The Narrow Path Ministries

Steve,

I began a reply to your request regarding your article "What is Church" and posted under Ecclesiology. I thought it best to keep this thread on the subject.

God bless, Homer

Hi Steve, In your article, Section IV, you wrote: B. Commitment to a group of Christians in one congregation in a way that preempts commitment to the entire church outside that congregation is wrongheaded and is described by Paul as infantile and carnal (I Cor.3:2-4). You make a good point idealisti...

Hi Steve,

I'll try to comply with your request soon.

God bless, Homer

Christopher and Michelle, Its getting late, I type slowly and think even more slowly so I will try to reply to some of what you posted, and, hopefully more later. First I would point out that when Jesus said he would be present when two or three gathered in His name, it has to mean something more or...

Hi Paul, how is it that they are confused over the meaning of baptize and church? Sorry for the misunderstanding. I meant the statement as a criticism of the KJV. If King James had allowed the proper translation of baptize (immerse) and church ( assembly or congregation) we wouldn't be so confused a...

Michelle, Christopher, Ken, et al, Christopher asked: Homer, what exactly qualifies as an "intentional" church meeting? What, in your opinion, is a valid expression of the body of Christ? Perhaps the following regarding the Greek preposition Eis will help: vi. (6) eis governs only one case (the Accu...

Michelle, et al, Perhaps it will help to consider Matthew 18:20 in its context: Matthew 18:15-20 (New King James Version) 15. “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16. But if he will not hear, t...

In the book "A Gathered People", by Hicks, Melton, and Valentine, the authors point out that Hebrews is generally thought to have been originally an oral sermon, and that Hebrews 10:19-25 should be read as one long sentence, as in the Greek. The sentence divides into two ideas: the basis of assembli...

Hi Matt, These statements of Jesus are the most assuring to me that we have received the true "gospel once for all delivered to the saints"; all apparently from one long discourse: John 14:25-26 (all quotes NKJV) 25. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26. But the Helper...

Hi Steve, You wrote: What we call a local church today is a voluntary association of like-minded religious folks who want to meet together apart from the other similar (but different in some small ways) groups in the same town. There is lip-service paid to the idea that all the local churches are on...