IF YOU HAVE already read this booklet, you may click on additional information you want. |
|
||
| SCROLL DOWN...
2. YOUR RESPONSE? "I just can't believe!" (more info.) 3. YOUR RESPONSE? "I don't want to believe!" (more info.) 4. YOUR RESPONSE? "I don't know what to believe!" (more info.) 5. YOUR RESPONSE? "I do believe! Isn't that enough?" (more info.) 6. YOUR RESPONSE? "I don't want to believe what they believe!" (more info.)
|
FIVE GUIDELINES in FINDING A GOOD LOCAL CHURCH Getting into a good church is really important and valuable in fulfilling your life as purposed by God Himself. Here are FIVE GUIDELINES you can use in finding a good church. FIRST: Seek a church that has a high view of the Scriptures. In other words, you want to go to a church that believes that the Bible is the Word of God, and what they mean by that is ‘word by word’ the Word of God. It is reliable. This view is called verbal plenary inspiration. Inerrancy. Infallibility. It is believing that the Bible is the authority. Find a church that teaches from it ‘word by word’ on Sunday and weekly discipleship studies so that you might learn what the Bible has to say, then use that as a standard for your daily life. We suggest that any of the bonafide translations are good for study: the King James Version the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version. These are all helpful. We suggest having the King James Version (or New King James Version), and at least one other that is easier to read like the NASB or NIV. You might be interested in the earlier Geneva Bible, as well. SECOND: Seek a church where you can be fed spiritually. This would entail the notion of teaching the Bible, but it goes beyond that. It entails an idea of having a worship pattern that meets your needs as a growing Christian. THIRD: Find a church where you can be accountable. What that means is that people know who you are and know what your life is like so they can encourage you to love others and do good deeds, as it says in Hebrews 10. When I say accountable, there is an edge on that. I am accountable in relationships too, and I confess my sins to certain people. When I do certain things that I am not supposed to do, I check up with these guys because that helps me to live properly. It's hard to do that in a large church unless you have a small group strategy. Other people must have visibility of your life because then you are really part of life in a community of faith. FOURTH: Seek a church where you can be useful. It is a mistake for people to hang around churches where they get spoon fed every week and there is nothing they can do in the church because it is difficult to get involved with anything. Find a church where you can practice your gifts. FINALLY: You want to get into a church where you feel you are a part of this community and it's directing your life in some significant fashion, such that you are growing spiritually. It's not just what you do for two hours on Sunday and then do what you want the rest of the week. Instead, find a church that sees Christianity as a full-orbed, full life and will help meet that need in your life, according to God’s Word, Will and purpose. REMEMBER, it is not any church that saves and directs you or is necessary to fulfill your purpose in life and in God, but God's leading and directing of how He wants you to fulfill your part in His Plan, according to His good Will and Purpose. The closer you stay to Him, the more clear that path will be. “And this is my
prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that
you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of
Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the
glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
NIV WE PRAY THAT YOUR DESIRE WILL GROW TO BE FULLY HOOKED ON GOD AND HIS WILL AND PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE FOR NOW, AND FOR ETERNITY. BACK TO WHAT NEXT? Further questions? You may contact us at BPcounsel@aol.com . |
|
|
