what do you look for in a local church

sermonindex Oct 20, 2013

Curious on some feedback. What is important finding a local church? For me I appreciate so much of a verse by verse expository preaching. I can do without some of the high end worship service, but really enjoy some good sound word for word teaching. I think I am hoping and asking alot these days though. Im really surpised that there is not many churches in my area that offer that, then again maybe that is just to picky! What might be your thoughts, is that picky or what is something you look for in a church or like in your church.

sermonindex Oct 20, 2013

Jesus.......and (at least) a once a week prayer meeting.

sermonindex Oct 20, 2013

People that love Jesus and each other.

S

Sidewalk Oct 20, 2013

Just-in, cool! Where is that church??

The organized church tends to make me want to drink and harm myself and others. I prefer the disorganized church...

Relax, tongue in cheek!

Churches where you can sit and be comfortable are seemingly everywhere. Some are so large you can go and remain anonymous for years. But sometimes you come across a few people who have a heart for making a difference in ministry to some demographic that doesn't have the gospel. You get busy with them, and you may find church taking on a new meaning and deep refreshment in your soul.

The sit-around churches always seem to find something to fight about, then they all go off to infect other churches...

I am thinking about changing my little sign from "Sidewalk Sunday School" to: "Disorganized Church. World Headquarters."

Wonder what kind of a crowd that might draw?

S

Sree Oct 21, 2013

I recently prepared a sermon on fellowship and this is what I had on finding whether a Church that you attend is what God wants you to attend.

1 Cor 14-24:- But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

The word spoke in that Church by Prophets should disclose the inner motives of your heart, showing the conscious and unconscious sins in your life, then it means that it is a Church in which God has given a word according to your need. He wants you to sit there and hear it. Get convicted, repent and be more Christ like in your life.

But sadly many Christians look for a Church that will only encourage them without convicting them. But God's word spoken in Spirit will first convict the worldliness inside us (John 16-8). And then encourage us to draw near to Christ for receiving grace to be an overcomer.

John 13:35- By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

This is what we need to look for in a Church, do we have brothers who love one another. I recently attended a wedding of a brother in Church, I was amazed at how the brothers shared the wedding work. They stayed in the wedding hall from morning to late night, took care of entire function, all this because they are connected to one another through Christ.

sermonindex Oct 21, 2013

by Sidewalk on 2013/10/20 21:32:08
Just-in, cool! Where is that church??

Relax, tongue in cheek!

For a minute there, I thought you really believed there were no people on earth that loved Jesus and each other, too.

K

Koheleth Oct 22, 2013

For a minute there, I thought you really believed there were no people on earth that loved Jesus and each other, too.

Oh, we believe there are such people. They are just hidden. Very, very well hidden.

sermonindex Oct 22, 2013

OK I know what it looks like now...it looks like the denomination. I say that with some biased right now. A little sad about a situation here. We homeschool our children and they are part of a PE class a youth pastor and wife established here locally that meets at a park. a Wonderful couple who have a passion to get kids moving. They are looking for a church in our area to use there facility for a couple of months when the weather gets cold. The churches they called all said NO, this couple was willing to pay for the facility too. You have to be a member or just no without a reason! Huh thought we were all joined to Christ. Anyways no one has been willing to meet with them and discuss, they all have said no over the phone. I don't understand this. Is this the church Christ wants? One church I used to attend was one that said no, doesn't mind letting the government us it as a voting precinct.

sermonindex Oct 22, 2013

by Koheleth on 2013/10/22 10:21:49

For a minute there, I thought you really believed there were no people on earth that loved Jesus and each other, too.
Oh, we believe there are such people. They are just hidden. Very, very well hidden.

Yes, "Thy hidden ones", are not known for marketing with billboards and neon signs to "add to the church daily".

Many years ago, I had the thought that home churches would grow as home schools grew. One of the major reasons people home school is the premise that "if it is broke, why duplicate it"? And this is referring to public schools.

In the same vein, "why duplicate it, if it is broken", can also refer to why house churches have sprung up everywhere in response to the dysfunctional denominations which, like public schools have administrative overseers and are program centric rather than tailored to the individual. Homeschools are more organic which lends itself to being tailored to each individual, allowing freedom to choose from a very wide variety of curriculums and teaching methods.

House Churches, not controlled by an administrative hierarchy have the freedom to be led of the Lord in a more organic, relational atmosphere. Definitely not program centric and able to provide body ministry in meaningful ways.

That has been my observation through the years as I have been witnessing the parallel growth of Home Churches and Home Schooling.

D

DEADn Oct 22, 2013

That is a tough question for me because I think of what I look for in a church and what is ideal in a church.

I have often wondered what is the role of prayer in a church. Should it only take up 5-10 minutes of a service and then just be taken home or met with others sometime during the week? This is one thing I look for in a church. Without any prayer a church is usually worthless. Beyond that I think a church should love one another, even the unlovely and not be so dogmatic with religious belief that it turns people away. This includes reaching out to other denominations as well as doing things in the community that don't require just being in the 4 walls of a church.
I also wish that churches would have more testimonies of God in peoples lives. A person can tell when something is God vs. them trying hard to believe it was God. In that the testimony can give hope to those who are struggling.

Personally, I think these ideas are utopia dreams but I am not aware of any church, at the moment, that does these thing. Doesn't mean there aren't it is just that I am not aware of any.

John

sermonindex Oct 22, 2013

I like what Jeremiah was looking for in a gathering of men.

Men who loved the Lord with all their heart (no spiritual adultery).

Men who were honest (not liars).

Men who did not take advantage of the sheep. (treacherous).

Men who are valiant for the truth.

Men who knew the Lord.

Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jer 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
Jer 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.