Megachurches may seem ubiquitous today, with more than 5 million people now worshiping at one of America's 1,650 megachurches on an average week. But research by Leadership Network's Warren Bird, who has tracked the megachurch phenomenon closely, indicates that four U.S. states still don't have a Protestant congregation with more than 2,000 weekly attenders.
In a year-end status update, Warren recently revealed that Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont still don't have a megachurch. Other stats of note:
Even though megachurches only account for 0.5 percent of the 320,000 Protestant churches in America, nearly 10 percent of Protestant churchgoers attend one....
Ross from PA, I just noticed your post. I think some of your " errors" in the ESV are not errors. For example, "gospel" is synonymous with "good news". Same thing with incorruptible crown and imperishable wreath. Stephanos in the Greek means "crown" and refers to the wreath "crown" given to athletes. Plus, in context, the preaching of the gospel is "folly" to the unbelieving world. Further, your claim about turning "Ashes" to "extinction" is incorrect because the ESV uses both
ESV, gender neutral just like the NIV. The ESV calls preaching 'folly'; which means to be a thoughtless or reckless act or idea (1 Cor 1:21). It replaces the 'gospel' with 'good news' and replaces the 'word preached' with 'message' (Heb 4:2). It replaces the 'incorruptible crown' with an 'imperishable wreath' (1 Cor 9:25). It replaces 'be saved' to 'are being saved' (Acts 2:47); this teaches a 'progressive salvation' leading one to believe their salvation is not complete in Christ, but through works. It replaces 'ashes' with 'extinction' (2 Pet 2:6); which teaches Darwin's evolutionary principles. The corruptions are just too numerous to mention here. In Acts 8 the eunuch asked Philip what hinders him to be baptized? Philip replies, If thou believest with ALL thine heart, thou mayest. At which the eunuch replied, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. You will NOT find this answer in the ESV (Acts 8:36-38).
"Megachurches may seem ubiquitous today, with more than 5 million people now worshiping at one of America's 1,650 megachurches"
The Biblical address for the true Church is ... Biblical (Sola Scriptura) Covenant (Under the Head of the Covenant Mediator) Reformed (Biblical Confessions and Catechisms) Calvinist (TULIP) Presbyterian (The Method from the NT) Protestant (God ordained this protest in the Reformation)
At this address you will find the Holy Spirit hard at work guiding (John 16:13) the elect into all truth and salvation.
Many of todays churches have Unbiblical addresses such as Arminian DIY salvation who teach that God requires mans cooperation and permission to save. They have a vocabulary which reveals this superstition. Then there are the Liberal churches who fabricate their own god to look like them and delete all verses of Scripture which don't reflect this philosophy.
TC, you have it correct, and some of the reasons that Dan Wallace said, [URL=http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=665]]]Why I Do Not Think the King James Bible Is the Best Translation Available Today[/URL]. The ESV is a fine translation, q.v., [URL=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012194730/faith.propadeutic.com/conclusions.html]]]Comparing Bible Translations--Conclusions[/URL]. My church officially uses the NASB, q.v.,[URL=http://www.lockman.org/nasb/nasbcmp.php]]]Why the NASB?[/URL]. But the ESV is a very good version, and if you're using a tablet and the AND_Bible app on Android, it's the only game in town.
Yes, some [URL=http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=48111249372]]]Some Gifts Not Present Today[/URL] and there are no more Apostles. John MacArthur almost always gives sound advice.
Oh OK so the KJV is the one true Bible, according to who? I have a hard time finding that in Scripture. In my opinion the ESV is an excellent translation. As for finding cessationism in Scripture, here's something intresting, to be an "apostle" Paul says one of the requirements is you must have seen Jesus physically. NOBODY has seen Jesus!! So if we must see Jesus, how can there be apostles today? And if there aren't any apostles the gifts have ceased. I don't mean to be proud or presumptuous, MacArthur has had a major influence on my thinking, and I really feel he is a true brother.
TC, you may find some information here regarding this discussion:
[URL=http://5ptsalt.com/?s=john+macarthur&x=0&y=0]]]blog's look at JM's teachings[/URL]
teaching that some will be saved after Christ's return? that Christ is not presently King-Priest? dispensationalism has weakened his perspective on Christ, in my opinion.
and regarding his strange fire conference which he then subsequently called out Sam Storms, John Piper and others..... where in scripture do you find cessationism?
to be fair the blog I linked to, I think are cessationists...
I've known many cessationists much of my adult life. those on fire for the Lord, sharing their faith, talk of things like "their calling"... how on earth is the Lord confirming this to them if there is nothing supernatural? The Christian life, by nature is supernatural. something to think about. many here will vehemently disagree.
Ross wrote: @teenchristian, where did I ever say he wasn't saved? I said he is a heretic because he changes God's Word to suit 'his' teaching. He's no different than any other new-age teacher who uses these modern perversions they call the Bible. They have a smorgasbord of translations so they can pick the one that suits their need. They are continually shaping the Word of God to suit their need instead of letting the Word of God shape them. Every Christian needs to get back to ONE authority...The King James Bible! When one uses more than one version they are, in a sense, committing idolatry; they're making their own god.
@teenchristian, where did I ever say he wasn't saved? I said he is a heretic because he changes God's Word to suit 'his' teaching. He's no different than any other new-age teacher who uses these modern perversions they call the Bible. They have a smorgasbord of translations so they can pick the one that suits their need. They are continually shaping the Word of God to suit their need instead of letting the Word of God shape them. Every Christian needs to get back to ONE authority...The King James Bible! When one uses more than one version they are, in a sense, committing idolatry; they're making their own god.
Ross wrote: @check your sources, he may have since clarified 'that' position, but he is still an heretical teacher as he changes God's Word if it does not suit his teaching. Can you list where and when he clarified himself? I would like to see this.
Search engines are our friends here.
http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/articles/blood.htm
not expecting it to change your view on J MacArthur, maybe just clarify so you get the whole story not just internet rumors.
Hey watch how you treat brother macarthur Ross! So he's not born again just because you don't agree with ONE statement?! Who made you God? And don't criticize the "Strange Fire" conference unless you've heard it!
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