What I want in church:
- First of all I want a church whose beliefs and teachings are consistent with my primary beleifs:
- The Infallibility of the scriptures
- The Saving Grace of Jesus
- The Literal Return of Christ to the Earth
- The ability of all God's children to form a personal relationship with him through Christ, read his word, and recieve personally divine direction from the Holy Spirit.
- Secondly, I want a church where I can enter in to worship in a style that welcomes God to inhabit the praises of his people.
- Thirdly, I want a church that is spirit-led and encourages it's members to hear and follow the leading of the Spirit. The church should support and encourage members to stretch out possibly even leave the church to minister in their gifts.
- Fourth, I want a church where I can fellowship with other believers for encouragement and growth in Christ, in my personal gifts and ministries, and in my daily life.
- Fifth, I want a church where my children can learn about and be encouraged to know Jesus, to walk with Holy Spirit, in a fun and uplifting way. Not in more sit-down and shut-up and listen ways, with more rules and just another day of school way.
Now, is that too much to ask?
What I need in a church:
- I need fellowship, close enough that someone notices if I don't show up.
- I need intimacy, people who know something about my life Monday through Saturday and care about what happens.
- I need to feel as if I contribute something of value to the church and its people.
- I need to feel as if my voice is heard in the church and that my ideas are valued.
Why do we even go to church? Why not just read the scriptures at home alone with God?
Believers (Ephesians):
- Bear with one another in love.
- Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
- Prepare God's people for works of services so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, and full in Christ.
- To be taught to put off your old self, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbors for we are all members of one body.
- Speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord.
- Submit to one another in reverance for Christ.
- To prayer for each other that God would give each of use the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation so we may know Him better.
- To pray for each other that God would enlighten the eyes of our hearts in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
- The power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ and which we are now a part of that Body, the body of Christ which was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand side of God in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given.
- God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is the body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
"For the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth... find out what pleases the Lord." A church, where each member is part of the body of Christ, should be what helps us find out what pleases the Lord and encourages each other to walk it out just as the members of our own body; our mind, our arms, and our legs; work together to take each step.
4 comments:
And the number one reason you need a church - protection from satan's attacks!
Amen. I like the visual of that child's game, "red rover, red rover, send Satan right over." It is our fellowship of believers that lock arms around us, each empowered with the strength of Christ, that keep Satan from breaking through and attacking us during our times of weakness.
I don't think it is too much to ask for. I wish you the best of luck in finding the right church. Your desires fit right in with what I look for in a church and I had to keep searching until I found just the right one. There is such a sense of peace when you find the church God has planned for you all along.
It was so great to go back to the seed and I know it was God's perfect timing. A new year, a new start, lots of God lessons to take back with me, and a new appreciation for the church and its people. Everyone was so warm and friendly and missed us! And worship was awesome, everyone was so excited about worshiping God. The boys enjoyed it too. Connor said, "I think I am just more used to children's church here." He had a good time participating in "Operation Freedom" the current theme of the Children's church.
Not too mention that we were spiritually attacked on the way there with a late start and a flat tire. I rebuked Satan and ask God for a miracle to help us get there on time. You know God, he doesn't just answer our prayers, He answers them abundantly. We got to Lawrence with time to stop and pick up breakfast and still had fifteen minutes to spare for fellowship in the lobby before services. It was perfect!!
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