Kay

“if you think there is no distinction in the ‘church’ and other ministries i am very confused. Are you suggesting that Paul was writing to bible studies and youth groups etc. Surely not! What is the early church based on…the synagogue? There is most definately a ‘formal’ church in Pauls writing and this is precisely the context of what i am saying about men teaching. IF you think this is not the context of 1 Tim and 1 Cor please show me why?”

Mark,
Isn’t Bible study a time of worship by entering into the presence of God’s Word?
Why do you catagorize the preaching to or teaching of youth/children as less ‘formal’ or authoritative than other times believers gather to worship/learn the Word?
Why would it be o.k. to allow something less than authoritative teaching of the most gullible, most easily influenced people in the Church?
(“Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.”)
There were no church buildings in Ephesus. Houses for Christian worship did not begin to be built until two hundred years after the days of Paul, and were not general until Constantine put an end to persecution of Christians. In Paul’s day churches met, mostly, in the homes of Christian people. You may recall also that the Philippian church had its first meeting by a river and the second in Lydia’s home.