I have received this question several times, not only through my Practical Shepherding website, but even more recently in my own church by visitors. It’s a common scenario. He’s moving to a new area. You can find your new home and your new job. He’s enrolling children in school. Moving to a local church often becomes a longer task.
After seeing all the churches you want to visit, here are four questions you need to ask to refine your search and make a decision.
- That’s the first question to ask.
- Not only if you are faithful to the Word of God.
- But will this church preach and teach so that my soul and the souls of my family may feed?In other words.
- Will you explicitly preach through the books of the Bible as the regular form and the constant regime of the congregation?This approach does not automatically answer this question.
- But it is an excellent starting and evaluation point.
Does this church have true pastors/elders who see their primary task as spiritual care and oversight of members’ souls?In other words, just because they have a powerful biblical preaching does not mean that their individual souls will be cared for regularly. Ask the shepherds. Ask the other church members. It won’t take much research to determine if this work is a priority for church leaders.
To find out, it will take a little church participation for a while to build relationships, participate in some church fraternity events, and meet some of the pastors and leaders. However, it must have a realistic expectation, as it is not yet a member; therefore, do not expect to be treated as such.
This will help you if you know where you have talent and what the needs of the church are. Some needs can be met with your simple presence and commitment. Also, don’t assume you know what these areas of need are because of limited observations.
You should be able to know the answers to these questions after a few months in church, if you participate in the process. If you can answer all four questions in the affirmative, you’ve probably found your next church. I would encourage you not to delay, but to apply for membership.
One last element is the key to persevering with the zeal needed in this search. You and your family must have a sense of persistent unrest because you know that you are not in alliance with a local church or under the authority of supervisors who deal with Freedom and the lack of responsibility that many feel in the search for a new church can cause sinful complacency.
In other words, you will never want to feel comfortable being a sheep of God who has strayed from the flock and the responsibility of the shepherds to you, although this journey may seem fun and exciting right now.