Find a Church

Studying the Bible regularly will change your life as a Christian. God uses the gift of His word to help us understand who He is and how to live life. One of the things that the Bible teaches is that Christians should be a part of a local church.

Look at what the Bible has to say about worshipping God with other believers in the church.

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Ephesians 3:8-13

⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians 5:25-27

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, ²⁴ which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ²⁵ that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

If you are looking for a local church, here are 3 Things and 1 Tool to help you.

3 Things to Remember

1. Finding a church is about God, not our preferences. Pray for God to show you where He wants you to be. No church is perfect, but look for a church that loves God and honors Him by trusting in the Bible, making the service about Him and desiring to live holy lives out of love for Him and through His power.
2. The Bible is our most trustworthy source to know God’s will. God clearly tells us in the Bible what His will is. Sometimes we may feel led to go in another direction. If our direction goes against the Bible, no matter how we feel, we should not follow it. Look for a church that trusts that the Bible is the inerrant (without error) Word of God. Their service and beliefs should be based on what the Bible says and not what men or women think. Even if the leaders are genuine, they can be genuinely wrong.
3. No Church is perfect. Since churches are made up of people, and people sin, the church is not going to be perfect. If you are a Christian, God wants you to live in love and community with other Christians. We are all a part of one body and we are meant to serve each other in love. Don’t expect the people at the church never to make mistakes or hurt your feelings. Look for people who love God and who want to live holy lives for Him. When the people fail, and when you fail, go to God for healing.