changing churches

[Godislove94]

Hi again. I posted a similar thread in the advice section but felt it more appropriate to post it here. My church is Trinitarian Pentecostal and will be closing sometime this month. I was raised Free Methodist. Not sure what to look for, and denomination isn't important to me. How will I know when God points it out?

 

[Godislove94]

I'm in the Akron Ohio area if that helps

 

[GoingByzantine]

I am sorry that your church is closing, that has to be rough. I say just go out and sample a bunch of different churches until you find your fit, keep a mental checklist of things you are looking for in the back of your head. I think that the most important thing is that you look for something that is trinitarian. Do you like Charismaticism? Do you like traditional liturgies? Do you believe in sacraments? These are all questions to be asking yourself.

You are very lucky to live in Akron, what a great diversity of churches you have in your community.

 

[graceandpeace]

I already responded to your thread in the Advice forum, but if you could list criteria it would help us make suggestions. As stated before, it may be beneficial to do some research to narrow options. I realize you said denomination doesn't matter, but there are very real differences in doctrine & practice to be considered.

I would avoid looking for some sort of divine sign for God to "point it out" for you. Arm yourself with information & explore your options.

 

[Albion]

Hi again. I posted a similar thread in the advice section but felt it more appropriate to post it here. My church is Trinitarian Pentecostal and will be closing sometime this month. I was raised Free Methodist. Not sure what to look for, and denomination isn't important to me. How will I know when God points it out?

Deleted in favor of post #8 that deals with your additional information.

 

[Godislove94]

I already responded to your thread in the Advice forum, but if you could list criteria it would help us make suggestions. As stated before, it may be beneficial to do some research to narrow options. I realize you said denomination doesn't matter, but there are very real differences in doctrine & practice to be considered.

I would avoid looking for some sort of divine sign for God to "point it out" for you. Arm yourself with information & explore your options.

Now that I've had time to think about it, I do have some criteria listed. Most importantly, a church that teaches biblical truth even if it makes us uncomfortable. I want to walk in to a church service, feel the presence of God and know that it's him. I do not believe in cessationalism at the moment and am looking for a church were the gifts of the spirit are present.

Just an afterthought, but if anyone on this forum is from the Akron area, can you give me information about a few churches I have in mind? PM me for details please.

 

[graceandpeace]

Every Christian church teaches from the Bible in some manner, though beliefs about how to approach the Bible will vary.

I'm uneasy with using "feelings" as a gauge for judging whether God is present, mainly because it's subjective (& it also doesn't offer much for us to provide suggestions).

I'm not certain what is meant by finding somewhere where the "gifts of the spirit" are present. If you mean the charismatic practice of tongues, then either some sort of Pentecostal or charismatic church would be likely places to find people engaging in that behavior.

If any other info should be considered, please feel free to share. Good luck with your search.

 

[Albion]

Now that I've had time to think about it, I do have some criteria listed. Most importantly, a church that teaches biblical truth even if it makes us uncomfortable. I want to walk in to a church service, feel the presence of God and know that it's him. I do not believe in cessationalism at the moment and am looking for a church were the gifts of the spirit are present.

Just an afterthought, but if anyone on this forum is from the Akron area, can you give me information about a few churches I have in mind? PM me for details please.

You've described a Pentecostal church of some sort. Avoid the United Pentecostal Church, but otherwise there's not much more for us to go on. Most Pentecostal churches emphasize the Bible, so perhaps the Assemblies of God or the Church of God (Cleveland TN) would be where to start, since they are the best known and probably the most stable.

 

[Bumble Bee]

Hi again. I posted a similar thread in the advice section but felt it more appropriate to post it here. My church is Trinitarian Pentecostal and will be closing sometime this month. I was raised Free Methodist. Not sure what to look for, and denomination isn't important to me. How will I know when God points it out?

My boyfriend and I are searching for a church home. We made it a goal to attend 10 different churches. During that time, we are looking at the statements of faith for each church because while denomination isn't too big of a deal, we don't want to end up in one in which we don't agree with their teachings.

After we attend 10 churches, we are going to go back to the ones we liked for 3 weeks in a row each to get a better feel for the congregation and style because that's important too when looking for a place to connect.

We are going into it prayerfully, too. We sat down together one day and made a list of what we are looking for in a church, including "must haves" like sound doctrine and "would be nice" such as evening women's Bible studies. No church is going to have everything on the list, but it's at least a start for us to have direction. I would suggest you try something similar too.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hi Godislove94: What you said about Biblical truth is so apt. It's a question of what is taught from the Bible, and there is no quick fix to figure this. Although Acts 2.42 is an important reference point.

Blessings.

 

[Albion]

My boyfriend and I are searching for a church home. We made it a goal to attend 10 different churches. During that time, we are looking at the statements of faith for each church because while denomination isn't too big of a deal, we don't want to end up in one in which we don't agree with their teachings.

After we attend 10 churches, we are going to go back to the ones we liked for 3 weeks in a row each to get a better feel for the congregation and style because that's important too when looking for a place to connect.

We are going into it prayerfully, too. We sat down together one day and made a list of what we are looking for in a church, including "must haves" like sound doctrine and "would be nice" such as evening women's Bible studies. No church is going to have everything on the list, but it's at least a start for us to have direction. I would suggest you try something similar too.

Wow. Well, I'm impressed. I especially applaud the idea of going back several times to the same church. One time is essential, but you often don't get the whole picture in the first visit and there can be a lot of distractions on that initial time.

We here often urge seekers to make the kind of personal search--visits--that you describe, but we're reluctant to recommend the level of attention to the task that you've described. However, it is going to give you the best chance of avoiding a hasty decision that will later be regretted.

 

[Bumble Bee]

Wow. Well, I'm impressed. I especially applaud the idea of going back several times to the same church.

We here often urge seekers to make the kind of personal search--visits--that you describe, but we're reluctant to recommend the level of attention to the task that you've described. However, it is going to give you the best chance of avoiding a hasty decision that will later be regretted.

Thank you. I cannot take all the credit for that approach. My former pastor counseled my parents to visit a church three times before making a decision to join, so that's where I got that idea. My bf and I came up with the idea of visiting 10 different churches from a book we were reading about dating (I can't remember the name of it). We didn't agree with the approach to dating but we felt that we could use some of the principles in our church hunt. And the list idea came from us needing to figure out what we are looking for together so that we are on the same page.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Thank you. I cannot take all the credit for that approach. My former pastor counseled my parents to visit a church three times before making a decision to join, so that's where I got that idea. My bf and I came up with the idea of visiting 10 different churches from a book we were reading about dating (I can't remember the name of it). We didn't agree with the approach to dating but we felt that we could use some of the principles in our church hunt. And the list idea came from us needing to figure out what we are looking for together so that we are on the same page.

Another one is whether the church approves of a couple living together before marriage. I'm sure you guys have your deep thoughts on this as well, but it's good to be sure what they think.

 

[Bumble Bee]

Another one is whether the church approves of a couple living together before marriage. I'm sure you guys have your deep thoughts on this as well, but it's good to be sure what they think.

Yes, that would fall under the doctrinal part. We are not living together and will not be, but integrity is big and the church's view on sin should play a big part in deciding whether or not to attend.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes, that would fall under the doctrinal part. We are not living together and will not be, but integrity is big and the church's view on sin should play a big part in deciding whether or not to attend.

Then, of course, there are possible issues in the other direction.

The local church might in theory seem more or less sound when it comes to Biblical doctrine, but if they are hyper-conservative in their mindset, they might give trouble to couples where the wife earns more than the husband, or if ppl have tattoos or piercings, or whatever.

It's good to find out.

God bless you guys.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Wow. Well, I'm impressed. I especially applaud the idea of going back several times to the same church. One time is essential, but you often don't get the whole picture in the first visit and there can be a lot of distractions on that initial time.

We here often urge seekers to make the kind of personal search--visits--that you describe, but we're reluctant to recommend the level of attention to the task that you've described. However, it is going to give you the best chance of avoiding a hasty decision that will later be regretted.

It's certainly not something that can be found out about overnight; a lot of prayer and research is necessary.

 

[obadehin owolabi]

First you did not tell us why the church is closing. for a church to closed a lot of thing may have happen nevertheless God is not looking for multitude before answer prayer. If you can stand in the gap for the church it will not closed. One thing we fail to realize in this kind of situation is that we continue to look unto pastor rather than looking God for divine intervention l will employ you and others to cry to God to night and am 100% sure that God can turn thing around.