Finding a New Church

 December 23, 2024

Monday

Romans 12:6 (ESV)⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them

Are you looking for a new church? First, let's check out good reasons for leaving your present one.

1. You have moved too far away from the church building to reasonably attend regularly. You will need a new church. You might think you are going to continue the drive but it will get so hard that you will be spending time you could be doing something more productively at a closer church building. Also, you will start getting infrequent with the things you used to attend.

2. Your present church started preaching heresy. If you have gone to the elders and they are fine with it, you will need a new church. You do not need to stay and tear the church apart.  Heresy will do the job of making that church ineffective.

3. Your ministry there has ended. There comes a time when you know that your ministry has ended and there is no opportunity to get into a different ministry within your spiritual gifts. God moves ministers who are employed by the church. He also moves ministers who aren't employed by the church. Everyone should be a minister.

Now let's look at some bad reasons for leaving the church you are in.

1. It's not exciting. Honestly, that shouldn't ever be the reason for coming to or leaving a church. It may be the number one reason why immature Christians choose the church they attend. Surely, you know that some preachers can bring volumes of solid Biblical teaching and never crack a smile. While on the other hand some preachers can say "dictionary" and make everyone cry. Delivery is a fairly superficial reason for leaving or joining a church.

2. All my friends are at another church. So, you will be drifting from church to church. Good luck with that!

3. The church voted down my great idea. That's still not a reason to leave. Maybe you did have a great idea, but aren't you supposed to consider others greater than yourself? This sounds more like you didn't put it in God's hands.

4. I'm not being fed. This generally goes along with the first two bad reasons for leaving the church.

5. I need to go where my family is best suited. Didn't Jesus say something about following Him meant "hating" your family?

Finally, Let' address the good reasons for finding a new church.

1. Your ministry ended at your last church and you are searching for a new ministry.

2. You have an opportunity to start a new ministry in this location.

3. You know that God is calling you to this new church. This isn't only for paid ministers.

In a nutshell, God gifted you with a spiritual gift(s). He expects you to use them. If you are still effective in your present church, you should not leave unless you have a definite word from God to do so. Otherwise, you are just a consumer shopping for a new church.