Finding a New Church

 September 29, 2024

Sunday

Finding a your church is not as difficult as people make it. They make it difficult because they shop for a church rather than go where God has led. They seek a church with a good youth program or a great recreation program or a entertaining worship service. They compare one church against another. They look at the people and ask if these people could be their friends. Shopping for a church is difficult. The next church may have more stuff than the last one. People keep shopping until they are so tired of shopping that they settle on a church. Is that how God wants us to find a church?

If we were to look at the methods of many churches it would appear that this is exactly how a new church is found. They center or an exciting worship service. They have some of the best Christian music around. They do everything they can to draw in new people. That seems really great until someone realizes that the people they have "drawn in" came from other churches in the area. The baptisms these churches produce come from the children of those "drawn in" and people who didn't know they needed to be baptized by immersion. There is very little growth in God's kingdom.

No, finding a new church home should not be a shopping experience. It should be a "walking with God" experience. Finding a church is not merely finding one that preaches the word of God. It is finding one where we can serve. That service has to be more than casual service too. It must be one in which we are a part of bringing people into discipleship. Discipleship is more than attending worship services. It is seeing people mature in their faith. These churches are rare because it is much easier to get them to come through the church's revolving door (one where more people are coming in that going out) than it is to slowly mature people into Christians who can discern the will of God, understand the word of God, serve in the kingdom of God and grow others into the people of God who will do the very same thing.

Discipleship growth is generally slow for a long time. It puts down roots and it does not shop for a better deal at another church. It is the growth that Jesus sought for the church. While there is no doubt that the early church grew rapidly, they met in very small groups to hear and do the work of God's kingdom. They had no children's of youth programs. They probably had few instruments to play when they worshiped. They weren't thinking of starting satellite churches all over town. They were seeking to teach the people the story of the gospel. The Elders in each church taught without publishing any books or going on crusades. 

So, you will know your new church when you see that this church makes disciples for Jesus Christ. You will know this church is in God's will because making disciples is what Jesus taught the church to do.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”