Connect with Your Local Church
There is a new trend in Christianity. Some people are stepping away from church life. They have many reasons. Some would rather stay home on Sunday morning. Many have a hard time finding a church. A number of Christians have been hurt by the church and don’t want to risk getting hurt again. The biggest reason is because Christians don’t understand the importance of church fellowship. They can watch preachers on television and get what they need.
Scripture teaches the importance of Christians fellowshipping together. We are all the body of Christ and individually are gifted in ways to help the whole body. We may not feel like we need the church, but we do. And the church needs our gifts to feed the body of Christ. If you need more proof, read this link.
Finding the Right Church: Finding the right church takes time and effort. Here are some tips to help:
Ask God to help you. Since He wants you to be connected to a church body, He will help you in your search.
Check out the doctrine. Most churches have websites. Don’t only look at the pretty pictures of the staff, also check out the statement of faith or doctrine page. You may not agree with churches on every point, but you need to find a church with doctrine you can live with. There are certain things that are non-negotiable and only you know what those things are for you.
Think outside the box. Have you always attended a certain denomination? Visit churches that are non-denominational or another denomination with similar doctrine. Also try churches that are interracial or are mostly attended by another race.
Make a list of priorities. No church will completely fit your wish list, but there are certain things you should look for. You’ll need to decide what is important to you.
Make a list of churches to visit. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, make a list of churches to visit, and start next Sunday. If you like a church, visit it more than once and have a talk with a member of the staff to see if it’s a good fit. If you don’t like a church, go to the next one on the list. Don’t stop until God shows you the right church.
Remember that no church is perfect. Once you find a good church, keep attending. You may find there are things you don’t like there, but no church is perfect.
Connecting with a Church You are Attending:
There are also many Christians who go to church every week, but they never really connect. Sometimes it’s because the church has a mentality of closed fellowship for only a few people. But more often, individual Christians don’t take the time or effort to get connected. Here are some ways you can connect:
Stay after service a few minutes. When you leave church the moment service is over, you’ll never have a chance to get to know anyone.
Invite people. Invite people over to your house for a game night or out to eat after church. The way to make friends is to become a friend.
Get involved. Talk to your pastor or ministries coordinator about how you can get involved in a ministry in the church. There’s no better way to feel connected.
Make sure you’re in the right ministry. If you’re doing something in the church you’re not called to or suited for, you may feel frustrated. If this is the case, meet with the pastor and discuss what ministry fits you better.
See you in church.
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