How To Find A Local Church

Written By Budge Currier

As a Christian, fellowship with a local church is essential to growth. Fellowshipping with a body of believers allows you to share your love and to feel the love of other brothers and sisters in Christ. In addition, a local church is a great place to receive Biblical teaching and to serve in the Body of Christ.

After the decision is made to attend a local church, next comes the big hurdle. How do I find a local church? This process can be very frustrating and time consuming. Seek the Lord in prayer, ask Him to guide you to a church home, and He will lead you. I have listed some practical steps that will help guide you as you pray and seek His counsel:

There are 3 essential criteria that must be met when searching for a church. These criteria are by no means intended to be exhaustive, but they will provide the necessary beginning steps. First, does the pastor teach the word of God? I find that a verse-by-verse teaching through each book of the Bible is the best way to study the scriptures. Always make this the primary criteria for selecting a church. If the Word of God is not taught verse-by-verse, then continue your search.

Secondly, does the church provide the ministries that your family needs? If you have children, how is the children's ministry? Attend the service and then ask your children what they think. Ask them what scriptures were taught and how the lesson was organized. In addition, talk to the teacher and the children's ministry director and ask them about their program. Take a look at their training manual. Children's ministry should not be a babysitting service. Although you are responsible for training your children in the ways of the Lord, it is beneficial to supplement your daily home Bible teaching with a Bible teaching at the church you fellowship with. If the Children's Ministry is teaching the Word of God and you can tell that the ministry team is truly seeking God's will, then you have found a church that will work with you in training your child in the ways of the Lord.

Lastly, ask the church about the ministries that they support, both financially and prayerfully. I believe that supporting missionaries is one good indicator of a church who is true to God's word. Ask them if they support Israel. Find out what other groups and organizations they support. A church's financial giving statement will give you insight as to whom the heart of the church belongs to.

If the church meets these 3 criteria then begin to attend the service and observe the teaching. Read your Bible and see if the message of the Pastor is consistent with what the Holy Spirit is telling you about the scriptures. I hesitate to mention this last discriminator, but I have found that the people who attend the church are usually not a good indicator of a solid Bible teaching church. I have yet to find a church where the people were not warm and loving to the newcomer. Every time I walk into a new church I am surrounded by people who love God. Try to avoid attending a church because it feels good, yet has no real sustenance. Pray and ask God to show you if this is really the place that He has selected for you. Do not underestimate the importance of fellowship with other believers. The choice of a church home is not a task that should be taken lightly or rushed into. Keep in mind that the spiritual formation of you and your entire family rests on your ability to discern the will of the Father in where and how He would have you worship Him.

As I relocate to a new part of the country I always try to find a Calvary Chapel first. The Calvary Chapel vision as taught by Pastor Chuck Smith has produced a tremendous number of solid Biblically based Bible teaching churches. These churches can be found by visiting the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa web page at http://www.calvarychapel.org then follow the link to churches. There is also a map that will allow you to search the entire country.

Thankfully, good Bible teaching churches are not limited to Calvary Chapels. If you do not see a Calvary Chapel near you, do not despair. Seek the Lord in Prayer and follow the advice given above and the Lord will lead you to the perfect local church for you and your family. I have found several small churches throughout this country that have fed my family and I. In fact, my fondest memories are of a small church called Irvine Community Church. The pastor had been serving the Lord in Ministry for over 30 years and he was one of the best Bible teachers I have ever heard. My time at Irvine Community Church was by far the greatest time of spiritual growth in my Christian walk. I am confident that the Lord will provide your fellowship needs. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32. May God bless you as you seek Him.