How to Find a Church You Can Serve

This is one of the most important decisions in your life.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Finding the right church where God wants you to grow and serve is a very important decision. You must also understand that not every church is for everyone. Churches are very different in what they believe, in their worship style, and in their spiritual personality, so finding the right church for you is not always that easy!  You want to be very careful and very deliberate in making that decision.  It can impact your life forever.

So how can you find the right church?

First, You have to ask the right questions. For example, “Does this church actually teach the Bible?” Going to a church that does not have a heart for God or His Word would be the wrong place to attend.  There are many churches that are just meeting and going through a weekly ritual without having any spiritual impact. The last thing that you want to do is to be in a church that does not teach the Bible.

What should you look for in the lives those who are attending a church?

You have to discern if the believers are really growing in their faith and commitment to Christ.  Why would a Christian want to go to a church where no one was growing spiritually? One of the primary goals of the Christian life is to become as much like Christ as possible, and a strong church that is anchored in the Bible will help you develop that Christlikeness in your life.

It is important to understand that it is not just what a church can offer you, but also just as much about what you can offer a church. Think of it this way: you want the church to help you grow spiritually so that you can help the church to grow spiritually.  You want to “stir up one another to love and good works.” Just remember that every believer has God-given spiritual gifts that God wants to use in the local church, so once you determine what your spiritual gifts, natural skills, and talents are, then you want to use them in your church.  Jesus said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”  (Matthew 23:11).  Being able to use your God-given gifts and skills is one of the primary ways that God helps you to grow spiritually.

What else is important to know?

Never get in a hurry when trying to find a church. Think of it this way — God has a church that He wants you to attend. Seek His guidance to find that church.  He wants you to be a blessing and a servant to all who are there. It does not have to be a big church or a small church. It just needs to be that one church where God wants you to attend.  Be patient when looking.  Then, once you find the church where God wants you to attend, be fully committed to that church.  Every church has spiritual imperfections, so do not demand too much too early from the church you choose.  Just go and learn what it means to be a devoted follower of Christ, and then begin to invest your life in that local church.  Just be a servant to everyone around you, and you will quickly find how much God will use you for His glory.

Pray this week:

Lord, I thank you for already having a church for me where I can both grow and serve spiritually.  My deepest prayer is that you will lead me and help me to find that church