Many people have a misconception about what a church actually is. So what is a church? There are two definitions for the word church.  One of the definitions of the word church found in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is “a building that is used for public, Christian worship.” That is in the natural world.

But in the Bible, the word church has a different meaning.  In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said as He was talking to Peter, “On this rock, I will build my church [body] and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”  What Jesus was saying is that man was more important to Him than anything or any place on this earth.  We are the church that He mentions in that verse, everyone who believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior.  That is why Jesus came to restore what was first done in Adam.  

God dwelled with Adam in the Garden of Eden.  When Adam sinned, the presence of God left. God had a plan to restore mankind back to His original state.  The obedience of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection gave man access to God’s original state once again.

When we are looking for a church, we must look for the core truths of the gospel that Jesus taught.  These core truths are based on the salvation of humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Salvation as God has revealed to us through His holy scriptures which defines the forgiveness of sins and the true everlasting life God has promised. As a person confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, he must believe that Jesus was also raised from the dead as stated in Romans 10:9.  With this foundation, man’s life can be enhanced to understand who God is, who Jesus Christ is, and God’s love for all His people.

When looking for a church, make sure that the church teaches scripture-based information and at least the five tenets of faith.  A church must teach:

1. Jesus is the son of God.
2. Jesus was conceived by a virgin named Mary.
3. Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for the forgiveness of humankind.
4. Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
5. Jesus will come back again for his church and take them to Heaven.

Other important teachings we should look for are:

1. Who God is- God is unity and there is only one God; He has always existed and always will. (John 17:3)
2. What the Godhead is- manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
3. Understanding the moral corruption of humans-God always wants a relationship with us. However, since man is separated from God and cannot save himself, that’s why Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that He must be born again.
4. The need for God’s grace- Grace alone has the power to bring salvation. This grace is undeserved and cannot be bought.  It is a gift from God given only through Jesus Christ alone.  This means that God can restore man into fellowship with Him but not on man’s merit. (Romans 3:24)

As we look across the globe, you will meet people from many different denominations and churches. Don’t let anyone lead you away from the word of God.  We need to pay careful attention to the words of Jesus when He was teaching His disciples.  Apart from Jesus, man alone cannot do anything (see John 15:5-8).  And Jesus also said that a person who walks in the steps of Jesus will bear much fruit.  

We must find a church that helps foster our relationship with Jesus and teaches us how to have a strong relationship like Jesus did with His Heavenly Father. But be careful not to find a church that only preaches the “good” things of God. Many churches only preach what the people want to hear because they are afraid of losing the crowds that fill their church. Your church should have a mix of positive messages and messages that may challenge you a little bit, maybe even make you a little mad. If we aren’t challenged we aren’t growing.

Pray about where you are attending church. If it isn’t the right place, God will give you a nudge to find somewhere that will teach you what He wants you to learn. We received that nudge a little over a year ago, and I can say it was a change that reshaped our faith in God. Look for a church that makes you think and makes you want to dig deeper into the scriptures to learn for yourself.

In his bible study “The Book of Signs”, Dr. David Jeremiah made an observation that really hit home with me and why the church should be so important to the bride of Christ.  All throughout the book of Revelation we see the saints of Heaven worshipping and praising God as a collective group.  There is no individual worship, they are a team.

Dr. Jeremiah says in his book:

“We live in a day when people don’t believe they need to worship in church with the Body of Christ.  People claim they can worship in nature or on the golf course on Sunday morning.  In the book of Revelation, what we see in Heaven is corporate worship.  Christianity is not an individual experience.  Yes, we are saved individually, but immediately we are baptized into the Body of Christ, where we remain for eternity.  I cannot encourage you enough to make sure that you learn to do on earth what you will be doing for eternity in heaven:  worship with the many that God has redeemed for Himself” (The Book of Signs, page 182).

Our relationship with God isn’t just a Sunday morning appointment. Our relationship should be a daily walk where we become more like Jesus every day. Even Jesus learned to follow the will of His Father. He said, “I [Jesus] can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.” John 5:30-32.

Follow the lead of Jesus and seek the will of God, even if this means leaving your comfort zone and trying a new church.