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Why attending church is vital:
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of
finding a church and attending on a regular basis.
We already have our own groups of friends and
activities, and have no desire to step out of our
comfort zones. So why bother?
1.
Obedience:
The Bible commands us to come together with other
believers in Christ and “fellowship.” Hebrews 10:25,
[Paul speaking], tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: so much more the more, as you see
the day approaching.”
The early church steadfastly continued in fellowship
with one another (Acts 2:24).
2.
Prayer:
We are encouraged through prayer in two ways. One, when
others pray for us. There is a “building up” and
strengthening that occurs in us as others pray for us.
Second, when we pray for others. Our lives are greatly
encouraged when we pray for someone and see their lives
powerfully changed.
3.
Fellowship:
When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have
embarked on a new journey. We do not merely wait until
we die to partake of a new life (eternal). Our new life
begins now. But this new life is different, sometimes
even foreign to anything else we have ever known. We
need direction and encouragement. Having a relationship
with other believers, helps us grow in our new life. We
want to surround ourselves with people who have the same
desire and passion to grow in their relationship with
Jesus Christ. We are influenced by those with whom we
associate.
4.
Old life vs. new life:
Depending on when we accept Christ, we may have spent
several years, even decades, living a life with
ourselves as the “King”. We never had a relationship
with Christ. Now, we do. But the habits and desires of
our “old” lives will still pull at us and try to draw us
away from God’s will (relationship with Him). Consider
the analogy: we arrive in a park and see two separate
picnic benches. One bench is loaded with cookies, candy
and all sorts of junk food. The other bench is full of
organic vegetables, fruits and wholesome food. Which
bench is the more healthy choice for our bodies? When
our spiritual lives become “hungry”, we must choose upon
which source we will feed. We can choose to feed
ourselves based on our “old” lives (junk food), or we
can feed ourselves on our “new” life (wholesome food).
If we feed on the old life, we revert back to the old
habits and ways that are contrary to God’s ways and
prohibit growth in our walk (relationship) with Christ.
Or, we feed on the new life, which means we turn to
Christ and ask for strength and direction.
5.
Accountability:
It is easy to say we are living in a certain manner, but
in another situation, do the contrary. Accountability
with others challenges us to be true in every situation,
i.e. maintain the same character no matter where we are
or with whom we socialize.
6.
Encouragement:
Our new life in Christ is not going to be easy. We will
suffer moments of confusion, despair, frustration,
persecution (being belittled for our new faith) and even
feeling like we are lost. Although Christ is the remedy
to all our woes, it is helpful to have a person who can
encourage us. Others can also offer wisdom and
direction.
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What defines a true, healthy, safe
church?
All of us have heard terrible stories about churches
from friends, family or personal experience. The
news today is flooded with churches accused of
various scandals, including sexual abuse. These
actions are absolutely without excuse!
Unfortunately, these sad events mar the reputations
of all churches. The following recommendations are
guidelines to help you find a church that accurately
preaches the Word of God (Bible) and offers a
challenging, encouraging and “safe” environment in
which to grow in your relationship with Christ.
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How to find a church:
Trying out churches alone can be intimidating.
Consider some of the following options:
1.
Do
you have any family or friends that currently attend a
church? Perhaps a fellow sports team member or a work
mate can recommend a church or go with you to try one.
2.
Many times others will invite you to church. Don’t be
afraid to take them up on their offer.
3.
If
you do not know someone who fits the above, you can
always go for the phone book. If you have no idea what
denomination to try or where/how to start, look for a
non-denominational church near your home.
1.
Doctrine.
Many churches argue and split over doctrine. Some
doctrines are worth arguing over, i.e. “salvation
issues.” Others are not so important as to split a
congregation. BeStrong Ministries believes that a
healthy church must believe the following (doctrines
that are worth choosing/not choosing a church):
A.
Forgiveness of sins is Divine. Does the church believe
in the deity (divinity) of Jesus Christ?
B.
Salvation through Christ
only,
it is the free gift of God (grace), received by faith.
There is nothing an individual can add or subtract from
his salvation through Christ. Salvation is for all
mankind—no partiality of persons.
C.
Eternal life can only be accomplished through One who
has conquered death. Does the church believe in the
literal and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ?
D.
Does the church believe the
Bible is infallible,
the ultimate authority for right and wrong? To live a
godly life, one must have a solid reference for decision
making, instruction, correction, value system of
morality and so forth.
E.
A
last note regarding doctrine. BeStrong Ministries is
unable to dictate which doctrinal beliefs are truly
important, and which are not. For most people, it is
based on traditions or what they were accustomed to
growing up. Each individual must ask God which
doctrines are undisputable, and which are allowed some
variation. Ask God what He thinks. He will answer, but
be prepared it may not match your preconceived ideas!
2.
Another “absolute” is
obedience to the Bible.
This is a sticky area to discuss. We do not encourage
judging one another. However, a body of believers who
want to know God more and follow Him, will exhibit
certain behaviors in their life. REMEMBER! No
individual has all his “ducks in a row”! All of us are
in a process of growth.
A.
TIP: Do not judge the entire church on the basis of a
few individuals. We desire to be united into a “body of
Christ”, but we have not achieved that goal yet.
B.
TIP: Use your common sense. Does the majority of the
congregation exhibit a desire, passion, or motivation to
change their lives and become like Christ? Or does the
majority just like getting their “slate wiped clean” so
they can go sin some more.
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Basic factors to
consider when choosing a
church:
1.
Denomination:
Many denominations exist within the realm of
“Christianity.” BeStrong Ministries does not support or
criticize any particular denomination (we are
non-denominational). Some individuals prefer to stay within a certain denomination, i.e. Baptist,
Methodist, Pentecostal, etc. Because so many variations
exist not only between each denomination, but also
within each denomination, it is difficult to decide on a
choice of a church based on denomination.
2.
Friendliness:
How hospitable is the church? Some personalities will
prefer different “amounts” of friendliness. Some people
do not like to be noticed at first when they are
searching
for a church. They prefer to remain unnoticed in a
pew. But remember, that church may become your future
church home. Other people are more social, so naturally
are drawn to more open and friendly churches. A lot of
this factor depends on your personality, but there is a
balance. You don’t want to be overrun as a newcomer,
but also don’t want to be left alone and feel like an
“outsider”.
Do
you feel like you are being coerced into joining, or are
you given some breathing space to check things out and
decide in your time?
3.
Atmosphere:
When you enter the church, are you greeted by a bright,
cheerful atmosphere that encourages and is joyous? Or
is the atmosphere dark and depressing? Are the majority
of the members drawn within themselves, or excited to be
around other believers?
Atmosphere is also influenced by the dress code. Are
members dressed up, or more casual? What is your
preference? Are you more traditional and expect the
same from others, or are do you enjoy “casual”?
4.
Worship:
There are so many different forms of worship today. One
extreme is very traditional hymns or chants; while on
the other extreme is heavy drums and instruments,
sounding something akin to “alternative” or “rock” music
with Christian lyrics. What is your preference? Based
on traditions or experience, you may prefer one over the
other. Your age can also cause you to lean one way or
the other. BeStrong Ministries does not believe there
is a right way or a wrong way to worship. Jesus is
interested in our heart, not the style of music we use
to speak our words of adoration.
5.
Pastor:
The pastor plays a crucial role in the direction and
overall health of a church. Consider the following:
A.
Are the pastors sermons based on the Word of God
(Bible)? Or does he teach unscriptural teachings? If
the pastor’s teachings stray from the Word of God, be
strongly cautioned that the overall direction of the
church will be contrary to God’s will and desires.
B.
Does the pastor “walk the talk”, i.e. lives and
practices what he teaches? Remember no one is perfect,
so don’t expect your pastor to be without error.
However the pastor should exhibit a strong desire to
live according to the Word of God, and be humble enough
to admit his mistakes.
C.
Style of sermons will vary widely. Some pastors deliver
loud, fiery, passionate sermons that give you goose
bumps when you listen. Other pastors are quiet, but
direct. Is the pastor funny or a complete bore? What
do you prefer?
D.
Are the pastor’s sermons applicable to daily life, or
are they abstract and difficult to understand?
6.
Format: Traditional vs. Modern/Contemporary.
Similar to worship, the format of the service can be
very traditional and “old style” or very modern and
“contemporary”. Again, this is a personal preference.
7.
Programs:
Many churches offer a variety of programs, such as child
Sunday school classes, groups for singles, married’s,
teenagers, college students, etc. Depending on the size
of the church, some have groups for losing weight,
exercising together, camping trips and outdoor
adventures and more. There actually are a lot of
exciting things to do in churches these days!
8.
Small Groups:
Small groups are a great way to maintain closer
relationships with a part of the congregation. Small
groups meet for specific purposes to study a particular
subject, i.e. study book of John, or study the topic of
reviving your marriage. Some meet with certain people,
i.e. a group for teen girls about modesty or single moms
for raising children. There are a million small groups
available and some churches offer more than others. If
you attend a church that doesn’t offer a small group
that interests you, talk to the Pastor about starting
your own small group!
9.
Ministry Opportunities:
It is important to become involved in a ministry at some
level. Understanding many of us have families, jobs and
other responsibilities, many churches offer a variety of
ministry opportunities with varying levels of time
commitment. A ministry service could be watching
children during a church service, or visiting members of
your church who are ill or in the hospital. Some
churches offer short-term mission trips or inner city
outreach. Working in soup kitchens, street
evangelizing, taking trained dogs into nursing homes or
helping children read are just a few examples of
ministry opportunities through a church. Again, if you
are interested in a ministry idea that your church
doesn’t offer, talk to the Pastor and ask if you can be
the first!
10.
Size:
Church size ranges from a dozen individuals meeting in a
home to 10,000 members or more. Small and large both
have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Some features to consider are:
A.
Smaller churches will be more close-knit; feel more like
a second family. Members sometimes maintain closer
relationships with other members than in larger
churches. In small churches, individuals tend to feel
like they play a role in the overall function of the
church. Bigger churches can make one feel like just a
number without special importance to the church. (Even
though that isn’t true, the large size can create that
atmosphere). In large churches it is more difficult to
get “plugged in.”
B.
Large churches have the advantage of offering more
programs and wider variety of small groups, as well as
having more formalized (Church organizes and leads as
opposed to self-initiation) ministry opportunities.
Smaller churches don’t have the advantage of numbers, so
tend to offer less programs and less formalized ministry
opportunities.
C.
Larger churches offer more services times, i.e. a 5:00
pm and 7:00 pm Saturday night service and 9:00 am and
11:00 am Sunday morning services. All the same service
and sermon, but different times. Smaller churches will
most likely have one, maybe two services.
11.
Location:
Where is the church located in reference to your home?
What service times does the church offer? In some areas,
there are numerous good churches. Sometimes it can be
as simple as picking one that is most convenient in
location and times.
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Final Tips:
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No Church is perfect. Restrain from judging. Be
gracious to others; no one is perfect!
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DON’T GIVE UP! If you have a bad experience
with a church, don’t give up. Keep trying
others! There are plenty of great churches, but
it may take a few times to find one.
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Get involved. Once you find a church you like,
make the effort to get involved, via small
group, ministry, etc.
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Even when you find a great church home, remember
that Christ is our ultimate source of strength
and encouragement. Don’t rely on the church as
sole source of support and “food.”
If
you have other suggestions that helped you find a
church, please email them to us. We will post them to
help others!
Good luck! Share your success stories with us at
share@strongwithGod.org.
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