What are your #1 priorities when searching for a church?
- Thread starter Sanders
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I don't think a person will ever find a group of saints that is 100% in line with God's word. That would mean that some people have an absolute perfect knowledge, which can't be true. If some group claims to have perfect knowledge it's not a group I'd be a part of since it's obvious they'd be liars. I'd settle for a group that holds to the clear and basic truths of the gospel and doesn't pretend to know a lot more than they actually do.
-
1
- Show all
Well a teacher of God's word is held to a high accountability and will incur a stricter judgement. The Bible is God's holy words and needs to be handled correctly. Check out Andy Woods at www.slbc.org He's an accurate teacher. So I know it is possible.
You need a place where they love Jesus and obey his commands
The first ten and the understanding 603
The church is willing to stand against the world. No babying no prosperity teaching but teaching the word of God
I found one i used to be catholic and the teachings left me with a mountain of questions.
I stumbled into my Lord and saviour by meeting a Jewish believer in christ.
After that i found a congregation when i needed it most.
I greatly enjoy being with brothers and sisters.
The first ten and the understanding 603
The church is willing to stand against the world. No babying no prosperity teaching but teaching the word of God
I found one i used to be catholic and the teachings left me with a mountain of questions.
I stumbled into my Lord and saviour by meeting a Jewish believer in christ.
After that i found a congregation when i needed it most.
I greatly enjoy being with brothers and sisters.
-
1
- Show all
In answer to the OP, this is what I do to find the right Church; I ask the Lord which Church He wants me to go to, then I watch it unfold… He leads me, somehow, and I have visited many Churches, and made many new friends over the last 30+ years. If you pray, trust, then try a Church you feel interested in… it’s a good start… and you will know.
1. Are they actually Christians, or are they Christians in name only who leave out parts of the Bible that are inconvenient? Do they tolerate alphabet brigade gnostic heresy? etc.
2. Do they play their music too loud? I don't like these guitar bands that get up on stage and have the spotlight on them and sing bad "Christian rock". I would much rather prefer traditional hymns the whole congregation sings, but I am willing to endure these guitar bands so long as they don't make me go deaf.
3. Is there an actual community? Do people hang around before and after service to talk? Or do the people rush to vacate the building and get into their cars to go home and watch TV ASAP? If so then I mind as well have save myself the trouble, stayed home, and watched a sermon from a better preacher on Youtube.
4. Are the sermons actually good? Is he enlightening his congregation? Does the preacher have conviction in his heart? Or is he lukewarm and preaching to the choir and doing the same "come down and confess and be saved!" message over and over?
5. I become more leery of a Church if it looks more like a business. "Oh look, they've got an admin desk, bookstore/coffee shop, a school, a gym, a pool, basketball court, etc. Oh and also the head pastor who keeps guilting you for your tithe money doesn't actually live around here and visit members in the congregation in need. He lives 50 miles away by the beach in his mansion and only drives here in his luxury car on Sundays. I am most partial to groups that just meet in some guy's house or only need a little bit of money to own a field that everybody meets at rather than funding big premises.
2. Do they play their music too loud? I don't like these guitar bands that get up on stage and have the spotlight on them and sing bad "Christian rock". I would much rather prefer traditional hymns the whole congregation sings, but I am willing to endure these guitar bands so long as they don't make me go deaf.
3. Is there an actual community? Do people hang around before and after service to talk? Or do the people rush to vacate the building and get into their cars to go home and watch TV ASAP? If so then I mind as well have save myself the trouble, stayed home, and watched a sermon from a better preacher on Youtube.
4. Are the sermons actually good? Is he enlightening his congregation? Does the preacher have conviction in his heart? Or is he lukewarm and preaching to the choir and doing the same "come down and confess and be saved!" message over and over?
5. I become more leery of a Church if it looks more like a business. "Oh look, they've got an admin desk, bookstore/coffee shop, a school, a gym, a pool, basketball court, etc. Oh and also the head pastor who keeps guilting you for your tithe money doesn't actually live around here and visit members in the congregation in need. He lives 50 miles away by the beach in his mansion and only drives here in his luxury car on Sundays. I am most partial to groups that just meet in some guy's house or only need a little bit of money to own a field that everybody meets at rather than funding big premises.
-
1
- Show all