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The Top 50 Most Influential Churches in America
The Church Report ^ | 7/12/05 | staff

Posted on 07/12/2005 7:31:32 AM PDT by ppaul

Top 50 Most Influential Churches
The 2005 survey was sent to 2,000 church leaders with the goal of ranking the nation’s fastest growing churches and churches with more than 2,000 weekend attendance. The 127 churches nominated for the 50 Most Influential Churches survey were located in 32 states and represented 27 affiliation groups and/or denominations. The term affiliation is used to include networks of unaffiliated, independent churches.

(Excerpt) Read more at thechurchreport.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: christianity; christians; church; churches; denomination; gospel; influence; jesus; jesuschrist; lakewoodchurch; mcleanbiblechurch; megachurch; pastor; pastors; religion; saddleback; seekersensitive; top50; top50churches; topten; willowcreek
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To: ppaul

I just found out I live 5 blocks from the largest church in the world. Whoopie.


181 posted on 07/17/2005 8:04:34 AM PDT by johnb838 (Dominus Vobiscum)
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To: ppaul
Thank you for your reply. But you still have provided no proof from scripture that you are correct. Yes, Moses had problems leading a stiff-necked people, even with help. But that does not mean he was wrong to appoint good men to share the load. Nor does it say anywhere in scriptue that he never consulted God. Or maybe it does. But you have not been able to show me where.

I did show you with Scripture but you refuse to see it.

It doesn't say that in Scripture that Moses did consult God (no more then did Joshua when the Gibeonites deceived him, Joshua 9).

Jethro's advice was not of God.

The people of God are not to function by the methods of the world.

For further evidence of compare 1Sam.6 (new cart) with 2Sam6 and the death of Uzzah.

What you want to do is read something into Scripture that isn't there.

182 posted on 07/17/2005 10:49:17 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Gal.4:16)
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To: gamarob1
I didn't realize this thread was still going. You clearly don't understand the prophetic nature of the seven churches of Revelation, otherwise, you wouldn't just write off everything as "not of God". But the fault really isn't yours. The fault is with those who teach you, assuming that their pharisaical "christianity" is the only true way. They're wrong. JESUS is the way....

What is pharisaical Christianity-rebuking and correction? (2Tim.3:16)

Joel Osteen is doing a great work of God. Rick Warren is doing a great work of God. If you don't believe that, ask God yourself. You'll get an answer (as James said, if any of you lack wisdom, let them ask of God, and He will give liberally). Maybe you're afraid to do that, because it would prove John Macarthur to be wrong (again)

I have the written words of God that show me exactly what kind of work Osteen and Warren are doing, the work of false teachers (2Pet.2:1)

As for Macarthur, I am as critical of his ministry as that of Osteen and Warren.

I asked God already, so I know :)

Maybe it wasn't God who answered you but a god (2Cor.4:4)

Below is from Joel Osteen's interview by Larry King,

King: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?

Osteen: You know, I'm, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know...

King: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?

Osteen: Well, I don't know if I believe they are wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a persons heart. I spend alot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love the God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know for me and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.

What a great dogmatic witness for Christ!

He talks about the Bible but he denies John 14:6 and Acts 4:12.

183 posted on 07/17/2005 11:09:57 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Gal.4:16)
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To: Desdemona; xzins; whipitgood; NYer; Salvation; sionnsar; Alamo-Girl; Between the Lines; Gamecock; ..

ping


184 posted on 07/18/2005 8:45:31 AM PDT by ppaul
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To: ppaul

Thanks for the ping!


185 posted on 07/18/2005 8:55:35 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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Comment #186 Removed by Moderator

To: seamole
From the blog you referenced:

In my opinion, it's an outrage that these clergy persons with no belief in Jesus Christ as THE Saviour, have the nerve to wear crosses. There should be a ceremony of removing their crosses, just as markings of rank used to be removed from officers who had been found guilty in a court martial.

Amen.
187 posted on 07/18/2005 9:04:11 AM PDT by ppaul
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Comment #188 Removed by Moderator

To: fortheDeclaration
Listing to the harvest crusade this weekend and Greg was talking about being a bold witness for Christ. Osteen really did a poor job on Larry King...

Not that I am perfect, Lord knows I could be a bolder witness for Christ too.

189 posted on 07/18/2005 9:19:28 AM PDT by Battle Hymn of the Republic
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To: seamole

When I said Catholics don't Evangelize, I was talking about in the U.S. in general. Yes I know about Fulton Sheen, but he is the exception that proves to rule. When was the last time the Catholic Church put together an outreach or "crusade" to convert new members? Instead, they keep talking about how existing members should "have more children" and how we should welcome more immigration.


190 posted on 07/18/2005 9:26:35 AM PDT by Clemenza (JJesus CChrist MMade SSeattle UUnder PProtest)
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To: fortheDeclaration
What is pharisaical Christianity-rebuking and correction? (2Tim.3:16)

You're not correcting. You're nitpicking

As for Macarthur, I am as critical of his ministry as that of Osteen and Warren.

Oh LOL! Seriously, you are a gem. So, everyone's wrong but you? Pharisee... you're a joke.... but instead of considering the possibility that you're wrong, you'll just put yourself under a "Jeremiah complex", convincing yourself that you're the one true prophet that no one will listen to, and everyone else is wrong. I pity you, in a way...

Below is from Joel Osteen's interview by Larry King,

And Joel Osteen OPENLY corrected himself for doing that. But again, you have ALL the marks of a pharisee. In this case, inability to forgive and let someone move on.

You don't have the heart of Jesus, my friend

191 posted on 07/18/2005 10:11:26 AM PDT by gamarob1
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To: gamarob1
There can only be one version of the truth. Anything else is untruth.

So... do any of you for sure, beyond all doubt, without the slightest reservation, KNOW what church (if any) has it right?

Can any of my esteemed fellow freepers say without one shred of uncertainty which version of the Bible (if any) is totally, 100% accurate?

Didn't think so.

PS: Me neither
192 posted on 07/18/2005 10:58:03 AM PDT by neverhome ("Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." --William Penn)
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To: Squantos

....BINGOOO....we have a winner.....BTTT!


193 posted on 07/18/2005 11:03:42 AM PDT by smiley
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To: neverhome
Are you making his point or mine? ;)

And do you mean having it PERFECTLY right, on every point? Not necessary to do so anyway, that's where His grace comes in.

I know I'll probably get slaughtered by someone for saying that too, but I'm standing on His grace with it all, from the cross of Jesus Christ to that Day standing before Him.

194 posted on 07/18/2005 11:29:36 AM PDT by gamarob1
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To: gamarob1

And THAT, my friend, was my point. Trust God, not this church or that church. The truth is always in Him.


195 posted on 07/18/2005 1:05:51 PM PDT by neverhome ("Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." --William Penn)
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To: neverhome

Amen!


196 posted on 07/18/2005 1:36:49 PM PDT by gamarob1
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To: JockoManning

Bookmarking.


197 posted on 07/18/2005 2:23:26 PM PDT by JockoManning (www.biblegateway.com)
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To: gamarob1
What is pharisaical Christianity-rebuking and correction? (2Tim.3:16) You're not correcting. You're nitpicking

So showing that they are preaching a watered down Gospel is nitpicking?

As for Macarthur, I am as critical of his ministry as that of Osteen and Warren. Oh LOL! Seriously, you are a gem. So, everyone's wrong but you? Pharisee... you're a joke.... but instead of considering the possibility that you're wrong, you'll just put yourself under a "Jeremiah complex", convincing yourself that you're the one true prophet that no one will listen to, and everyone else is wrong. I pity you, in a way...

No, anyone is wrong who doesn't line up with the Bible.

Below is from Joel Osteen's interview by Larry King, And Joel Osteen OPENLY corrected himself for doing that. But again, you have ALL the marks of a pharisee. In this case, inability to forgive and let someone move on.

Ofcourse, Osteen corrected himself after the interview.

Imagine claiming to be a Pastor and not boldly proclaiming the Gospel!(Rom.1:16)

LOL!

You don't have the heart of Jesus, my friend

Really?

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Saducees (Matt.16:12)

It would seem that the Lord took doctrine alot more seriously then Warren or Osteen does.

198 posted on 07/18/2005 2:31:41 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Gal.4:16)
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To: Battle Hymn of the Republic
Listing to the harvest crusade this weekend and Greg was talking about being a bold witness for Christ. Osteen really did a poor job on Larry King... Not that I am perfect, Lord knows I could be a bolder witness for Christ too.

Osteen was just being Osteen, selling himself.

199 posted on 07/18/2005 2:33:17 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Gal.4:16)
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To: neverhome
"So... do any of you for sure, beyond all doubt, without the slightest reservation, KNOW what church (if any) has it right?"

Yep! Boiled down to their essence, there really are only two religions.

"Can any of my esteemed fellow freepers say without one shred of uncertainty which version of the Bible (if any) is totally, 100% accurate?"

Yes. There are no translations that are error free.

Is the canon controversial? No.

Why Critics of the Bible do not Deserve the Benefit of the Doubt"

The Old Testament

The New Testament

200 posted on 07/18/2005 3:08:04 PM PDT by Matchett-PI (The very idea of freedom presupposes some objective moral law overarching rulers and ruled alike)
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