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eleven
Lion King
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1396
Location: Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:27 am Post subject: The Bible cost HOW MUCH a lb.?!?!?!! |
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I need some opinions here.
Bible study in churches.
Is it appropriate to charge for it, or should it be free?
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6360
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: |
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Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
1Cr 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
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Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. |
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Luvnlife
Lion King
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Posts: 1200
Location: US
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: The Bible cost HOW MUCH a lb.?!?!?!! |
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| eleven wrote: | I need some opinions here.
Bible study in churches.
Is it appropriate to charge for it, or should it be free? |
Why do you ask?
Luv
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eleven
Lion King
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1396
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: Re: The Bible cost HOW MUCH a lb.?!?!?!! |
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| luvnlife wrote: | | eleven wrote: | I need some opinions here.
Bible study in churches.
Is it appropriate to charge for it, or should it be free? |
Why do you ask?
Luv |
I have attended many churches. Most of them offer Bible study free of charge. However, recently I came across some churches that do this for money. Some charge a flat out fee, others ask for an good will offering. I was just wondering what people thought of this in general.
Sooooo.....whataya think?
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pastor2022
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 727
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: |
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All of our Bible studies are free at our church. Sometimes we are asked to do specific studies that require special student books that we have to buy or videos/cds, etc. Sometimes we do ask for offerings to defer the costs of these special studies but they are not required. At no time do we even ask for offerings/monies for regular Bible studies.
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eleven
Lion King
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1396
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| pastor2022 wrote: | | All of our Bible studies are free at our church. Sometimes we are asked to do specific studies that require special student books that we have to buy or videos/cds, etc. Sometimes we do ask for offerings to defer the costs of these special studies but they are not required. At no time do we even ask for offerings/monies for regular Bible studies. |
Ok, I can understand that. But what do you think about this?
A church is offering a Bible study, where at the completion of it, the participant is given a certificate stating that they completed the course. The Bible study consists of 4 weeks (2 hours a week) and costs $50.00.
Do you all think this appropriate, not appropriate, no opinion........what?
I'm just curious.
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knuckle
Young Wolf
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 501
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Hi all-------------
I have known churches to offer courses in theology (where a degree could be obtained) that were charged for but not for a basic study.Leslie Hale offers free college courses at his church where all one buys is books.
The TBN crowd charge for everything.
I think a church has to be very careful about making merchandise of the word of God.The idea of charging for a study seems very wrong to me.God never charged anyone when the Spirit reveals something to them.Give freely as it was freely given,that said I believe one should give where they are fed.
much love------------knuckle |
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RevJP
Moderator
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
Posts: 6905
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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eleven, in the case you offered, it sounds like the congregation is offering a certified course, not a Bible Study.
It goes very tightly along the lines of what knuckle said.
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eleven
Lion King
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1396
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| RevJP wrote: | eleven, in the case you offered, it sounds like the congregation is offering a certified course, not a Bible Study.
It goes very tightly along the lines of what knuckle said. |
Well no, I appreciate what you both are saying, but it is advertised as a Bible study/Bible school. And you earn a certificate for attending, but what does that mean? It is not a degree, just a certificate. What are you supposed to do with that?
Ok, let me lay it on the line. I am very much opposed to this. I agree totally with what Knuckle said. Give freely. Is the word of God for sale because it comes wrapped in a certificate?? I mean, if you go to theology school, that is a bit different because you are paying for the degree. But this is not a degree. Merely a certificate that states you have attending this course.
I feel this pastor is way out of line. I feel he is selling the word of God and disguising it as a "course" in order to generate money. But maybe I'm wrong???
That's why I need you all's opinion. This is really bothering me.
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RevJP
Moderator
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
Posts: 6905
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: |
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It is difficult to offer an informed opinion based on limited information, but you did say that it "is advertised as a Bible study/Bible school."
This indicates to me that it is a formalized course of study in which the materials have either been specifically prepared, or purchased, and that someone considered as a qualified instructor is leading the course. Those materials have to be funded, and probably the person leading the course is on staff, also needing to be funded.
I'm assuming the study is being held on the church property, and its use must also be funded. Seems to me that $50 would just about cover the cost of the course and not put a lot of 'profit' in the church coffers.
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Psa 118:8 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. |
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eleven
Lion King
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1396
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| RevJP wrote: | It is difficult to offer an informed opinion based on limited information, but you did say that it "is advertised as a Bible study/Bible school."
This indicates to me that it is a formalized course of study in which the materials have either been specifically prepared, or purchased, and that someone considered as a qualified instructor is leading the course. Those materials have to be funded, and probably the person leading the course is on staff, also needing to be funded.
I'm assuming the study is being held on the church property, and its use must also be funded. Seems to me that $50 would just about cover the cost of the course and not put a lot of 'profit' in the church coffers. |
All of your assumptions are correct except for materials. There is no mention of materials. If you want to sign up for the "Bible school" it costs $50 a month. At the end of the course, you get a certificate that, as far as I can see, just means you finished the course. So???
$50.00 for 8 hours of Bible School.
That comes to $6.25 an hour, X 10 people , is $62.50 an hour......
Geez, maybe I'm in the wrong line of work? 
As far as the staff member leading the class needing to be funded...... Can I ask why??
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Brother John
Little Goldfish
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
Posts: 51
Location: Kansas
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:47 am Post subject: |
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| eleven wrote: | | RevJP wrote: | eleven, in the case you offered, it sounds like the congregation is offering a certified course, not a Bible Study.
It goes very tightly along the lines of what knuckle said. |
Ok, let me lay it on the line. I am very much opposed to this. I agree totally with what Knuckle said. Give freely. Is the word of God for sale because it comes wrapped in a certificate??
I feel this pastor is way out of line. I feel he is selling the word of God and disguising it as a "course" in order to generate money. But maybe I'm wrong???
That's why I need you all's opinion. This is really bothering me. |
From what you've told us, I can understand where you'd be concerned. It doesn't sound so legit.
I've seen lots of places advertise things like that, I only think it's "Okay" if it's simply to cover the cost of materials required for the class.
I only agree with advertising something as a "course" if it is acredited and can further ones career. Then 'charging' is appropriate.
Your Brother
John |
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eleven
Lion King
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1396
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Brother John wrote: |
From what you've told us, I can understand where you'd be concerned. It doesn't sound so legit.
I've seen lots of places advertise things like that, I only think it's "Okay" if it's simply to cover the cost of materials required for the class.
I only agree with advertising something as a "course" if it is acredited and can further ones career. Then 'charging' is appropriate.
Your Brother
John |
Thank you Brother John, and welcome.
I tend to agree with you. I don't think there is a problem charging for extra materials, or charging if you are going to earn some sort of degree. But calling this a "school" (not accredited) and offering a meaningless certificate........I don't see how this fee is justified.
One thing I forgot to mention is, this is not something that is advertised to the public. But it is elaborately advertised in the lobby of the church to the congregation of the church. This is a church with maybe 2000 members/attendants (guess-timation). The "course" is taught by the pastor, his son, and/or some of the staff people of the church. There is no other bible study or Sunday school offered there either. So what happens to people who can't afford $50.00 a month?
It just seems to me that this guy is doing nothing more than "selling" gospel. I was just wondering if other people are seeing this happen in their communities as well?
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