Choosing a church is not always an easy task. There are so many things to consider when making this choice but hopefully the following tips will help you in making your decision. The place to start when choosing a church is in prayer - pray and ask God to show you where He wants you to be connected to Him and His people.
Then, take time to read over what they believe and make sure you are in alignment with what their belief statements are. You can typically find a church’s belief statements on their website or by emailing the pastor.
Note: If you are unsure about what you believe about certain aspects of faith, sit down with a trusted friend who is a Christian and talk it out with them. Remember, if you can’t find Scripture to back it up, then it’s probably not something we need to be a part of.
Next, make sure there are ways you can get connected to the people. Are there people your age you can relate to? Are there people who are older than you that can invest in you and offer mentorship to your life? Are there people younger than you that you can invest in as you continue to learn more about who God is and who He has made you to be? Are there people in this church of different cultural, socioeconomic, or ethnic backgrounds that can offer unique perspectives?
Then, ask yourself the question: Am I walking away encouraged each week? Not just by the message, but the members, the service opportunities, the worship, and God’s truths.
Next, make sure it is close enough to where you live that you can be connected and involved. Being able to do life (stay connected throughout the week) with those you are gathering with and being in community with is vital to being a part of the local church.
A note to consider:
So often we choose a church based on the type of music they play or whether the preacher is a five-star speaker, but in all honesty, those are pretty surface level reasons to pick a group of people we plan on doing life with. Church is not so much about the production as it is about the connection. The connection to God and His people. God calls us to community, not to a weekly concert or inspirational speech on how to live better. Is it okay if you love the music and the preacher? Of course, but those shouldn’t be the top two reasons we pick a church.
Just like a church should be sending people and growing people, it should be a place where you feel empowered and sent to share the Good News of Jesus with others each week, as well as a place where you are growing in your faith journey.
And one last point to consider as you discern where to go to church: remember, church really isn’t about us, it’s about God. In choosing a church, it’s easy to make it about us, but it’s about a group of people gathering together to worship this really good God and be encouraged to live out His callings on our life in order to make Heaven really, really crowded.
Some people will do this in a fancy building surrounded by beautiful stained glass windows and a giant organ while singing hymns. Others will gather in someone's home singing praise songs from a cellphone and reading Scripture together. It doesn’t really matter what it looks like. God’s just happy that it’s happening! Want more tips on how to get serious about your faith? Check out the Start Here Handbook.
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