Dave

I think we first need to work out what each other is talking about, but at Ryde Pressie I am not sure if we have what you call a “formal”church meeting. It is one of the times during the average week that we meet together as a church. It is no more formal than what we call our “Small Church” meetings during the week, or what we call our “Kid’s Church”. Nor is it more formal than things we do where we have not attached the word “formal” – like our dvd night, our kid’s club and teens, or even my “open office” time each week where someone comes for a chat. All of these things are church, and they are all a part of Ryde Pressie church and the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2- To the “Formal” Church of God in Corinth?
2 Corinthians 1:1- To the “Formal” Church of God in Corinth?
Hebrews 10:25- Let us not give up “formally” meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing?

I thought there just had to be two or three gathering together in the name of Jesus. I know they told me at college that there had to be the regular practicing of the sacraments and a number of other ingredients, but even “formal” church gatherings do not do all these things everytime they meet.

What exactly makes the gathering in homes in the NT “formal”?

With regards to your last couple of questions I will hold off commenting for now, but I did have one more thing to say…

“Pastor is both in my opinion. You do not want someone as a pastor who is not gifted to be there. Also it is an office.”

I am not sure what you mean by office, as the word does not appear in my Bible, but being a pastor is specifically mentioned in scripture as a gift (Eph 4). If a person is gifted by the Holy Spirit (given to the church by Jesus), what else is there that they need to be? Please don’t say male!! 😉