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How Do I Choose From The Local Churches Near Me?

Whether you are new to Christianity or moving, you may find yourself searching for 'local churches near me'. Consider these things when making your decision.

Whether you are new to Christianity or moving to a new city, choosing a local church ‘near me’ can be an extremely daunting and confusing practice. There can be numerous factors to consider and choosing the nearest Christian church may, or may not, be the best option.

When affiliated with a certain denomination choosing a local church near me may be much easier. If I am a Baptist or an Anglican, that would naturally make me want to attend the nearest Christian church that is Baptist or Anglican affiliated. If I have certain Biblical beliefs of how the Word of God should be interpreted, then the best practice would be to attend a church with similar affiliations to my own.

There are many preferences or expectations we may have when choosing a church. Some of the preferences we may have may cause us to consider things like:

  • Denomination – Am I open to attending any denomination or do I have a preferred option?
  • Travel time – Am I prepared to travel a long-distance if the local churches near me don’t meet my needs?
  • Congregation size – Should I attend a big church or a small church?
  • Comfort – Are there pews or chairs in the church? Is there a range of service times?
  • Worship style – Is there contemporary worship or is still done with an orchestra?
  • Ministries – Is there a strong youth or kids’ ministry for my children?  Are there small Bible study groups to become involved in?
  • Demographics – Will there be people in my age group to connect with?
  • Outreach – Does the church have a mission focus?

It is okay to have these preferences, but not all the preferences I enjoy are the best things to consider when looking at the local nearest Christian Church.

local churches near me

Checklist to consider when deciding on which of the local churches near me to attend:

1. Pray about which local churches to attend

Psalms 25:9  “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.”

It is good to pray before every big decision in our life. The most obvious decision may not be the best choice for me; the nearest Christian church may not be the church I should be attending. Prayer is a form of humility before God, and when we speak to him he will guide us.

2. Ask people about the local churches near me 

When choosing a local church near me, find reliable people and ask for an opinion about the nearest christian church. An objective opinion would go a long way to discerning which local church near me is the best.

You want to stay away from people who have a bias or have an agenda. A person who has a reputation of honor will be the best person to speak to.

The Bible says that we should honor everyone, if the person you are seeking council from dishonors church members or people within their community they are not the best people to speak to. We need to remember that there is no prerequisite for honor, it is not based on how somebody acts or performs, if they have breath in their lungs they are worthy of honor.

christian church near me

3. Research the churches online

Another tool is of course the internet. Having a look at the websites and social media platforms of the local churches near me would be great way to gain a feel for the church.

Remember, some great churches may not have great websites and may have little social media presence, so don’t put too much emphasis on the quality of the website, place a greater emphasis on what the church stands for and the people who are a part of it.

4. Is the Word of God preached?

Are the messages of the church based on the word of God?  Many churches develop a culture of trying to fit in with popular culture or opinion to stay relevant. If you are at church because the pastor is funny or he has great banter, then that may not be the best reason to attend that church. The church is ultimately a place to grow and become more Christ-like.

Bible based local churches near me

5. Does the church encourage worship?

This may seem like a very obvious point, but worshiping Jesus together as the body of Christ is one of the most important things we can do together as a church. Worship brings together God’s word, prayer, and fellowship.

The question to ask is does the nearest Christian church  encourage worship or is it just a systematic ritual on Sunday? If the church encourages a culture of worship in their day to day lives, in mid-week meet-ups, in kid’s church then that is a church to consider attending.

6. Does the local church near me love others?

The way a church loves its members and community is a good indication of the type of people within the church. It is also a good indication of the spiritual health of the church. Does the church exclude people based on race, economic status, education, dress, or appearance? If it does the nearest Christian church may not be the best church for you.

The way a church loves its members and community is a good indication of the type of people within the church. It is also a good indication of the spiritual health of the church. Does the church exclude people based on race, economic status, education, dress, or appearance? If it does the nearest Christian church may not be the best church for you.

christian local churches near me

7. What are the leaders of the Church like?

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

We are instructed to recognise good leaders and follow them in the body of Christ. A church needs to have Godly leaders. One thing to look at is whether the leaders are faithfully leading the congregation, if they are it would manifest in how they conduct themselves and how they care for the people around them. I would also look at the unity of the church; leaders who battle to maintain unity may not be great leaders.

When visiting a new church it would be great to spend some time getting to know the pastor, leaders or elders of the church to get a feel for the church. Don’t over emphasis the conduct of a causal volunteer who may be new to the church or not have any leadership position within the church. A great idea would be to take some time to ask a senior leader some questions about the church, maybe even going for a coffee, be transparent about your intentions; a good leader would appreciate that.

8. Take time deciding which of the local churches will suit

Remember to give the church a sufficient chance, you could potentially attend the church for a couple of weeks to get an understanding of the culture and see what the feel of the church is. Look out for what tone the church conveys, if it is a tone of serious joy then that is a good indicator going forward.

It is more than likely that the local churches near me in my neighbourhood will not be the perfect church. They may have people who are far from perfect – all churches do, none of us are perfect but, we do serve a perfect Father. With his help, we can find a place where we can grow in community and grow in the knowledge of him, increasingly loving God and others.

If you haven’t found a church yet, don’t give up God has one for you.

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