Hello all, sorry it has been forever since I posted- I intend to write more regularly soon!! Here are some thoughts that really helped me when I was searching for a church home as a believer..
I believe finding a church home is the most important decision a follower of Jesus will ever make. This is the place where you will weekly encounter the living God in a community of fellow believers who can support, encourage, and challenge you. As a disciple of Christ, I believe there are four essential parts the congregant must engage in and be able to engage in at their current church home!
- Worship
- This is the most important!! As a member of a Church, you must be able to freely worship the Lord in the house of the Lord- Through the music, the prayer time, as well as the teaching; you must hear, and see the Lord in all of those areas. You must be encouraged by the music, and connect with the Holy Spirit through it! You must be challenged, convicted, and encouraged by the Word of God; and you must feel the power of prayer through the Lord's revelation!
- Psalm 95:6, "Come , let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."
- Discipleship
- You must be continually fed through your church home in order to fulfill the fourth part of this list. In order to pour out, you must continually be fed. You need to be provided opportunities to be in small group Bible study settings which are intentional in studying the Word of God. You must be provided opportunities to also lead small group Bible studies if you so desire. Church is not on Sunday morning alone, and the place you decide to call home shouldn't think that either!
- Matthew 28:19, "Go and make DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit teaching them to observe my commands."
- Fellowship
- Ahhh, the community of other believers. It is so refreshing to be in the presence of those who have come together for a common purpose: to reach the lost, and build the found. You have to be able to surround yourself with people who can pray for you, encourage you, support you, lead you, and guide you. You must feel comfortable sharing with those in your church home, and allowing them to share with you.
- Ephesians 2:19, "so you are no longer strangers, but FELLOW CITIZENS IN CHRIST."
- Evangelism
- When deciding a church to call home I highly suggest finding a church that values evangelism and has a purpose and a vision to grow. The sole purpose of what you learn in the discipleship process is to share it with those who do not know it, and strive to grow the Church! It is our mission to grow the Church of Jesus, and you will see, day in and day out, the beauty of a Christ in a growing church!
- Acts 1:8, "For you will receive power when the Holy Spirit is upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!!!"
