Mom's Info on Finding a Healthy Church

Guide to the right Church

1) Doctrinal text
a.  Believes the Bible to be the Word of God is true and don't change anything (the church)
b.  Deity of Christ is God
c.  Jesus was virgin born
e.  Jesus is going to return
f.  There is going to be a judgement
g.  There is a heaven and hell
h.  Jesus went to the Cross and died a sacrificial death for you and me.

2)  Is that Church building my faith.

3)  Does that Church have a ministry to the world, missions, etc.

Titus 2:1-10  As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.  3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.  6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.  9 Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10 or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

Qualities of a Sound Church  (Spirit Filled Living Bible)

Doctrine:  A right thinking church will not compromise on scriptural doctrine
1)  The Bible is the Lord's inerrant Word and every verse is true.
2)   Jesus Christ was born to a virgin, born of a human being and the divine Son of God.
3)   A church must believe that Christ died a substitutionary, sacrificial death on the Cross.

Two other critical doctrines are the existence of heaven and hell, and the reality of  a coming judgement.

Faith: The Church should be edifying to our relationship with God.  We need teaching and encouragement to live a holy life of submission.  We should be taught we are not victims of the world system but rather overcomers.

Evangilism:  There should be ministry to non-believers with compassion toward the poor and a burden to share the Gospel with the lost.

The Church's responsibility is three-fold:

1)  We worship God through song, prayer, testimony and many other activities.  Exalting the Lord blesses Him and simultaneously feeds our spirit as we recall His blessings,think about His nature and remember He cares for us.
2)  The local church is to teach the congregation.  Spiritually, believers should always be involved in "continuing education."  How do we do this?  By reading Scripture, having Biblical principles explained.
3)  The body of believers is to carry what we learn out into the world.  Through evangelism and missions, we reach the lost with the Gospel.


From me.

The church has a big job here on this earth  Thankfully we have the power of the Lord to accomplish it.  Being in a church is essential for believers, we can't do this alone.  I am so blessed to be part of a wonderful, living congregation where I can worship jointly, find refreshment from the world and be built up with like-minded people so we can all get on with the work God has given us to do,  Lord, thank You for my church.  And thank You for setting up Your body just this way.  To need one another, to work with one another and to be led and empowered by You to accomplish Your purpose throughout the world.  Let us be unified, let us be effective and glorify Yourself in Your people. Amen.