If you're looking for a church, here are four things to look out for.
We cannot have a healthy and vital relationship with the Lord if we neglect the church. It is through the local church that we experience Christ, encounter our heavenly family, and grow in love and faith as we grow closer to one another. That is why early Christians are exhorted throughout the New Testament to gather together: “And let us see how we can stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are wont to do, but exhorting each other" (Hebrews 10:24-25). And that admonition still applies today.
Although today's church meetings look different from those of the early church, the purpose of the local church has not changed in the past two thousand years.Membership in a local church is clearly biblical and crucial, but how do we know if we are finding a local church that actually believes what the Bible says?
If the Word of God is not preached in the church, what is?
Unfortunately, some churches have become marketplaces that provide simply what their members demand: positive vibes, good feelings, and unconditional acceptance. In this postmodern age, it is absolutely critical that we commit to and invest in a truly Bible-believing local church that takes responsibility for the teachings of God's Word. Let's look at four clear signs that a church is seeking biblical truth and applying that truth accordingly. We can also use these parameters to determine when our current church may be going down a sloping slope.
1. The Bible is faithfully preached week after week.
When a church claims to believe and obey God, this church needs to read and teach the Word of God. It makes sense, doesn't it? At 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul writes, “All Scripture is inspired of God and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and instructing with righteousness, that the servant of God may be fully equipped for every good work.” . In our quest for Christlikeness, what better source to help us than God's own letter to us?The Bible is reliable, and without it we are misled.
If the Word of God is not preached in the church, what is?Do members listen to encouraging conversations, guidance, or just good stories? These seemingly innocent things are false counterfeits of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The true gospel will move our hearts to repentance and desire to conform our lives to Christ. As our congregation exposes itself each week to the Word of God, diligently studying the text in its context, and seeking not only a knowledge of God but also a relationship with Him, we are likely to end each service with a measure of conviction: an inspiration from the Spirit to make changes in our lives to better imitate our Lord Jesus.
It is important to realize that the gospel of Jesus Christ offends our sinful nature. If we don't wash ourselves in Bible truth regularly, we become more vulnerable to Satan's half-truths and concessions. When we forget the word of God and water down the gospel to suit our culture, we turn people away from God and false teachings emerge.
If the Bible is not being preached, it is certainly not a priority. Find a church that loves, appreciates, and takes seriously the living Word of God.
2. Jesus is the focus of worship.
As all Scripture directs our gaze to the Son of God, so must the worship of the local church. When a church makes entertaining its members a priority in its worship services and activities, it encourages us to focus on what brings us joy.usmore than what pleasesGood. By designing worship services designed to please or even make Christianity "cool," churches can unwittingly lead people to focus on me instead of Christ, to the point of compromising the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing wrong with providing services well.Indeed, as Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever ye do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men." But the local church, in all its pursuit of excellence in music, liturgy, and Stay in the forefront of preaching for this enduring purpose: to glorify the Lord. If we as parishioners find that we enjoy the entertainment, the nice people, the lights and weather, the organized child labor, or even the pastor's charismatic personality more than the presence and revelation of Jesus, we have missed the boat. And when a church focuses more on glorifying these things than glorifying the name of Christ, then it's off course.
3. Fellowship, fellowship and discipleship are priorities.
One of the most defining characteristics of the early church was its emphasis on fellowship and fellowship: "They devoted themselves to the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). These believers didn't depend on the head pastor for everything, and they didn't go to church every week chasing the best sermon series in town. They didn't just pray and study together either; they lived in communion with each other - "they were together and had everything in common... Every day they continued to meet in the courtyard of the temple. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with joy and sincerity of heart and praised God and rejoiced above the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were saved” (Acts 2:44, 46-47).
We should not face the trials and temptations of the Christian life alone. Instead, we are called to “carry one another's burdens” (see Galatians 6:2), rejoice together (see Acts 2:42, 46–47), and stir up new believers in the faith (see Matthew 28:19 ). ). Like the early church, we are called to invest in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ by committing to genuine relationships with one another.
When a church follows the guidance of Scripture, there will be a natural focus on Christ-centered communion, fellowship, and prayer.Don't settle for superficial relationships; Instead, look for opportunities for deep fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ so that you may become more like Jesus as you walk in the Spirit together.
4. There is an active effort to share the gospel with others near and far.
Jesus' last farewell command to his disciples was, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). He wants us to share the good news of his death and resurrection with all who will listen.
If a church lacks a focus on mission and evangelism, it would be appropriate to question the goals and purposes of the ministry. The proclamation of the goodness and glory of God, as manifested in the salvation He offers to the whole world through Jesus Christ, is the heart of the church. It is just as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says: "The chief object of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever."
However, keep in mind that the scope of each church will not be the same.As Jesus set out for us in Acts 1:8, achieving a healthy church begins with the geographic areas around the church ("Jerusalem"), moves through the church's spheres of influence ("Judea and Samaria"), and then to the nations ("the ends of the earth"), either by planting churches or by supporting missionaries. As much as the church strives to fulfill Christ's great commission, a passion to reach out to the lost for Christ must be evident.
A word of warning and a call to prayer
While these characteristics of a Bible-believing church help us to discern whether a church is seeking the face of God, we must be humble enough not to approach these four signs in a spirit of legalism. Our goal is not to find the perfect church to meetourRather, we are looking for a church that knows it needs God's grace, a grace that comes only through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. We seek a church that knows that only the grace of God can transform His people collectively and individually into the image of the Lord with ever greater glory.
When we are looking for a church to belong to, we must never underestimate the value of prayer and asking God to bring us into the Bible-believing community, where He wants us to grow in faith and serve in love. So immerse yourself in the Word of God; seek your will. And ask the Holy Ghost to give you discernment and wisdom as you search for a church where you can seek God and serve others.
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FAQs
What are the 4 symbols of the church? ›
The words one, holy, catholic and apostolic are often called the four marks of the Church.
How do we know if the church is the true church? ›Ask in Prayer. There are different ways to know that the Church is true. One way is to do the Lord's work, such as paying tithing, and you will have a sure feeling in your heart that it is the truth. Another example is by asking in prayer.
What does it mean to be a Bible believing church? ›Bible believer (also Bible-believer, Bible-believing Christian, Bible-believing Church) is a self-description by conservative Christians to differentiate their teachings from others who they see as placing non-biblical or extra-biblical tradition as higher or equal in authority to the Bible.
What are signs of legalism in the church? ›They say things like, “I should pray more often” rather than “I love to pray.” Outsiders don't visit often (perhaps because the church his known for its legalism). People who are deeply hurting due to their sins or poor choices feel humiliated and embarrassed around you or people in your congregation.
Where are the four marks of the Church found? ›From ancient times, the Church of Christ has been identified by four distinguishing marks or signs: that she is "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic." These four marks are famously included in the Nicene Creed, one of the definitive statements of early Christianity.
Which is the true church according to the Bible? ›The church of God is composed of those who "have truly repented and rightly believed; who are rightly baptized ... and incorporated into the communion of saints on earth." The true church is "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation," and "a congregation of the righteous." The church of God is separate ...
What religion was Jesus? ›Of course, Jesus was a Jew. He was born of a Jewish mother, in Galilee, a Jewish part of the world. All of his friends, associates, colleagues, disciples, all of them were Jews. He regularly worshipped in Jewish communal worship, what we call synagogues.
Why does the Church exist according to the Bible? ›It is the church's responsibility to represent God to our world. Our main job is to let people know God has forgiven them. The New Testament says that the “forgiveness of sins is proclaimed” in the name of Jesus.
What does the Bible believers church believe in? ›We believe in one God eternally existent as the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. We believe God to be the creator and sustainer of all things, visible and invisible. We believe the universe and all that is therein to be held together by the word of His power.
Can you still believe in God and not go to church? ›Most people who stop attending church services still believe in God, according to new research commissioned by the Church of Scotland. Many who no longer attend church choose to express their faith in new ways, said Scotland's national Church.
Can you go to church even if you don't believe in God? ›
If you feel some sort of deep and persistent (or even vague and fleeting) desire to go to church, it is 100% permissible to go, even if you don't "believe in God." In fact, I'd say, you not only may, you probably should.
How do you know if a church is toxic? ›- There Are Too Many Expectations Placed on Members. ...
- There Aren't Enough Expectations Placed on Members. ...
- Decision-Making Is Dictated by Politics. ...
- Gossip is One of the Biggest Signs of Bad Church Leadership. ...
- The Pastor Calls All the Shots. ...
- Conflict is the Norm.
- The Senior Pastor Has All the Power. ...
- The Church Is Not Open about Their Finances. ...
- There Are Requirements in Addition to the Bible. ...
- The Church Removes Scriptures from the Bible. ...
- The Culture of the Church Is Exclusive. ...
- The Pastor Does Not Teach the Bible.
The three main precepts of these Legalist philosophers are the strict application of widely publicized laws (fa), the application of such management techniques (shu) as accountability (xingming) and “showing nothing” (wuxian), and the manipulation of political purchase (shi).
What are Bible signs? ›In the Hebrew Bible
Signs are also given to guide and mark sacred time. For example, they are assigned to each covenant, confirm divine directions, memorialize instances of God's miraculous protection, and highlight laws that mark sacred days and years (e.g., the Sabbath and circumcision).
- Expositional Preaching. ...
- Intentional Discipleship. ...
- Evangelistic Fervor. ...
- Scriptural Fidelity. ...
- Biblical Leadership. ...
- But what about worship and prayer?
Temples, churches, mosques, and synagogues are examples of structures created for worship. A monastery may serve both to house those belonging to religious orders and as a place of worship for visitors.
Why do we need to understand the 4 marks of the Church? ›It is important for us as Catholics to know and understand the very attributes that define the heart and mission of our faith. Take the time to learn and discover how to live out these marks as people of God so that we may be witnesses of the Catholic Church in our world.
What are the four order in the Church? ›holy order, any of several grades in the ordained ministry of some of the Christian churches, comprising at various times the major orders of bishop, priest, deacon, and subdeacon and the minor orders of porter (doorkeeper), lector, exorcist, and acolyte.
What are the 7 churches in the Bible? ›The Seven Churches of Asia as stated in the Book of Revelation are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Which church is the original? ›
The Oriental Orthodox Churches claims to be the original Christian Church. The Oriental Orthodox churches' bases their claim primarily on its assertion that it holds to traditions and beliefs of the original Christian Church.
Did Jesus mention church in the Bible? ›The first time the word church appears in the Bible is Matthew 16:18. There Jesus tells Peter he will build “His church” at some point in the future upon the fact that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
What is Jesus last name? ›We often refer to Jesus as Jesus Christ, and some people assume that Christ is Jesus's last name. But Christ is actually a title, not a last name. So if Christ isn't a last name, what was Jesus's last name? The answer is Jesus didn't have a formal last name or surname like we do today.
What is Jesus's full name? ›Jesus' name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua.
What religion believes in the Bible but not Jesus? ›Biblical Unitarians
Biblical Unitarianism (also known as "biblical Unitarianism" or "biblical unitarianism") identifies the Christian belief that the Bible teaches that God the Father is one singular being, and that Jesus Christ is a distinct being, his son, but not divine.
The Church helps us to spread love and the gospel across the globe and to bring light to a world in moral darkness. The Church helps us to maintain organization, teachings, and to create a support system for members. By establishing a church, the Lord ensures that the correct doctrines are taught.
What are the 3 purposes of the church? ›Godhood, brotherhood, service—these three guiding principles …
What is the church according to Jesus? ›The church is the body of Christ—all the people who accept Christ's gift of salvation and follow Christ's teachings. It is much more than a building. In the Bible, “church” never refers to a building. It always refers to people—the people who follow Jesus Christ.
Who is the founder of Bible believers church? ›The church is run by Anthony Grigor-Scott.
What are the five purposes of the Church? ›Warren suggests that these purposes are worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission, and that they are derived from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).
What is the main church of Christianity? ›
Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity with 1.345 billion, and the Catholic Church is the largest among churches. Figures below are in accordance with the Annuario Pontificio, at 2019.
What is it called if you believe in God but don t go to church? ›The religiously unaffiliated now make up just over one quarter of the U.S. population. While the Nones include agnostics and atheists, most people in this category retain a belief in God or some higher power. Many describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” or “SBNR,” as researchers refer to them.
Why does God want you to go to church? ›Worshipping God is a commandment
As one of His Ten Commandments, God commanded that we keep the Sabbath day holy (see Exodus 20:8–11). One of the ways we keep this commandment is to meet together on Sundays to worship God and give Him thanks.
While Jesus told Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5), he did not set baptism as a hindrance to salvation but just the opposite. We so often judge things by human standards, but God is not restrained by our standards.
How do you worship God if you can't go to church? ›...
Here are a few suggestions:
- Pray and study the scriptures daily. ...
- Make gospel study a personal pursuit. ...
- Have the Church brought to you. ...
- Honor the Sabbath day. ...
- Keep covenants.
Among self-identified Christians, the predominant reason that non-churchgoers offer for not attending worship services is that they practice their faith in other ways. Upwards of four-in-ten (44%) say this is a very important reason for not going to church more often.
What does the Bible say about forcing someone to go to church? ›Perhaps the most famous is Proverbs 22:6 which reads, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proper Christian training would certainly include regular church attendance (Hebrews 10:25). Finally, what about common sense?
What are the most important symbols of the Church? ›- 1.1 Cross and crucifix ✝︎
- 1.2 Ichthys.
- 1.3 Alpha and Omega.
- 1.4 Staurogram.
- 1.5 Chi Rho.
- 1.6 IH monogram.
- 1.7 IX monogram.
The Holy Spirit is presented with some symbols in the Bible, which depict a reality of truth about the Holy Spirit and throw light on both his nature and mission. The symbols of the Holy Spirit are: Dove, Fire, Oil, Wind and Water.
What symbol represents God? ›Alpha and Omega: Represents God, the beginning and the end. Three interwoven circles: Represents the Trinity. A circle has no beginning or end, so it signifies the eternal nature of God. The interweaving of the three circles symbolizes the equality among God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
What are the 3 images of the Church? ›
Three biblical images of the Church: the People of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
What are the 5 basic beliefs of Christianity? ›The 5 are: 1) Uniqueness of Jesus (Virgin Birth) --Oct 7; 2) One God (The Trinity) Oct 14; 3) Necessity of the Cross (Salvation) and 4) Resurrection and Second Coming are combinded on Oct 21; 5) Inspiration of Scripture Oct 28.
What is the highest spiritual gift? ›Wisdom. Wisdom is considered the first and the greatest of the gifts. It acts upon both the intellect and the will. According to St. Bernard, it both illumines the mind and instills an attraction to the divine.
How do you know if you have been touched by the Holy Spirit? ›For some people, the Holy Ghost may cause them to feel overwhelmed with emotion and moved to tears. For others, tears rarely or never come. And that's okay. For them, the Holy Ghost may produce a subtle feeling of gratitude, peace, reverence, or love (see Galatians 5:22–23).
What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon you? ›Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This power that comes from the Holy Spirit allows you to stand strong for the things of God.
What are the 4 marks of the Church reflection? ›The last paragraph of the Creed states that “I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” These are what we refer to as the four marks of the Church. These are the four distinguishing characteristics whereby a person may objectively evaluate any given group's claim to be THE church of Christ.
In what basic prayer can you find the four marks of the Church? ›In the Nicene Creed, we profess, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church": these are the four marks of the Church. They are inseparable and intrinsically linked to each other.
What is the first mark of the true church? ›The claim to the title of the "one true church" relates to the first of the Four Marks of the Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed: "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church".
What are the 7 precepts of the Church? ›- to observe certain feasts.
- to keep the prescribed fasts.
- to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days.
- to confess once a year.
- to receive Holy Communion during paschal time.
- to pay tithes.
- to abstain from any act upon which an interdict has been placed entailing excommunication.
Preaching. Faithful preaching was the first mark of the true church because preaching most directly brings God's Word to His people. The Reformers stressed that God's great means of speaking to His people was by preaching.