t say much about the church that produced it.

[@simeonyves5940]

If it is not recognised under the Regulative Principle of Worship, then it is Strange Fire, and does not belong in the church!

[@Lerian_V]

@@simeonyves5940 Regulated by which authority?

[@simeonyves5940]

@@Lerian_V The Bible. The Regulative Principle is Regulated by the Bible, and therefore, as the Bible is the Holy, Inspired, Infallible written word of God, and has Ultimate Authority until the Return of Christ Jesus the Lord, the Regulative Principle is under the Authority of the Writer of the Bible , *God* ! The Regulative Principle is under the Authority of *God* , and therefore, it is Holy, for God is Holy.

[@Lerian_V]

@@simeonyves5940 The Bible from where? Who said the Bible is the Holy, Inspired, Infallible written word of God?

[@simeonyves5940]

@@Lerian_V The Bible from God, written by the Prophets, Apostles and Evangelists of 4,000 BC, when the world began (Genesis), to 96 AD (Revelation) guided by the Holy Ghost, in Aramaic, Hebrew and Koine Greek, and translated by great men of God, such as the Westminster puritans, primitives and divines of 1611, into English, guided by the Holy Ghost, to the Glory of God. The Bible itself confirms its Infallibility, Holiness, and Divine inspiration! Psalm 12 Verses 6 and 7: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever." 2nd Timothy Chapter 3 Verse 16: "All scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: " The Bible Confirms that it was written by God! I must now warn you, Denying the infallibility and Divine Inspiration of the Bible, was confirmed and condemned, at the Chicago Conference, as a *damnable Heresy* ! A HERESY! It is a *Salvational issue* , denying the Infallibility and Holy inspiration of the Bible is the mark of one who is *unsaved* , you are in terrible Danger! If you die denying the Bible as the Holy, Inspired, Infallible, word of God, you will die in your Sins and will go to Hell, for you will have denied the accounts of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God the Son, God in the Flesh, contained within the Bible! I beg of you, Please *do not do so* ! You must Believe that the Bible is the Holy, Divine, Inspired and infallible word of God, so you will *know* that its accounts of Jesus Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Gospels) are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so you can believe the Gospel, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God the Son, God in the flesh, *the Messiah* was crucified for your sins, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day to be your Lord, and believe it in your Heart, so you can call on Jesus Christ as your Lord, and you will be Eternally Saved! I beg of you! Be saved by Christ, by Grace alone, through Faith alone, on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, for there is *no* other way into heaven!

[@timothymcdonald7407]

The Catholic Church show’s reverence and respect to God, in their worship. Something you wouldn’t know or understand.

[@amywalker4710]

Please just make sure you are NOT putting your faith in the church or good works to save .. we are saved by grace through faith ALONE... Not of ourselves so no man can boast. Rituals and religious act do not save .. Jesus Christ shred blood on the cross saves from sin... Trust in him and nothing else! God bless ....

[@cosborne06]

John MacArthur reading the words of Jesus immediately convicted me. He is a man used by God.

[@JohnSmith-bp1er]

Thank you

[@KM-zn3lx]

So doesn't John Macarthur believe in OSAS? If so, why should it matter if ppl heed Jesus'warning about ppl trying to enter heaven broadly instead of by the narrow gate? I really want to know.

[@pbar1000]

​@@KM-zn3lxOnce sealed, always sealed. Jesus is the narrow way don't you know this? He was speaking of himself. Wide is the way to destruction otherwise.

[@doonagoding6146]

He also claimed taking the mark of Beast is forgivable and Bible says it’s not

[@amandabrieno3487]

Thank God

[@kevinkent6351]

I think size matters. I grew up in a mega church and now attend a church of 25-40 people, and it has been life changing for my walk.

[@nordicnugget]

I do too, with a small Church you can really get to know the Church and the Pastor, but I could be wrong

[@charliecrowe6606]

Agreed! I would suggest that one way (often under utilized) that we can hit all for words in one moment is in the Lord's Supper. I have been in churches that do communion well and it powerful and life changing.

[@johnflorio3576]

Yes! It is! 😊

[@dman7668]

There is no communion in protestant Churches. They cannot perform the mass.

[@barbwellman6686]

Return to the Eucharist. Christ gave the Church His Body and Blood to tend and feed His sheep and lambs through the Sacraments that He established.

[@justincameron9661]

Awesome video

[@franceshaypenny8481]

Amen. I'm so tired of having to futilely search for the few choices that don't fall in between heretical old school idolater and heretical nuevo-Idolater. I'd much prefer my worship to exclude idolatry altogether and focus on Scripture exposition and maybe some classic hymns that we, the parishioners, sing from a hymnal. Gimme a robust rendition of The Old Landmark, and my spirit soars.

[@Lerian_V]

If don't mind, what makes you think your understanding is correct enough to make you the judge of true and false worship?

[@Blaisesongs]

@@Lerian_V She's expressing an opinion. That is not judging.

[@Lerian_V]

@@Blaisesongs She is judging based on her opinion.

[@KM-zn3lx]

I agree but no one listens! Worship teams dressed in jeans, torn jea ns or yoga pants singing songs that sound like pop rock and many times don't say God's or Jesus'name! I went from RCC to ultra casual and I think I'm going reformed although I question election and OSAS.

[@joshuakarr-BibleMan]

@YRB An opinion is a judgment. A sound opinion requires informed judgment. Deciding, for example, everything one doesn't like is heresy, without really understanding heresy is a perversion of the Gospel, leads countless people to misjudge the various denominations.

[@normmaclean375]

Make sure it's Truth before taste or tradition. Acts 2:42- the pattern in the first church- is a great guide.

[@ajpreus]

The attempts to strip the rubrics and other ceremonies for the sake of being relatable ends up drawing more attention to the pastor than it should. Ritual for ritual's sake, I would argue, does a similar thing. When we understand the purpose of ritual (whether it is vestments, pulpit, Altar, etc.) as a tool for instruction and teaching the gospel, then we are on the right track. Luther didn't throw everything out of the service in the mass, only those things that distracted or outright denied the gospel. The rite should serve to teach the simple and reinforce the gospel. I agree with you that this can be more elaborate or simple. My family can pray an order of prayers and songs with the Word at home (e.g. Matins or Vespers), but we can also do this at church with a hundred or more people, a choir, etc, yet we are reinforcing the same thing. I'm glad you're talking about this. It's good for us Protestants to discuss this topic, recognizing the tools we have and why they should be used to teach the faithful. Some of us have more standard settings of the liturgy and prayer services. As a Lutheran, I very much appreciate our heritage in ritual and worship, especially for its simplicity and accessibility in both the home and church. I also appreciate, for example, the Geneva Psalter used by Christian Reformed.

[@garrettmccullough2249]

"Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Sums this video up quite nicely. 😂

[@reyjohndelapena7222]

you got it😁😄

[@robertdoell4321]

In My Parents Day they worked for six days and then prepared for the Sunday Sabbath by having a Bath cleaning themselves up and putting on their Sunday Best In Honor and Reverence for OUR HOLY and SINLESS GOD and JESUS our Saviour. I agree 100% with that approach and recognition of getting ready to Worship OUR HOLY AND PERFECT and SINLESS GOD and JESUS. The approach I think could be eased up somewhat is the idea that the PREACHER or MINISTER PRIEST or Equivalent Controls the messages heard by the congregations. HE should not just Dictate HIS Message or SERMON to the Congregation with NO Questions or Assessments of the message contents. In Some Churches it would make clear where the Person or family stands on the GOSPEL and where the Preacher or possibly the COngregation differ on understanding and importance of Messages in the BIBLE being IGNORED or MISINTERPRETED.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

Read your bibles and sit under good teaching! So many read their bibles, but fail to sit under good teaching. You need both!

[@geraldarcuri9307]

Many are just sitting on their Bibles... if they even own one. Most evangelical churches today do not encourage people to bring their bibles to church. The "relevant" sermon passages are simply projected on a screen ( if you're lucky ) for the biblically lazy and illiterate. So much for being like the Berean believers...

[@gracenmercy579]

Sound doctrine

[@neildriedger637]

GREAT VIDEO TODD 👍❤😇🙏

[@sirennoir258]

God Bless John MacArthur 🙏

[@gracianomartinez234]

The church that pleases God is the church that follow his commandments

[@michelleslack9985]

God bless Pastor John McArthur 🙏 🙌 💖

[@AskAScreenwriter]

I'm reminded of this quote from C.S. Lewis: "When Catholicism goes bad it becomes the world-old, world-wide religio of amulets and holy places and priestcraft. Protestantism, in its corresponding decay, becomes a vague mist of ethical platitudes. Catholicism is accused of being too much like all the other religions; Protestantism of being insufficiently like a religion at all. "

[@GhostBearCommander]

What is that from. It's cool.

[@AskAScreenwriter]

@@GhostBearCommander I think it's from a work called "The Allegory of Love" by Lewis.

[@benedibrava]

any church which closes its door during 2020-2022 leave it

[@prayface777]

I think it was Leonard Ravenhill who said most people go to church to hear about God and not to experience God.

[@c-LAW]

0:37 "That begs the question" -- No, it RAISES the question. "Begging the question" a reference to circular logic.

[@walterbenny4099]

Amen! It annoys that devil out of me how people misuse this term.

[@ClaytonRyan02]

Great video! We're going to be addressing how we "do church" in a series in a couple of months, so I'm going to save this and come back to it. Todd, I'd like to encourage you to do more videos like this where you're not using cheap shots or trying to deliberately provoke people - when you leave all the hype to the side you have some really valuable things to say! :)

[@russs3001]

We just finished a great study you may find useful, using the book "The Simple Church" by Thom Rainer. God bless.

[@ClaytonRyan02]

@@russs3001 This is the 3rd time I've seen this recommended, so I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

[@BingoNamo-gb8pz]

@@ClaytonRyan02 he’s not perfect either, perhaps even worse off being a cessationalist. ​​⁠​⁠ How can you do church God’s way if you don’t believe in any of the gifts of the Spirit? Todd doesn’t believe in the gift of healing, the gift of prophecy, the gift of teaching, the gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom, the gift of discernment, the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation, the gift of working miracles. 1 Corinthians 12 is quite literally HOW TO DO CHURCH. To get rid of the gifts of the Spirit is to get rid of DOING church.

[@AssyrianGirl-cd9vj]

I live in the northeast and can't find a church where the whole word is taught, and church leaderships can do nothing other than cower before the dictates of Caesar, throwing their sheep to the wolves. I think we have entered the time of the church of Laodicea but I truly long for the Bible-revering and teaching pastors of the past. We didn't realize what a gift we had in those days.

[@nathan1sixteen]

1) church isn’t an event on Sunday morning, that is a worship service. Church is the the body of Christ, the people 2) go read Acts and how they did worship. That’s probably how it should be done. The problem with most of the methods shown is that they are a “once and done” style. You go Sunday for 2 hours and after that you’re done. But, that’s not very biblical either. The early church lived in community with one another. They did life together. It wasn’t a once or twice a week thing, it was a daily thing. The church needs to get back to being a community. Once we do that, worship services will come naturally because we won’t feel the need to impress each other because it isn’t about us, it’s about Jesus

[@joshuaestrada6042]

That's true and while I would love that goal to be realized. It's likely not going to happen. Should we strive for christ daily? Yes. However we're also called to live in the world too. We are set apart by the blood of Christ and the fact he calls us ours. However, take a look at our world right now. Also if we were to become a community of just Christians we can fall into a trap of isolating ourselves from the world as a whole potentially barring from people who need our faith (which is everyone) from going down that path.

[@TheDivineCallingofJesusChrist]

@@joshuaestrada6042 stay away from the worldly!!!!! Be guided by the Holy Spirit!

[@phillipsugwas]

Where has the objective of the church been lost- its Gods people taking Gods redemptive message to the World. And that is not , repeat not an answer to the question " how do I get to heaven ?" God is in the process of redeeming his creation. We live in a time of inaugurated enacted eschatology. That means the power of God is manifested and transformations of people , their health and circumstances are made possible. If we want a narrow truncated Gospel then read Calvins comments about why the miraculous had dissapeared ( as he posited). People are simply not drawn to or by this ticket to heaven stuff. We must not be like the Jews whose inability to recognise Gods coming to them meant that their ideas of Messiah , simply were religious -and not the drama of the transformation of them and the World. God kept his promise and he will tabernacle with men again in a transformed and renewed creation

[@rosslewchuk9286]

AMEN & AMEN! One of your best presentations! 0:18 Make that "It's the end of the church as God wants it!" 🎵🎶🎼🤔🤨😐📖Not in God's Church!😊💒 2:04 I serve the Prince of Peace, not the idols of carnal excitement!🙋 7:51 Please, no plays, skits, or theater! Idolatry!😑🎪🎡🎠

[@timsatterfield9752]

I have Medishare. Love it! Yeah, very high deductible, but I mainly have it for “worst case scenario.”

[@zenyattamondatta7757]

I felt like one of my church performed Carry on My wayward Son by Kansas that it was actually pertinent to the message.

[@jameseverhart9814]

Great job on the video

[@princybella5386]

Nothing more transparent or immediate than Jesus in your heart not some ritual.

[@withgodchannel]

Nice video Todd!

[@stuartjohnson5686]

"True worship of God is that we sacredly and conscientiously keep ourselves within the bounds which God has prescribed, and that we do not add anything to that worship which has not been divinely instituted, or corrupt it in any part.” - Zacharias Ursinus (1534-1583), German Reformed Theologian, author of the Heidelberg Catechism You are required to believe, to preach, and to teach what the Bible says is true, not what you want the Bible to say is true. -- R.C. Sproul “God is never pleased with ignorant worship, with worship that is not grounded in the knowledge of God.” -- R. C. Sproul

[@JohnMark61355]

There is a lot of wisdom and sense in the ideas presented in this video. Where does the Lord’s Supper fit in to this discussion? The NT states several times we should be celebrating this during our worship. It seems some Christians over do it and others, who say they are Bible believing, almost ignore it.

[@johnflorio3576]

Become Catholic. We celebrate the Eucharist every day of the year except for Good Friday.

[@JohnMark61355]

@@johnflorio3576 Too much corruption.

[@johnflorio3576]

This is a great piece. Todd raises a good question about “doing church” and we need to address it historically. How did Christ’s apostles and their followers “do church?” Let’s look then back into history; to AD 107 specifically. St. Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch, a follower of St. John who wrote five books of the New Testament. Here’s what St. Ignatius said: “See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the priests as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is administered either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there, let the multitude of the people also be; even as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” There you go!

[@BingoNamo-gb8pz]

I say this with love, please read your Bible & do not accept anything contrary to it. You cannot trust man. You can only trust the word of God & any man who speaks what is contrary to the word of God is not of God.

[@johnflorio3576]

@Bingo Namo: I’ve read the Bible many times over. Sacred Scripture is one of the many reasons I am Catholic.

[@christiancornerstone412]

Love the video, love your ministry! I was curious about your thoughts on the pulpit verse sit down mode of preaching. I do agree that the preacher should be in the pulpit. To my knowledge it does seem like a modern-ish concept but it also shows the congregation the pastor means business. However, we see in scripture that Jesus sat down to teach and explain, from what I learned through my Divinity degree this was a very common practise of the preacher/rabbi. Considering that, I currently lean into the mindset ot"Pastor stay in your pulpit, sit on the stood next to it and stay there" kind of thinking. Thoughts?

[@Christs_Cowpoke]

I think we can look to some of the early church to figure out how we should worship God. The first few centuries are actually pretty well documented.

[@phillipsugwas]

You have grasped the issue. All I hear from the speaker is a rules ( not even first century) based system designed (?) not with a focus on relationship which in turn should dictate behaviour and response being exalted ?.

[@makaylalee1436]

This a great video ❤❤❤

[@marionseifert6937]

Also depends on the person you are preaching to. A someone philosophically-minded should read themselves first and then listen to ppl who make messages link in their heads so that the world should be UNDERSTOOD.

[@hiptoalieu]

This was pretty good.

[@michelleslack9985]

Thank you for this video Todd I Love Pastor John McArthur I'm on the east coast thank the Lord for the app so I can watch him on Sunday . I have stopped going to the church I have been attending 5 years .I'm watching as much as I can find with Pastor John McArthur ❤ the church was attending is pentecostal to many women speaking out loud religious spirit and other things I'm praying for every ones eyes to open on the planet I can't believe how deceived I have been between tv preaching and church I have a long way to go !!! .

[@JB-mn2wb]

Its getting to the point where one HAS TO travel through several different zip codes to find a Godly church in their own state!!!!!

[@Bowhuntertexas]

There is Catholic Churches in every city and town.

[@rocketscientisttoo]

Our God is too small, so small that some people can not even see Him and really don't care. They are more concerned with what makes 'them' feel good and entertains 'them'.

[@thecrew777]

The last was a high school or middle school play, right? That wasn't actually a church!| This, however, is so good, I'm going to quote it: @Marjie Young One of the problems with worship in today's church is people are more focused on the effects of worship on themselves, on how many seats are filled, on how it makes people feel, rather than on what worship is all about which is praising, magnifying, and glorifying our almighty and holy God. God tells us how to worship Him. If our worship is sincere we would be doing our level best to worship God in a way that pleases Him, not the carnal flesh.

[@donnalapoint]

My question is how far do we go with worship music to reach the 20 somethings to get them to commit to coming to church? I'm afraid we're entertaining more than worshiping!

[@Catholicsquirrel]

The problem is, everything you just described IS the Catholic Church. Yet you said it’s “too transcendental,” which is your opinion. After saying you shouldn’t choose a Church based on how you *feel.* Church is about worshiping God how HE wants. It isn’t about how YOU feel or what YOU get out of it. That’s narcissistic & not what worshipping God is about. When we choose to worship God how WE want and how it makes US feel- you get the “Churches” that you described. You get huge rock concerts. You can’t have it both ways.

[@vanessaloy1049]

I’d like to hear Todd’s take on the Duggars documentary.

[@floydlooney6837]

He did one since you posted I think

[@zachsparks3947]

thanks @wretched. Have you ever looked at Henry Craiks - New Testament Church Order (Five Lectures)? Henry Craik was co-pastor with George Muller. Interesting read.

[@CadillacBunner]

Instead of being anti-Catholic, could we be pro-Christian? Great video!

[@MikeGalda]

I would not put high church liturgy in a category of only transcendent without imminence. High church participates in the eucharist every Lord's Day which is a Christ given experience of the Lord's nearness. "Take, eat; this is My body" (Mt26:26).

[@Christs_Cowpoke]

Amen!

[@jcsmith3806]

Honestly, church should be like a classroom... "WITH A GOOD TEACHER" I have talked to Christians everyday that know nothing or are completely wrong in what they have been taught.

[@isaam088]

The Begg joke got me. "You called?" lololol

[@briandriver3915]

How do you know you aren't one that's seeking to enter in the narrow gate and will not be let in?

[@geraldarcuri9307]

Having left the Roman Catholic church for its doctrinal errors, I can still appreciate the gravitas of its liturgy. However, most evangelical church worship services are so vapid, so worldly that they are a disgrace. Good point, Todd, illuminating the difference between transcendent focus and immanent focus. And as for the pastors? So many are an absolute embarrassment. Staggering. So sad.

[@ResaO]

Can you please site chapter and verse where you find support for your opinions? Especially the office of pastor having umph and authority. I don’t see it. Maybe I’m missing something. I am interested in scripture to back up all of the 4 words that you point out to do church as God wants us to do?

[@JESUSisLORD24151]

I love Pastor John MacArthur.

[@Buttercuprincesa]

The intro was hilarious 🤣🤣

[@lostnfound1086]

The "imminent" church is proclaiming God like us, not God with us.

[@Paul_1973]

Give Jimmy a raise.

[@thedogrunner]

I'm trying to find a church for my family. I am struggling to find a reformed style church. Am I looking for the wrong thing? How do I find a conservative church that preaches accurately from the bible?