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How To Find A Good
Church
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By
Dr. Dale A. Robbins
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Heb 10:25 (KJV)
Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some
is;
but exhorting [warning
and encouraging] one another:
and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.
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It goes without
saying that every believer should have a church home where they attend
regularly.. If you are not a part of such a fellowship, the following
advice will be invaluable to your search. 1. Look for a church prayerfully. As is
the case with all others aspects of a Christians decisions, you should
begin your search for a church by seeking the Lords direction. The Bible
promises, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your
paths" (Prov. 3:6). 2. Search for prospects. You might look
for listings in the newspaper or in the yellow pages. Always seek the
congregation which is evangelical and Bible-based. A referral from a
trusted Christian friend is the most frequent way people are introduced to
a church. A visit or two is helpful, but there is no way to fully evaluate
a church without attending most services for a month or
so. 3. Keep in mind that youre looking for
a fellowship of believers. A church is not a building, nor is it merely a
ministry, it is the body of Christ. So seek people who love the Lord and
who love each other -- people that will love you and people to whom you
can give your love. 4. Look for the church that preaches
the Word of God. -- Seek the fellowship that has sound doctrine, proclaims
the Word, and sincerely lifts up the Lord Jesus Christ in worship and in
all they do. Much of this can be discovered by observation, but most
fellowships have a printed statement of their doctrines they will provide
to you upon request. For clarity, you can speak with the pastor or
leadership about their beliefs or practices. 5. Look for a church that has good
character. Seek a loving, peaceful, stable church which has a pastor
devoted to godliness, prayer and the word, which are more important than
his eloquence, education or charisma. 6. Look for a church that will help
draw you closer to Christ. It might be nice to find a church where the
music is flawless, where the seats are padded and the minister dismisses
promptly at noon. But more importantly, you need a church that cares about
you and who will help meet your spiritual needs -- that will inspire you
to grow in Christ, and will motivate you toward the aspirations of God.
You need a church whose preaching and teaching will not merely appease or
entertain you, but will boldly challenge you to advance beyond your
comfort zones to live toward Gods high ideals. 7. Look for a church where you can
become committed. In many ways, your relationship with the church is
similar to a marriage -- you cant get any more out of it than what you
put into it. The only church in which you will ever grow and mature
spiritually is the fellowship where you will commit yourself and get
involved -- where the people submit themselves to God and to each other --
where they will both encourage you and hold you
accountable. 8. Seek that fellowship that is
attempting to reach lost souls. Find the fellowship that is seeking to
bring lives to Christ, both in their community and on foreign mission
fields. Such a church understands its purpose and will provide a healthy
environment in which to grow. 9. Look for a church where you can
contribute. Ive often heard the comparison made between a church and a
restaurant -- a place where you get served a meal. But actually, the
church is more like a pot luck dinner. What you bring with you to church
is added to the content of the meal. Your contribution to the gathering
helps to make it what it is. Therefore, seek the church where you can roll
up your sleeves and help them to minister to others. Dont look for a
church that will only "serve you," but look for a church in which you can
"serve." Always remember, a church is the combination of what its people
are. So if you want your church to be the best it can be, you must be the
best you can be. A church can never rise above what its individual
members are. 10. Be ready to accept the
individuality of a church. Frequently people look for a church like the
one in which they got saved, or like one they see on TV. But this is
futile, because even though a church might have the same beliefs or
similarities as another, every church is distinct and different in its
personality, just like people are. Always use the Bible as the standard to
measure a church -- not other churches. 11. Look for a church with reasonable
expectations. Dont bother looking for a perfect church, because there
arent any. In every church you will find people who are wonderful and
some who arent. Jesus taught that it was common for weeds to be found
growing together with the crops (Matt. 13:24-30). Also, in every church,
youll find some things done well, and others that are not. Dont worry
about finding a perfect pastor, either. Trust me, theyre all human and
will make mistakes. But look for a pastor who is sincere, who is trying
his best to live a godly moral life, and who is proclaiming the
uncompromised Word of God. In short, be content with the church that is
doing the best they can. There are many good churches in your
community. Trust the Lord to guide you to the fellowship where he wants
you, and become faithful there. Dont be a church hopper -- bouncing
around to one church after another each week. God wants you to be
submitted to the accountability of spiritual leaders who will help you and
even correct you when necessary (Heb. 13:17), and this isnt possible
unless you are rooted somewhere. Dont have an neglectful attitude, going
to church only when you feel like it. Attend faithfully and show up on
time. Serve your church at least as diligently as you would your employer.
Remember, the Lord views your attitude toward His church as your attitude
toward Him (Matt. 25:40), so serve the Lord in a way that if He were your
employer, you wouldnt get fired.
Neh 7:73-
8:1-12 (KJV)
So the priests, and the Levites, and
the porters, and the singers,
and some of the people, and
the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities;
and when the seventh month came, the
children of Israel were in their cities.
{8:1} And all the people gathered
themselves together as one man
into the street that was
before the water gate;
and they spake unto Ezra the scribe
to bring the book of the law of Moses,
which the LORD had commanded
to Israel.
{2} And Ezra the priest
brought the law before the congregation
both of men and women, and all that
could hear with understanding,
upon the first day of the seventh
month.
{3} And he read therein
before the street that was before the water gate
from the morning until midday,
before the men and the women, and
those that could understand;
and the ears of all the people
were attentive unto the book of the law.
{4} And Ezra the scribe stood
upon a pulpit of wood,
which they had made for the purpose;
and beside him stood Mattithiah, and
Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right
hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and
Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
{5} And Ezra opened the book
in the sight of all the people;
(for he was above all the people;)
and when he opened it, all the
people stood up:
{6} And Ezra blessed the
LORD, the great God.
And all the people answered, Amen,
Amen, with lifting up their hands:
and they bowed their heads,
and worshipped the LORD with
their faces to the ground.
{7} Also Jeshua, and Bani,
and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita,
Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites,
caused the people to understand the
law: and the people stood in their place.
{8} So they read in the book
in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,
and caused them to understand
the reading.
{9} And Nehemiah, which is
the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe,
and the Levites that taught the
people, said unto all the people,
This day is holy unto the
LORD your God;
mourn not, nor weep. For all the
people wept,
when they heard the words of the
law.
{10} Then he said unto them,
Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,
and send portions unto them
for whom nothing is prepared:
for this day is
holy unto our Lord:
neither be ye sorry; for the joy of
the LORD is your strength.
{11} So the Levites stilled
all the people, saying,
Hold your peace, for the day is
holy; neither be ye grieved.
{12} And all the people went
their way to eat, and to drink,
and to send portions, and to make
great mirth,
because they had understood the
words that were declared unto them.
Mat 18:18-20 (KJV)
Verily I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever ye shall
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
{19} Again I say
unto you,
That if two of you
shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for
them of my Father which is in heaven.
{20} For where
two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst
of them.
Acts 1:12-14 (KJV)
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called
Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
{13} And when they were come in, they went
up into an upper room,
where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew,
Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of
Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes,
and Judas the brother of James.
{14} These all continued with one accord in
prayer and supplication,
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
with his brethren.
Acts 20:7 (KJV)
And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight.
1 Cor 5:4 (KJV)
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when ye are gathered together, and my spirit,
with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ...
Jude 1:17-21 (KJV)
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken
before
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
{18} How that they told you there should be
mockers in the last time,
who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
{19} These be they who separate themselves,
sensual, having not the Spirit.
{20} But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on
your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost,
{21} Keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto
eternal life.
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN
GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
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