Looking for a church
 

We are currently 'church shopping' which I always heard as a bad phrase but now has a new meaning for me. I comparison shop every other major decision in my life... where to live, where to apply for work, what home, car, etc. to buy... So I've applied those same standards to church with questions like:

Does the leadership and membership exhibit the fruits of the spirit?

Is there a place for interaction? Are differences treated respectfully?

Does it meet my own and my families current needs and will it meet our needs in the future?

Is it economical? Coming from very money hungry church with big expansion plans that put a huge burden on the membership, this is important to me.

Is there a place for us to perform Christian service?

Is bible doctrine taught? Do I agree with the way it is taught?

Do I feel comfortable with the worship style?

I was taught in my UPC church that God put me where I was and that if it was not comfortable then it was me that needed to change "church should change you, you should not change the church"... well... now I just don't believe that is always the case.

Of course I have liberaly bathed the situation in prayer and continue to do so but I'd like to hear from some of you who will be the hands, feet and voice... about what you would look for if you found yourself in the position of looking for a new church home where perhaps your current denomination or affiliation either didn't exist or was much different than your normal.

TIA

Re: Looking for a church
 

One thing to remember is people are human...You may get a few that you don't particularly love as much as some if you catch my drift...but you'll NEVER find "that perfect church".

Re: Looking for a church
 

While doctrine and the way it is taught is certainly the number one criteria to us, and should be to anyone, a huge issue for us is finding the right sized church we're comfortable with. Many churches in the Phoenix valley are either very small (25 to 50 members total and have been that size for decades) or very large with most having well over a thousand attending each service with two or more services on a Sunday morning. I don't think there is anything wrong with a big church but I tell my wife that I don't want to go somewhere were we could go for 10 years then suddenly stop, and no one would notice our absence.

Re: Looking for a church
 

Personalities are not a big deal for us. We are both very tolerant of differences. Our work and our farm bring us into contact with a very wide variety of personality types daily. Only nasty judgemental people kind of rock my boat and hubby is not even bothered by that... the rest is all good.

Re: Looking for a church
 

I'm with you on this... I have Goldilocks syndrome with size of an assembly.

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I personally like a small church, I find people get closer. The less you have, the more you appreciate what you have. Eh...sometimes.

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It sounds like I am picky about it -I'm really not, but we have such extremes with very little between them. Almost nothing in the 100-300 attendance range.

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What I would look for in a church

•Church is open for early morning prayer before work and other times, and people are interested in meeting to pray

•Church has organized outreach: feeding people, visiting the sick, elderly, those in prison

•New people are coming in and are receiving the Holy Ghost and being Baptized in Jesus name

•Pastor teaches on various topics from the Bible to help people live strong Christian lives

•People are not judged by how they appear, Biblical modesty is preached but there is no enforcement, no judgmental attitudes

•If it’s not in the Bible, It’s not preached

Re: Looking for a church
 

Actually what you're looking for isn't a church, you're wanting a building based hierarchy with little or no resemblance to the early NT church. You should be able to find one though since, by some estimates, there are 30,000+ such building based religious systems out there.

Re: Looking for a church
 

I think you've confused me with someone else but thanks, I think....

Oh, and just for grins how do you describe a church? I'm all ears :)

Re: Looking for a church
 

Firstly, there is no such thing as 'a church'. You have THE church, but the building based system that folks mindlessly serve has no resemblance to what Jesus, and the apostles, established as a NT model for meeting and worship.

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Sis. Titus, your first post is good and I understand many of your sentiments.

For me, the questions are a bit more convoluted. The easy part would me penning my personal preferences and even "absolutely must haves"...

...the not-so-easy part is knowing what my obligations are to a spouse and heritage that may not be 100% in sync with my thoughts. It's no small thing and I dont take it lightly. My marriage and family is a primary holy covenant and I don't wish to weaken it by personal religiosity sqabbles. :)

The second serious consideration for me would be the fact that we are nit in a metro area with many options should I decide tO go "shopping" for churches. I really am not sure there is anything better suited to me than where I am....

Re: Looking for a church
 

If your are calling me mindless... well, you are mistaken. Again you address in the negative... I do not need to know what 'people' do wrong in general... I want to know what you do right or what you would do if you could do anything you want to...

I don't intend this thread to become a platform for why go/not go to church. Like brother Hoovie I have obligations to a family. My husband will not permit a disconnect from more formal fellowship and while he desires my happiness, just staying home is not going to cut it with him... I also have family that is still reaching for God and desire to be in a place where others their ages and like them will extend the hand of fellowship to them. So really while you seem to want a one size fits all solution, I am looking for a one size fits me group of called ones. :)

Re: Looking for a church
 

I deeply respect that. I would love it if you might share any insight as to what you might prefer, of course not needing to make any unflattering comparisons. :)

Re: Looking for a church
 

I love these things too... and am adding most of them to my list :)

Re: Looking for a church
 

If you wish to subject yourself to a manmade system with little resemblance to the NT church system, it's your decision.

Re: Looking for a church
 

I was told I can not say this here.

Re: Looking for a church
 

No.

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OK then I won't...

I've asked you twice to say what you would find acceptable and all I get is what you do not... I prefer to think in terms of affirmations... can you manage that and if not will you please go away?

Re: Looking for a church
 

Anything resembling the church of the NT would be acceptable.

Re: Looking for a church
 

Please describe what you believe resembles a NT church and please feel free to give as many details as your typing speed allows :)

Re: Looking for a church
 

Lordy, how many time do I gotta say this? There is no "a church" in the NT, it's THE church in the NT. Now, how and where did THE church assemble?


Act 20:20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house

Rom 16:5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.

1Co 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

That should get you started.

Re: Looking for a church
 

Here is some fun stuff from the archives - five years ago...

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...erate+moorings

Re: Looking for a church
 

Oh... that... sorry, I've already read Pagan Christianity, registered on Simple Church, checked out House2House, blah, blah. There is not a good house church network in my area... I'll just sum it up like that.

We are visiting a Hebraic Christian church Saturday. Nice folks, they meet in a community center. Not nutso over sacred name stuff or Messianic Jews they believe in the doctrine of salvation by faith, are One God believers, accept and encourage the infilling of the HG. There is more of an emphasis on traditional worship rather than HG blow outs but I'm kind of for peace at this point. At least the music is partially contemporary with some hymns and some Hebrew chants. We'll see.... God already knows and I have to believe that He is enjoying watching our sincere search to be pleasing to him in our worship and fellowship :)

Re: Looking for a church
 

Bro H, I may make your moderate moorings my new church manifesto!

Cool stuff!

Re: Looking for a church
 

I would prefer a Church that teaches the Oneness message and baptizes into the name of Jesus/Yeshua. I would prefer they teach the Holy Ghost baptism followed by tongues. I would prefer they teach the principals of faith toward God, his person and his promises.

It would be ideal if they teach the truth of the end times including the post tribulation rapture. Also that they teach the Biblical doctrine of the resurrection in contrast to the immortal soul belief. To round off the New Testament foundations I would prefer a Church that teaches the wages of sin is death (in the lake of fire) instead of trillions upon trillions of ages of endless torment.

With this as the basic Christian faith they should teach that every Christian is called to abide in Jesus. Loving him. Obeying his teachings. Enduring and overcoming trials and temptations with the grace of YHWH. My preference of praise and worship would be a heavily Charismatic style that existed as in the 70's up through the early 90's.

I would be very happy to find such a Church in my area.

Re: Looking for a church
 

MTD... any chance that you have found such a church in your area or anywhere else? We have not.

Re: Looking for a church
 

I lived around the Dayton-Springfield Ohio area for many years and did not. I have been around Somerset Ky now for 9 years and have not.

We do know of one in Carlisle Pa. They practice plurality of elders there in addition to the things I listed. We have been up there several times to visit and we listen to their Sunday morning meetings on streaming audio.

They are UPC affiliated which to me is not so much a plus but they indeed DO teach the things I listed as my criteria for a Church. Their worship is a blend of hymns and Charismatic.

If I were in their neighborhood I would go there.

Their is another one with good foundation teaching in Lyons Wisconsin. They are ex UPC and do not carry the standards package. These are the closest to true New Testament teaching I know of.

I would attend a Church that maybe does not agree with my foundation but there has to be SOMETHING that would knit me to it.

Re: Looking for a church
 

Do you mind sharing the websites of those places?

Re: Looking for a church
 

Re: Looking for a church
 

Correct. That is like a ministry page for them. This is the Church homepage.

http://www.weareccf.org/

Re: Looking for a church
 

Here is the one in Lyons Wis.

http://spiritoftruthchurch.org/

Re: Looking for a church
 

Thanks for the links.

Re: Looking for a church
 

Thanks