Mega-Church Vs Small-Church

[TechWord]

I get the heart behind wanting to reach as many people as possible, and yes, Jesus did command us to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). But He didn’t stop there, He told us to make disciples, teaching them to obey all that He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). That means our goal isn’t just getting people to say they believe in Jesus, but helping them actually follow Him.

One of the biggest problems we’re seeing today is the creation of false converts. When the gospel gets watered down or reduced to just “say this prayer and you’re saved,” people may respond emotionally or out of pressure, but without repentance, there’s no real salvation. Jesus warned that many will say “Lord, Lord” and still be cast out because they never truly knew Him (Matthew 7:21–23). That should sober us. Getting large numbers means nothing if those people haven’t truly come to Christ.

Mass evangelism can be good when the message is faithful, but not when it sacrifices truth for the sake of numbers. Paul didn’t just count responses, he looked for lasting fruit (Colossians 1:10). The early church grew because they were rooted in solid teaching, not just emotional experiences (Acts 2:41–42).

So yes, let’s reach as many people as we can, but let’s do it the way Scripture says, by preaching the full gospel, calling for repentance, and making real disciples. That’s how lives are truly changed, and that’s what honors the Lord.

True, Jesus wants everyone to be taught all that God commanded, but He does not say, your salvation will be canceled, if you are not taught, all that God commanded.
The gospel of salvation (Romans 10:9-10) is very simple and not complicated, and it is hard to simplify or water down a message, that is already simple and straightforward. Many churches may not get other things right, but they do get salvation right.
When Jesus talks about people, not knowing Him, He is not talking about those who acknowledge and accept Him, as Lord and Savior, because once saved, that cannot be undone, but He is referring to people who join a church or denomination, without acknowledging Jesus as Lord & Savior and believe that they are saved by simplly being part of a Church. Being born again or salvation is knowing Jesus and Jesus knowing you.
And again, the Bible does not say, that if you have received salvation, but are not fortunate enough to get solid teaching, then your salvation can be canceled or expire.
It would be great, if everyone after receiving salvation, was taught all that God commanded and got solid teaching, but that may not happen for everyone, while everyone can easily experience salvation.

 

[bdavidc]

True, Jesus wants everyone to be taught all that God commanded, but He does not say, your salvation will be canceled, if you are not taught, all that God commanded.
The gospel of salvation (Romans 10:9-10) is very simple and not complicated, and it is hard to simplify or water down a message, that is already simple and straightforward. Many churches may not get other things right, but they do get salvation right.
When Jesus talks about people, not knowing Him, He is not talking about those who acknowledge and accept Him, as Lord and Savior, because once saved, that cannot be undone, but He is referring to people who join a church or denomination, without acknowledging Jesus as Lord & Savior and believe that they are saved by simplly being part of a Church. Being born again or salvation is knowing Jesus and Jesus knowing you.
And again, the Bible does not say, that if you have received salvation, but are not fortunate enough to get solid teaching, then your salvation can be canceled or expire.
It would be great, if everyone after receiving salvation, was taught all that God commanded and got solid teaching, but that may not happen for everyone, while everyone can easily experience salvation.

That sounds reasonable on the surface, but it doesn’t match what the Bible actually teaches. Scripture is clear, real salvation always produces a changed heart and a changed life. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21–23 that “many” will call Him “Lord, Lord,” but He will respond, “I never knew you.” He didn’t say He used to know them. He said He never knew them. These people said the right words, but they lived in sin and never truly followed Him. That’s a false convert, not someone who lost their salvation because they never had it to begin with. Someone who talks like a Christian but was never actually born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. That means you won’t keep living the same way after being saved. Romans 6:1, 2 makes it clear, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” True salvation doesn’t just forgive you, it transforms you. You’ll have new desires, new priorities, and a new direction. You won’t be perfect, but you also won’t be comfortable staying in sin. You’ll want to grow, follow Jesus, and understand the Bible. 1 Peter 2:2 says new believers “desire the sincere milk of the word.” If there’s no desire for God’s Word, no conviction of sin, and no change, then no, that person isn’t saved.

This has nothing to do with whether someone got good teaching afterward. Good teaching helps, but it doesn’t cause salvation. Salvation causes the hunger to grow in Christ. Ezekiel 36:26, 27 says that when God saves someone, He gives them a new heart and puts His Spirit within them. That’s what drives a person to seek the truth. Whether by reading the Bible alone or finding a group to study with, a saved person will seek the things of God. If someone has no interest in the Bible, no desire to obey, and just keeps living like before, then they are still lost.

This is exactly what’s happening in many churches today. They are producing people who say Christian things but were never truly converted. Why? Because they’re preaching a man-centered gospel. Instead of calling people to repent and follow Jesus, they tell people to “invite Jesus into their heart” without ever explaining sin, judgment, and the cross. That’s not the gospel, it’s a trap. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, 14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

The narrow way isn’t found through a feel-good message or church membership. It’s found by turning from sin and trusting in Jesus alone. The modern habit of making the gospel easy and comfortable has caused massive confusion. People think they’re saved because they went to church or prayed a prayer, but if their heart hasn’t changed, they’re still on the broad road. The Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). You don’t need a perfect church or a perfect teacher to know Christ. But if you’re truly saved, it will show. You will change. If there’s no change, there was no salvation. That’s what Scripture teaches, plain and simple.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

He does not say, your salvation will be canceled, if you are not taught, all that God commanded.

But those that are not taught as you put it are still responsible for walking with the Lord seeing they have access to God's Word and Jesus has provided access to THE Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

Sp of they continue living in sin walking after the flesh their salvation is definitely be cancelled.

This also hold true for those who have been taught error by attending church as most churches not teach error that even if you continue living in sin it';s all good your salvation won't be cancelled. That's actually a lie.

 

[TechWord]

That sounds reasonable on the surface, but it doesn’t match what the Bible actually teaches. Scripture is clear, real salvation always produces a changed heart and a changed life. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21–23 that “many” will call Him “Lord, Lord,” but He will respond, “I never knew you.” He didn’t say He used to know them. He said He never knew them. These people said the right words, but they lived in sin and never truly followed Him. That’s a false convert, not someone who lost their salvation because they never had it to begin with. Someone who talks like a Christian but was never actually born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. That means you won’t keep living the same way after being saved. Romans 6:1, 2 makes it clear, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” True salvation doesn’t just forgive you, it transforms you. You’ll have new desires, new priorities, and a new direction. You won’t be perfect, but you also won’t be comfortable staying in sin. You’ll want to grow, follow Jesus, and understand the Bible. 1 Peter 2:2 says new believers “desire the sincere milk of the word.” If there’s no desire for God’s Word, no conviction of sin, and no change, then no, that person isn’t saved.

This has nothing to do with whether someone got good teaching afterward. Good teaching helps, but it doesn’t cause salvation. Salvation causes the hunger to grow in Christ. Ezekiel 36:26, 27 says that when God saves someone, He gives them a new heart and puts His Spirit within them. That’s what drives a person to seek the truth. Whether by reading the Bible alone or finding a group to study with, a saved person will seek the things of God. If someone has no interest in the Bible, no desire to obey, and just keeps living like before, then they are still lost.

This is exactly what’s happening in many churches today. They are producing people who say Christian things but were never truly converted. Why? Because they’re preaching a man-centered gospel. Instead of calling people to repent and follow Jesus, they tell people to “invite Jesus into their heart” without ever explaining sin, judgment, and the cross. That’s not the gospel, it’s a trap. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, 14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

The narrow way isn’t found through a feel-good message or church membership. It’s found by turning from sin and trusting in Jesus alone. The modern habit of making the gospel easy and comfortable has caused massive confusion. People think they’re saved because they went to church or prayed a prayer, but if their heart hasn’t changed, they’re still on the broad road. The Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). You don’t need a perfect church or a perfect teacher to know Christ. But if you’re truly saved, it will show. You will change. If there’s no change, there was no salvation. That’s what Scripture teaches, plain and simple.

The points you have raised, have already been addressed in my previous post on this thread. It wouldn’t serve any purpose to repeat myself? And no one said, good teaching causes salvation.

 

[TechWord]

But those that are not taught as you put it are still responsible for walking with the Lord seeing they have access to God's Word and Jesus has provided access to THE Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

Sp of they continue living in sin walking after the flesh their salvation is definitely be cancelled.

This also hold true for those who have been taught error by attending church as most churches not teach error that even if you continue living in sin it';s all good your salvation won't be cancelled. That's actually a lie.

It would be nice, if you could quote a scripture that says a born again Christian can lose his salvation, if he lives in sin?

 

[rockytopva]

The Two Trumpets...

1. The Spirit (time in worship)
2. The Word (time in the word)

To me the main thing about a good church service, regardless of the church, is the time in Worship... And the time in the Word. Put those two together and you have got a fine church service!

Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. - Numbers 10:2

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

It would be nice, if you could quote a scripture that says a born again Christian can lose his salvation, if he lives in sin?

Top reasons why OSAS is not true

Romans 11:21,22
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

2 Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Romans 2:7-11
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
For there is no respect of persons with God.

James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(NOT in our own strength - see Philippians 4:13)

1 Peter 1:14-17
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Matthew 7:16-21
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

John 8:35
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

James 5:19,20
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Hebrews 10:28-31
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Only those led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14)

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If OSAS was actually true, the Lord wouldn't be saying what He says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 and these other scriptures wouldn't even be in God's Word!