Sermon question time?

You've put it well, NWR. Killinghurts makes a good point that parishoners should hold the pastors and priests accountable for what they teach. I do that quite often, sometime after the sermon. It may be a question or comment at the door if the speaker is at the door or it may be on an appropriate occasion afterwards.My experience has been that unfortunately, one senses that some pastors or speakers do not appreciate being held accountable for what they say. Others have the right attitude that iron sharpens iron. Generally speaking, I have not been warmly welcomed in the majority of churches I've visited or been involved with, interestingly, for the same reasons I'm not popular here at EvC.Most are convinced in their own minds that since they've been highly educated in the colleges and universities that they have it all down pat and who are you to question? Church or lectures are different however than here, in that here open debate is encouraged. Contrary to what some here think, I've learned a lot from counterparts here over the years and perhaps said some things that at least provoke counterparts to think and learn on matters they hadn't previously thought about.I am especially appreciative to the pastor of the church I have attended for the past decade. He allows his parishoners to sharpen his iron as he sharpens ours. He has actually allowed me to teach him things such as the prophecies which I am well studied on and pertaining to other doctrines such as the Trinity, etc. He has recently acheived his doctorate and I have no degree. We have become dear brothers in Christ as we teach one another. He teaches me a lot on ancient history and such that he is well studied on.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

Finally we agree on something, Hooah. For example, JWs don't take things like hell fire and the messianic kingdom on earth literally. They choose liberally what they want to metaphorize and what they want to literalize.There are indeed many diverse interpretations of scripture out there. Imo, the safe and wise policy is to keep it literal unless the context indicates otherwise.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

This is perhaps where JWs need to question sermon outlines. Imo, it's not good policy for some central think tank to indoctrinate local churches on interpretations of scripture in sermons and lessons. Indigenous churches should think for themselves for interpretation of scripture.This was the big problem relative to the brutal Dark Ages and continuses to be with Roman Catholicism, though many parishes are wising up to thinking for themselves in our times.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

Hi PegThe difference is that the centralized teaching in the apostalic churches of the NT was the apostles themselves who inspiringly wrote the doctrines, i.e. the source.Now we have that apostalic centralized source just as the early churches had. It should, to this day, remain the holy scriptures. If more would let that apply, pastors preaching the sermons would be accountable to the scripture alone and not a centralized source dictated by the hierarchy of the source.It was the RCC that once enforced that none should be allowed to handle or interpret scripture aside from the popes and bishops. It must be done by the hierarchy. Unfortunately, during the Dark Ages the RCC had enough power and influence that thousands were brutally tortured and massacred simply because they chose to interpret scripture themselves.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

Hi Peg. I've come to be pretty much a one book man relative to source. That works quite well if you keep it literal unless text strongly suggests otherwise. In my early years after becoming a Christian I was reading every book I could get my hands on relative to the prophecies. There came a point when I realized that the writers of the books were doing the same and parroting what sounded good to someone way back like Dr Scoffield, who's notes were in a large majority of the old KJ Bibles. Only after I learned the art of corroborating all scripture relative to a given topic did things begin to make sense and harmonize nicely.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

I was responding to this which you said in that message: I was not touting my version. I was simply agreeing with your premise. Your reaction has been rather non-concilitory and uncivil. How does that make for productive dialog? Acknowledging that I agreed on something with you was not meant to thrill you, Hooah. It was more of a Christian, if you will, conciliatory gesture so as to maintain civility in the thread.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

I had good mentors at the church where I received Jesus as saviour when about 10. That was about 64 years ago. One important thing they taught me was to read a portion of scripture each and every day. This I began to do as a child, continuing the practice though 4 years in the Air Force and since.As I read this book and that book, I began to see mistakes in this and that doctrine, some of which were taught in my own home church. Over the years I've attended literally hundreds of different church meetings and services in scores of churches. When someone asks me which church is correct, my answer is "none, totally, including my own." I've found it necessary to adjust my own thinking and interpretation of things from time to time over the years. This has made me about as popular in many of the churches as I am here, the reason being (as per topic) I tend to question the status quo when things don't jive/corroborate. He was comparing his desciples and all followers with the master who leaves the servant in charge of the estate while away. This chapter applied to the days just before the crucifixion. The better the followers lived and served relative to preparation to God's kingdom coming on earth at the 2nd advent of Jesus, the better their role will be in the resurrection when the messianic kingdom is established. This is corroborated by other NT scripture which elaborate on it. I don't think this is the proper place to discuss this in depth, but that's my take on it in a nut shell, so to speak.My suggestion to you, Peg, is to begin to question some JW doctrines which require significant interpretiv eliberty to arrive at. I have a fairly close friend near here who is JW. We get into some interesting discussions on doctrines but that doesn't affect our friendly relationship. I believe there is a thread somewhere in the EvC archives on JW. Perhaps we can get it up and discuss some of these things.Regardless of our differences, I have great respect for the way you handle yourself here at EvC, madear.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.