Question: "What factors should one consider
when trying to find a good local church?"

Answer: When trying to find a good local church,
it’s good to remember that, just like the people in them, no church is perfect.
However,
there are many important issues that should be considered when choosing a church.
Some people live close to only a few churches, and their choices will be limited,
but for others there are many more options.
Be sure to pray about the churches you’re considering,
to be sure you’re following the Lord’s leading as you search.

Begin your search in the phone book, or online, to see all of your options.
Be especially sure to read a church’s doctrinal statement or statement of belief
to find out about their stance on important issues.
If from this initial research a church seems to be good and solid, visit the church
(including small groups or Sunday schools classes) several weeks
while prayerfully considering whether to join as a member.

Listed below are some important things you should consider in your search to find a church.

1. What is being preached and taught?

The Bible is clear
that we should only listen to those who preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:6-9).

If any other message is being given in its place,
then it is not a Christ-following church and you should move on to another one
(Ephesians 1:22; 4:15, Colossians 1:18).

The church should be speaking God’s truth as given to us through His inspired Word,
the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
The truth of the gospel is that we are sinners (Romans 3:23), that we need a savior,
and that Jesus is the only way of salvation (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9).
The gospel,
as well as all the other teachings of the Bible, should be taught accurately and consistently.

Besides the message of salvation,
churches vary when it comes to their views on the Trinity, the authority of the Bible,
eternal security, free will, God’s sovereignty, election of the saints,
eschatology (beliefs about the end times), and other theological issues.
These are all important issues that we should seek to understand, and,
as much as we are able, we should choose a church based on the beliefs
we have about these and other church doctrines.

If you don’t know where you stand on these issues,
you should try to find a church that emphasizes and teaches that the Bible is God’s inspired word
and that believes in God’s sovereignty.
God’s sovereignty is seen in the fact that God is lovingly and powerfully in control
of all of history, and working in all our lives to ensure His plan is carried out
in every detail and in His perfect ways (though often not understood by us).

Avoid a church where you’re told that God only wants happiness, good health,
success, and wealth for you;

the Bible says that, as Christians,
we should expect persecution and suffering for the cause of Christ (Matthew 5).
God uses our pain to encourage others and to grow us.

While God desires us to be happy, He is more concerned with our holiness
than our temporal happiness.

2. Is the church a place of fellowship and community?

The early church of Acts 2:42-47 “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching
and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread [Holy Communion] together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Fellowship should indeed include the observance of God’s ordinances for the church
—communion (the Lord’s Supper) and believers’ baptism (Acts 2:38).

Also,
the church you choose should be welcoming to all. We should welcome sinners
yet speak the truth to them about their sin. The people of the church should be committed
to encouraging one another to grow in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Sometimes it’s hard to find a church where people don’t just show up on Sunday,
but instead truly invest in each others’ lives.
Part of this investment is seen in how active and important Sunday school classes,
community groups, small groups, youth groups, and other support groups are within the church.

If you are a parent,
it is especially important that your children find an enjoyable and meaningful group
to join during the formative years of their lives.
Many kids don’t have Christian friends at their schools
and desperately need this peer influence in their lives (Ephesians 6:4).
While married couples are usually abundant in churches, it can be more difficult
for people in other life stages to connect in some churches. If you are single,
divorced, widowed, or have been abused, look for churches that include others
who are in the same stage or experience as you.

3. Is the church focused on reaching out to others, outside the church,
with the message of the gospel and practical service?

Christ commanded us to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth,
to all unreached peoples (Matthew 28:19-20).
The church should be leading its members in this, preparing them to share the gospel
with their neighbors and supporting or even leading local or international missions trips.
We should be caring for the poor, the widowed, and everyone whom we can help (James 1:22-27, 1 Peter 4:10).
Some churches don’t have the resources to reach out to the community with formal groups,
but the individuals in the church should be volunteering in the community
and serving their neighbors, on their own or with friends.

Be sure to also look for a place to serve within your church.

4. Does the style of music fit with your taste or preferences?

The older hymns are often rich with truth and important doctrines that can bolster our faith,
and there are also many newer songs and choruses that are uplifting and encouraging.
The purpose of music in a church should be to lead the people closer to the Lord
in worship and adoration. Many of us are used to one style of music as opposed to another,
just out of habit or childhood experiences. While music style should be taken into consideration,
it should not be the deciding factor in finding a good church.



© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries.
www.gotquestions.org

A 'Church' doesn't actually refer to a building... it's true meaning is a 'group of people gathered together' in worship! The building is immaterial. The 'my church is bigger than your church!' argument doesn't stand well in the eye's of Jesus! You can have a 'church' of people in any building, even a bus stop! :) What matters is that you worship - not that your building has more bricks than anybody else's! A building is just a building. It's address will not save you... only you can save you by promoting the words of Jesus Christ & that of his father... God of Israel? Jehovah? Y.H.W.H etc etc? Let's not get confused here - Jesus wasn't God! He wasn't his own father anymore than I am my own father! :)

Isa_9:6,

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

John 1

1, In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2, The same was in the beginning with God.

3, All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4, In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5, And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.


14. Joh_1:14, And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)

full of grace and truth. .

I was baptized in a baptist church in Port Orchard WA in 2000. Aside from the arguments at bible studies, it was the best church I'd ever been to. It was the only church I'd ever belonged to. I actually looked forward to the Sunday message. The people were great and preacher was phenomenal. A VERY smart guy. (plus, after I set up his satellite dish, he'd invite me over after worship to watch football, in season)
I didn't belong to churches before then because I didn't like the politics. After moving back to Iowa and looking around for a church, it's still the same. The churches around here are about increasing the congregation to increase the revenue to buy more building and more stuff. The people gossip about each other. Some even gossip about their own preachers.
Finding a good church is hard to do.

My Brother, I can really relate to how you feel.

After having been in the presence of godly love and fellowship there is nothing more

to be desired than to have that again and more.

Heaven will be great!!!

There will be a continual fellowship and praise to Almighty God!!!

While we are here...let us share the blessings that we once received with those who are new to the concept of Christian love.

Give to others what we ourselves where once given and still we obtain.

The Love of God is sealed in our hearts...yet for that Great Day!

I love The Lord and my brothers and sisters in Christ!!!

"The Apostle" with Robert Duvall

http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/the-apostle/going-to-church



Going to Church

It could be argued that I was spoiled by that little church in Port Orchard. It really didn't take that long to become close with a lot of the folks there. Getting together to do stuff didn't have to be a church function. And even Preacher would often call and ask, "Hey, man. You wanna go do something?"
Why can't more churches be that way? They didn't have to like me or even take me in. They did so with open arms and had no expectations of me other than what I expected of them; respect, friendship, fellowship etc. There were no grand plans of adding on to the building or aquiring equipment. Finances were never discussed on Sunday. Most of us that were there on Sunday were there on Wednesday for bible study. We were just a group of folks with at least one thing in common.
I do desire that, again. More would be nice but it's not required.

With Christ in the center the fellowship is perfect even with it's flaws.
I am very familiar with good Christian fellowship.
I felt closer to my pastor and his wife than I did to my own parents.
Their love and care for my soul was quite impressive. Yes, bible study was as nourishing as the finest meal.

But you must realize we are near if not at the end of the church age.
The work was done well. God knows our hearts and He knows who are His.
We don't. But He does. So we just love one another...share healing words...
encourage one another as we've been taught by example.
So we must continue to bid others to come into the kingdom as others' embraced us
and bid us to come in.

Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after God's Righteousness.

Show them good fellowship.

Open the Word and feed them daily.

"The harvest is plentiful..."


John 4:34-38
34, Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

35, Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?

behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;
for they are white already to harvest.

36, And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal:
that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

37, And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

38, I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured,
and ye are entered into their labours.

+ + + + +


It was then and still is,

"Your Father's good pleasure to give you (and others) the kingdom" Luk_12:32

Keep Your Underwear On!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=J2hm6bHCdd8

by Jentezen Franklin

www.reverendfun.com

http://www.reverendfun.com/add_toon_info.php?date=20050902&language=en

Paul Washer Shocks the Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=B7wsXmvuP7U

Really reviewed your post.

I am christian in religion. Your message gives me too much pleasure to read and I appreciate your thoughts. I belong to Hawaii to a christian family. we have Maui wedding business. I stay with family.

I use these dating sites to make good friendship with a human being who is determined and clear cut.

Can you do friendship with me.

dating72, Thank you for your very kind words. It's wonderful that you are in a christian family. I hope you continue to mingle in the Christian Singles forum.