At the request of the overwhelming majority of the members and attendees at Grace Pointe, we will be launching an Awanas program at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II, hopefully by January.
A proponent of the Discovery Club, I had mixed emotions about this at the start. However, after reviewing the doctrinal statement of the Awanas program, and learning that they do not mind that we teach local/visible church only, and observing the enthusiasm people have for this program... I think going with Awanas is the best option at this point.
3 comments:
Bro. Leland,
AWANA is the way to go!! I've had great success with it in the past!
Keep up the good work in Brownwood
What is the doctrine of local/visible church only? The only group I know that mentions something about a visible church is a cult called the Holdeman Mennonite sect, not to be confused with other Mennonite groups. They believe their "works" are the visible example to have others become Holdeman Mennonites and that they are the only ones who will be allowed into "New Jerusalem". They believe all other professing christians are doomed to being "outside of God's Holy City of Jerusalem" and are apostate and lost. Is that what you believe?
Not at all. In fact, I've never heard of that doctrine.
We (my supporting churches, my family and I) believe that a church is a local congregation of scripturally baptized believers who have come together to carry out the work of the Lord.
These believers are saved... they have repented of their sins and trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
They are scripturally baptized by being totally emersed in water by the authority of a church, as is the example set forth in the scriptures.
They have come together to carry out God's work, as they did in the book of Acts.
True churches have the right plan of salvation (salvation by grace apart from works) the right baptism (by emersion in water, as an act of discipleship, not for salvation, and as a pre-requisite for church membership) and the right covenanted relationship (to carry out God's work... missions and evangelism.)
Some believe in a universal church, where all believers are joined together in a worldwide body of Christ. We do not believe this to be scriptural, but rather refer to all worldwide believers as "the family of God." The family of God includes all who have repented of their sins and trusted Jesus as Savior.
Thank you for your question.
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