Characteristics of a good church...

[glorymj]

Maybe some of you all can help us out... It's a spiritual desert out there...

What should we be looking for in a good church?

[John Tyson]

Grace and peace to you all.

I believe this was from the movie “Sounder.” This is what good church should not be.

The two black men were talking to one another and went something like this:

1st Man. “I was running from them men and saw this here church and I ran into it. Then I realized I’d run into the middle of a white church and I knew I wasn’t welcomed there. I started praying, ‘Oh, Lord. Help me to get out of this church alive.’ I then run out of that church as fast as I could. The Lord answered me.”

2nd Man. “What did the Lord say?”

1st Man. “He said I’d done better than Him. He said He’d been trying to get into that church for 200 years!”
,.,.,.,.,..,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

A “good church” should have the Lord in it.

God bless,
John

[Sid]

Originally posted by glorymj
Maybe some of you all can help us out... It's a spiritual desert out there...

What should we be looking for in a good church?



. . . maybe this would be a place to start:

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

. . . look for those two attributes, and everything else that is needed for a good church will follow. . .

[2Tim2Fifteen]

I have never started a church before BUT I do know what I look for when ever I need another church.

1) The name of Jesus is used A LOT not just the word 'God'.
I can't stand going to a church that always refers to GOD only
as if Jesus plays a secondary role :(

2) Scriptures are held in the highest honor due to the respect
of the Pastor KNOWS that it IS Gods word and not mans word.

3) The Pastor truly loves the Jesus, Scriptures and can not ever
get enough of them and the Pastor genuinely LOVES his flock
why, because a Pastor wants only the truth to be taught to
his flock because he knows the danger of false teaching.

Secondary things:

1) Great-Worship
never go to a church JUST because it has Great-Worship.
worship is neccessary but its not the reason why one goes to
church EVER!! (see above #1 :) )

2) Childrens activities
I think you know where I'm gonna go with this one :)

3) Fellowship
I think you know where I'm gonna go with this one :) :)

OK, "under the secondary things" all of those things are very important for a Christian's growth but you CAN get those at a local Home-Fellowship, so please don't think that I am knocking them because I am not.

I love those too, but going to church is about getting to know Jesus better (through scriptures) and understanding Gods grace and thats why God raises up Pastors/Teachers for this purpose.

2Tim2Fifteen

[Paxton]

Hello from the cold North, friends. I would say a good church has these features:

First, they believe God's Word is inerrant in the original writings.

Second, they believe that Christ is God and died to pay for our sins, and He is the only way to be saved.

Third, they should not support (with their money or their activities) any teachers that teach another way to be saved than Christ's death on the cross.

Fourth, they should not urge worshippers to do wrong to effect right (such as child abuse , the advocacy of violence against abortion doctors or government officials, or acceptance of anything that breaks the 10 commandments). I have seen too many zealous pastors tell their people to violate Battery laws and beat ther kids, not just spank them, or violate laws. Killing abortionists will not stop abortion! It will point the sad and confused unsaved away from Christ, though.

Finally, there should be love with an understanding that we are just like unsaved people but came to the Great Physician. A good church loves our unsaved friends to point them to Our Saviour. Hope this helps! God Bless, "Pax"

[KrispyKritter]

Good coffee... donuts help too. :D

[Nimrod]

I only believe that one thing is necessary---that is the Holy Spirit telling you it's the correct place for you!

Peace

[2Tim2Fifteen]

I only believe that one thing is necessary---that is the Holy Spirit telling you it's the correct place for you!

I definitely would disagree on that logic...

[Patty T]

Howdy! This is my first post - about a good church;

1. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there
2. You'll get an inner witness from the Holy Spirit
3. The Word is taught, not just read
4. The church is alive; not dead (been there, done that)
5. If it's where you are supposed to be, you can't leave, if it's not, you can't stay.

Just remember, no church has it all together, but some come much closer than others.

Patty T

[2Tim2Fifteen]

Just remember, no church has it all together, but some come much closer than others.

Very, very true :)

[Jeffer]

The primary issue in choosing a church is DOCTRINE


I. Do you believe God has preserved an infallible copy of His word for us today? Psalm 12:6-7; Mat. 24:35

II. Do you believe the King James Bible is God's infallible word for the English speaking people? If the answer is "No," then ask "What is God's infallible word? Can I see a copy?" See question I.

III. Do you believe that God is a Holy Trinity, consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I John 5:7; Mat. 28:19

IV. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, without a man being involved, and lived a sinless life for thirty-three years as God manifest in the flesh? Isa. 7:14; Mat. 1:23; I Tim. 3:16

V. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died and paid for our sins on Calvary's cross through the shedding of His own sinless blood? Mat. 26:28; Heb. 9:22; I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 10:10- 14; Rom. 5; Rev. 1:5

VI. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ rose physically from the dead for our justification? Rom. 1:4; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 10:9-10; Rev. 1:5; Luke 24:36-39

VII. Do you believe that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, currently sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest? Heb. 3:1; 4:14-15; 8:1; 10:21

VIII. Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment? John 16:7-15; 14:15-17

IX. Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ? I Cor. 12:13; Mat. 3:11

X. Do you believe that the apostolic sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, are not for today, since they were for the purpose of confirming the preached word of God to Israel in the first century? Heb. 2:3-4; II Cor. 12:12; I Cor. 13:8; 1:22; 14:22

XI. Do you believe that all men are born with a sin nature, and that salvation through Christ is needful for all? Rom. 3:10-23; 5:12; 5:8; Isa. 64:6; Psa. 39:5; 51:5; John 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10

XII. Do you believe in the eternal security of those who have received Christ as Saviour? Eph. 4:30; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:38-39; Philip. 1:6

XIII. Do you believe that the church is the bride of Christ, consisting of all born-again believers? Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 19:7-8; 21:9

XIV. Do you believe in the autonomy of the local church? It functions alone without any external administration or control. There are no conventions, associations, or hierarchies mentioned in the Bible.

XV. Do you recognize water baptism and the Lord's Supper as Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church? Mat. 28:18-20; Acts 8:37-38; Mat. 26:26-30; I Cor. 11:23-34

XVI. Do you agree that the majority of professing Christianity is in apostasy, and that true Christians need to practice Biblical separation from such people? II Tim. 3:1-7; II Ths. 2:3; II Cor. 6:14-18; II Tim. 2:20-21

XVII. Do you believe in the literal, physical, imminent Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? Luke 12:40; Tit. 2:13; Acts 1:11; Rev. 19:11-16; 22:20

XVIII. Do you believe in a literal glorious New Jerusalem for the saved, and in a literal burning Hell for the lost? Rev. 21; 20:15; Mat. 25:41; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; Gal. 4:26

IXX. Do you believe that Satan is a literal living being who opposes God, and who will be condemned to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire? Rev. 12:9; Isa. 14:12-15; Ezk. 28:13-17; Job 1:6-12; Rev. 20:10

XX. Do you believe in the literal word-for-word Genesis account of creation? Gen. 1-2; Mat. 19:4; Mark 13:19; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16



What is the Church Doing?

In addition to finding out what a church believes, you should also find out what a church is doing. Many churches believe all the right things, yet they are little more than social clubs. A New Testament church should be a working group of Christian soldiers who strive for three primary goals:

(1) The evangelization of sinners. Lost people need the Gospel, and it is the local church's duty to give it to them. Don't join a church where regular efforts are not being made to turn sinners to Christ. This may be done by door-to-door soul winning, street preaching, tract distribution, jail ministries, nursing home ministries, etc. (Acts 20:20; Luke 14:23)

(2) The edification of the saints. Christians need to grow from the word of God. Don't join a church where such activities as chili suppers, donkey rides, hay rides, skating parties and ball games have taken the place of God's word. The sound preaching and teaching of God's word will produce mature Christian ladies and gentlemen who can go on to live Christ honoring lives. Activities alone will produce carnal babies who will hinder the spiritual growth of the church. (I Peter 2:2)

(3) The glorification of the Saviour. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and He deserves all the glory. Beware of churches which spend lots of time boasting about their attendance, their ministries, or their offerings. Look for Jesus Christ in a church. If you don't see Him real quick, then look for a better church.(Col. 1:14-18; John 16:13-14)

Also, keep in mind that the size of a church is very seldom an indication of its strength. More often than not, the largest churches in a town are the deadest churches in town. By contrast, there are many small churches which God is using mightily. Never make a decision about a church based solely on its size.

[MrsG0529]

Originally posted by Jeffer



I. Do you believe God has preserved an infallible copy of His word for us today? Psalm 12:6-7; Mat. 24:35

II. Do you believe the King James Bible is God's infallible word for the English speaking people? If the answer is "No," then ask "What is God's infallible word? Can I see a copy?" See question I.

You surely cannot mean this one. :eek

[glorymj]

Originally posted by Jeffer
II. Do you believe the King James Bible is God's infallible word for the English speaking people? If the answer is "No," then ask "What is God's infallible word? Can I see a copy?" See question I. Notice the glaring lack of scripture to back up the KJV as the ONLY word of god. :rolleyes

[Jeffer]

glorymj, do you have more than one Final Authority?(other than yourself)

[glorymj]

Originally posted by Jeffer
glorymj, do you have more than one Final Authority?(other than yourself) What EXACTLY are you asking? :rolleyes

Why do you keep throwing these veiled questions and statements out instead of coming right out and saying what you want to say?

(I think I know why. ;): )

[Jeffer]

Originally posted by Jeffer
glorymj, do you have more than one Final Authority?(other than yourself)

Is this a hard saying?

[glorymj]

:rolleyes

[michelle95]

I had someone tell me to ask the preacher "Who is the most influential man in this church?"

Of course, we know that the answer should be Jesus!

[Jeffer]

Should a born again child of God have a final authority?

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4

What do you have regarding that EVERY word of God that we are to live by?

[glorymj]

Originally posted by Jeffer
Re: Attact my post if you like, but...........WHAT are you talking about??????Should a born again child of God have a final authority?Who ever said they should? Of COURSE the Word is the final authority!! Why do you keep insinuating this??
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4 No disagreement here.What do you have regarding that EVERY word of God that we are to live by? Why do you keep asking me this? Why do you keep INSISTING that I don't think the Bible is God's Word and that I don't regard His Word as my final authority?? Where is the basis for your accusations? Really. I would like to know.

[Hootmon]

I notice that Jeffers is Read Only now. His obsessive KJV-only-ism was to blame, I suspect.

Its one thing to have a translation preference based on good reasoning. Its quite another to annoint a translation as the One True Translation...

[Average Joey]

Three things if not mentioned already.Worship,Strong Biblical teaching,and humbleness of the people.

[Taximan]

Apart from the obvious things already mentioned like being based in Scripture, the presence of the Holy Spirit etc., I think the main thing is an overwhelming sense of love. Not mushy Mills and Boon stuff, but the type Jesus displayed on the cross. The type where you could punch someone because they irritate so much, but instead you bless them. The type where you are prepared to go hungry to feed someone else, and likewise in return. The type when you know someones dark side, but decide to see only the side that is in the light.

Jesus said that we would be known by our love for one another, and I believe that in a Church true to Jesus Christ and His teaching, this will be displayed more than anything else!


God bless,

John.

p.s. If you find the fundamentals are there but the love is not so evident, perhaps you may be catalyst to cause that love to flow.:wave