Finding A Good Church
July 26, 2024 10:36 AM
Ah, the complicated subject of finding a good church... ⛪️
Maybe you already found one. Maybe you're looking for one. Maybe you've given up and have just decided to have church at home or in the great outdoors.
A few Sundays ago at River, we were discussing "Church Matters" and these two verses jumped out to me in a new way:
"But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another." (1 Corinthians 12:24-25)
I mentioned several times that The Church is God's idea. Like the human body, God arranges members in the church body as He chooses. (1 Cor. 12:18) He gives gifts to each person as He decides is best, and wants us to share those gifts for the common good" of every member. (1 Cor. 12:7 & 11).
And God has so composed the Church Body in such a way that the insignificant parts are just as essential as the more visible parts, and every part serves for the benefit of all. God's purpose for creating and sustaining His church is so the world can see His family on earth, living in unity with and care for one another.
One Another
You see, a good church will have an emphasis on "One Anothering" with unity, purpose and ultimately, love.
There are a variety of expressions of music, dress, preaching, kids ministry, outreach, missions, and a variety of emphasis from church to church on a local level.
But one thing that should be consistent from church to church is how well we to the "One Another" thing.
So, if you've found a good church, get really good at the One Another thing. Show hospitality, share your life with people, and serve with deep love and enthusiasm for God's glory.
But if you're still looking, or maybe you've given up, think about starting again with this new perspective: People who love Jesus will love one another.
When you can find that, you've found a good church, where they truly believe the words of Jesus when He said:
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Yes, there are other important non-negotiables to finding a Biblical Christian Church, and I will speak to those things at other times.
But today, I hope this message encourages you to keep on believing in God's plan for His church. There will never be a perfect church, but there are many good churches where Jesus is lifted up because His people love one another well. Don't give up on God's plan. Keep seeking and you will find. He will help you. And if I can help in any way, feel free to reach out to me directly: KeithRadke@RiverUtah.church
Grace & Peace,
Keith
PS: If you were wondering if I'd say it... Yes, I'd love to invite you to visit us at River Community Church this Sunday. We try to keep things simple and focused on Jesus, with a desire to love one another well. Worship starts at 10:00AM. We meet in a converted event center in the Parks Centre retail complex in South Jordan. Click for more info about our Sunday gatherings >
PPS: If you live in Utah, and River is too far for you, UtahChurches.com is a fantastic new resource available that's being updated daily. Check it out and may it help you in your journey following Jesus in a local church.