Think Spot

Think Spot 12th November 2012

Moving Home and choosing a new church ?

We will assume you have already prayed about the matter when you knew you were moving to a new location. If you had the choice of where to live then you would have prayed and then looked at the area noting where different churches were situated, Is that right? Maybe your prayer would have been along the lines of “Lord, where do you want my family and I both to live and worship? I personally want to serve you in a church where I can just sit back and listen to nice comfortable sermons that do not make me think too much where I have to change my life style. Somewhere, where the seats are comfortable, the people friendly, and where not too many questions asked as to what my past life has been like. Somewhere pleasant to go to from time to time.” Well I certainly do not hope you prayed in that way. The truth is new, genuine Christian people will be looking for a church where they can be assured Jesus Christ is central in the church ministry. A keen Christian, which I hope you are, will be wanting to attend a church where Jesus Christ is right in the centre of the church's teaching and (1) where a real sense of God's presence is surely sensed whenever a meeting is about to take place and this is confirmed to you as the service continues. (2) It will be a fellowship of God's believers where the ministry of God's Word is taught accurately, in language you can understand and where it is applied unreservedly, honestly and with understanding. (3)It will be a place where those who minister are competent. God called teachers. These men of God will not take God's Word lightly and certainly they are not full of jokes that have no relevance to the preached Word. These men will realise they are standing in God's holy place as they stand to preach. They preach “Thus says the Lord” Nothing flippant at all entering their vocabulary. (4)They will be fully aware of their responsibility of revealing to the people what they themselves have learned in the secret place as they have prayed over and painstakingly searching God's Word diligently for the richest of food for God's people. (5)They will be aware of the need to bring milk for the new believer as well as meat for the more mature from God's Word so that all who will attend will be catered for. New people will need to be sure they will be well fed regularly from God's Precious Word! In the scriptures we read of those who looked up and were not fed. That would be a travesty especially for those who have come a distance, or are weighed down with troubles at home or at work and need an uplift for the downcast or an encouragement into some new venture God has already planned for them. They will need the assurance of God's Word required for guidance into that new project. Yes, may well say “that's a tall order, isnt it?” You will see now that there is a tremendous responsibility upon the preacher and the church to fill the pulpit with such ministry where the people look up and are fed adequately, according to their various needs. Testimonies are fine especially at baptisms but they must never replace the preached Word. The new person to the church will be looking at its worship. Is its content doctrinally sound and words easy to see and sing? Is the focus centred on the music alone or the words also? All words of spiritual songs should be centred on God's precious powerful Word with Christ at the centre. Again may I be permitted to say that although many modern songs today are centred on God's Word they need to cover more than expressing the love of God. That is very important but what about God's holiness, His majesty and power, His mercy and judgement, His guidance and compassion etc. It is also a danger for songs to focus on man and man's love for God rather than God and His love for His people. God's power available towards man! God's wisdom! God’s power and strength! God's perfect peace! Glory to God means just that. “To God be the glory great, great things... HE HAS DONE!” We are to expect new people to be looking for such worship and so they should find it. The new person to a church will be looking for good fellowship! When they arrive they receive a warm friendly welcome. They could be shown to a seat also if possible. Following the meeting, over refreshments, is a further chance for them to be introduced to other different members of the church, being made aware they are there for the first or second time. It means such a lot to a newcomer to be thus welcomed. New families need to be easily directed also to the Sunday School and youth departments as well. Christianity is to be practised as well as believed. If they are interested in Home Groups at least by the second visit they should be made aware of a Group suitable and near as possible to their own new home. These are evidences then of a truly live evangelical church which should be in place. They have moved to one new home now they need a good spiritual home. Take your time looking and praying regarding both your home and new spiritual home. Prayer is of ultra importance for you but also make sure it is a church given to prayer about everything. You will experience Bible study and Prayer meetings and will be requested to help in Outreach. These are hallmarks of a lively evangelical church. Be prepared to be an active Christian in your new spiritual fellowship. Some while ago when I was looking for a church at one time I spent the best part of a year making sure it was the right one. It is so important to know you are where God wants you to be and to worship and serve Him. So pray continually and pray expectantly and don't forget to glorify and thank Him when you find your new spiritual home. Have your friends pray for you to that end. May God richly bless you, your family and the new church family where you settle. Joys Prayer Gracious God and loving heavenly Father, Please help people seeking for God as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ, to find their true spiritual home where their families , each member in particular, can find the church where they can settle down, to enjoy its church programmes activities. A place where they are all sensing that they are seen to be real assets to their new church through God's wonderful grace. Each church is like a jig saw with some pieces already in place but with enough spaces for those God wants to join where they will work together to complete the local body with its activities towards others in the fellowship as well as in the surrounding neighbourhood of the church. Please give clarity of the understanding of your will, in Jesus name! Amen. Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file Click on the appropriate link to subscribe to this website iTunes