How to choose the right church

[El Cid]

We should not choose a church just by emotion.  Many people choose doctors because of how they treat them. (they may be a quack and not know what they are doing)  I would rather have a rude doctor that knew his stuff and gave me the right prescription. 

My formula for choosing the right church

1.  Their doctrine  first and foremost but not only qualifier

2.  Does the church have the Spirit of God?  Do they care about people and their souls? If they do they will be evangelistic

3.  Do they have regular Bible teaching and prayer meetings?

4.  Do they have coffee and creme filled donuts for Sunday School?   


Anyone else have some rules for choosing the right church? 

 

[Izdaari]

I would certainly expect all of that, and since I live in the home city of Starbucks, a town of espresso stands on every other corner, the coffee better be good! I will accept coffee cake or scones in lieu of the creme-filled doughnuts.

Another special requirement: My work schedule prohibits my going on Sunday morning. I could go then, but if I did, having been up literally all night, I'd sleep right through it. So I need a church that has a Sunday evening service.

 

[Izdaari]

Spend some time genuinely getting to know the pastor and his family. Be open and honest with him and be sure he is open and honest with you.

Also good advice, thanks! 

 

[El Cid]

I would certainly expect all of that, and since I live in the hometown of Starbucks, the coffee better be good! I will accept coffee cake or scones in lieu of the creme-filled doughnuts.

I hate Starbucks!    They have taken so much of my money, esp. with those mocha ice coffee drinks they have.  Never had a scone, is that like a bagel? 

 

[Izdaari]

I would certainly expect all of that, and since I live in the hometown of Starbucks, the coffee better be good! I will accept coffee cake or scones in lieu of the creme-filled doughnuts.

I hate Starbucks!    They have taken so much of my money, esp. with those mocha ice coffee drinks they have.  Never had a scone, is that like a bagel?

Heh, I usually just get the drip coffee, the darkest, boldest roast, and drink it black. It doesn't cost much more than anywhere else.

The scones are very popular here. They're like this: http://www.momswhothink.com/bread-recipes/starbucks-pumpkin-scones-recipe.html

 

[El Cid]

I would certainly expect all of that, and since I live in the hometown of Starbucks, the coffee better be good! I will accept coffee cake or scones in lieu of the creme-filled doughnuts.

I hate Starbucks!    They have taken so much of my money, esp. with those mocha ice coffee drinks they have.  Never had a scone, is that like a bagel?

Just go to Hackbucks and get your coffee cheaper. 

Actually that is what I am thinking of doing.  I am looking for their recipe and will start making their drinks at home.  Great idea but I had already thought of it. 

 

[Izdaari]

I would certainly expect all of that, and since I live in the hometown of Starbucks, the coffee better be good! I will accept coffee cake or scones in lieu of the creme-filled doughnuts.

I hate Starbucks!    They have taken so much of my money, esp. with those mocha ice coffee drinks they have.  Never had a scone, is that like a bagel?

Just go to Hackbucks and get your coffee cheaper. 

Actually, at home that's about what I do. I buy Sumatra, or Italian Roast, or something like that from the bulk coffee bins at the supermarket. I grind the beans right before brewing in my French press.

;D

 

[rsc2a]

We should not choose a church just by emotion.  Many people choose doctors because of how they treat them. (they may be a quack and not know what they are doing)  I would rather have a rude doctor that knew his stuff and gave me the right prescription. 

My formula for choosing the right church

1.  Their doctrine  first and foremost but not only qualifier

2.  Does the church have the Spirit of God?  Do they care about people and their souls? If they do they will be evangelistic

3.  Do they have regular Bible teaching and prayer meetings?

4.  Do they have coffee and creme filled donuts for Sunday School?   


Anyone else have some rules for choosing the right church?

My two absolute rules I use for choosing a church to call home:

Do they have the essential doctrines correct? (The vast majority of doctrines I would not consider "essential".)

Is there some way my family can genuinely serve the members of this local body by using our gifts and abilities in a way that will be mutually beneficial to both us and them?

Other than these two rules, I don't think anything else much matters. If there is some deficiency in the church, see rule #2.

 

[Izdaari]

I can beat that! I ROAST my own beans from time to time! 

I like my homemade lattes better, any coffee bean.

Very nice! I bet your coffee is terrific.  8)

 

[Izdaari]

Right, as noted:

1) Being right on the essential doctrines is important to me. I'm much less concerned about less essential ones.

2) An opportunity to serve the members is good. But opportunities to serve the broader community are good too.

 

[rsc2a]

My two absolute rules I use for choosing a church to call home:

Do they have the essential doctrines correct? (The vast majority of doctrines I would not consider "essential".)

Is there some way my family can genuinely serve the members of this local body by using our gifts and abilities in a way that will be mutually beneficial to both us and them?

Other than these two rules, I don't think anything else much matters. If there is some deficiency in the church, see rule #2.

Serving the local member base is nice, but I wish more Churches had more ways for the local body to serve those outside the four walls.

The purpose of the church is to equip the saints so that the saints can serve those outside the four walls. In other words, the purpose of the church is to equip herself (by the building up of individual members) to shine the light of Christ (by training those individual members to be ambassadors of Christ) for the glory of Christ. The church is primarily for the saints, not the non-believers.

Can the church help in serving those outside the community of faith, perhaps even facilitate some opportunities? Sure. But the saint should be doing the bulk of this effort without needing the church body to take the initiative. The church should be part triage, part classroom, part sanctuary (part other stuff) as part of its effort to build up and equip the saints.

In fact, a lot of this building up and equipping may not occur on Sunday mornings, but instead around a dinner table or at the park with fellow church members. I don't limit "church" to what happens on Sunday mornings.

 

[Izdaari]

Right, rsc2a, church is not just about Sunday morning (or in my case, Sunday evening).  8)

 

[rsc2a]

The purpose of the church is to equip the saints so that the saints can serve those outside the four walls. In other words, the purpose of the church is to equip herself (by the building up of individual members) to shine the light of Christ (by training those individual members to be ambassadors of Christ) for the glory of Christ. The church is primarily for the saints, not the non-believers.

Can the church help in serving those outside the community of faith, perhaps even facilitate some opportunities? Sure. But the saint should be doing the bulk of this effort without needing the church body to take the initiative. The church should be part triage, part classroom, part sanctuary (part other stuff) as part of its effort to build up and equip the saints.

In fact, a lot of this building up and equipping may not occur on Sunday mornings, but instead around a dinner table or at the park with fellow church members. I don't limit "church" to what happens on Sunday mornings.

Could you do something for me? Could you back this up with scripture? It would really help.

I personally would like to see more Church members together work to help their community. I believe this would be the compassion of the Church.

Sure....I'm going to be going off of memory on most of this, but I can provide further support if you want later:

Eph 4:11-16, Gal 6:1-10 (esp 10b), 2 Cor 8:1-15, 1 Cor 12, 1 Cor 14:1-25 (esp 12)

Those would the the biggest "chunks" of Scripture, but its all over the gospels and NT epistles. Most of the "one another" verses are referring to how the those in the church should behave towards each other. "Outreach" is generally talked about as separate topics.