What is the value of having a church family?
What value is there to becoming like family to other believers? Acts 2:42 could be considered a basic statement of quintessential church activity: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The Bible places importance on the church family unit because of these reasons:…
What does the Bible say about the role of youth pastor/minister?
Before discussing the role of a youth pastor/minister, it is important to first discuss the qualifications. Generally speaking, anything said about the role of bishop/overseer should be applied to any other church leadership position, including youth pastor/minister. Therefore, the biblical qualifications for a youth pastor/minister are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9. The…
Is it biblical to call the wife of a pastor, elder, or bishop the First Lady of the church?
The practice of calling the wife of an elder of a local church “First Lady” (or “First Lady of the Church” or, for short, “Lady [first and/or last name]”) does not come from the Bible. No precedent for it can be found in God’s Word, and the practice is in fact antithetical to such principles…
What should I be looking for in a church?
In order to know what to look for in a local church, we must first understand God’s purpose for the church—the body of Christ—in general. There are two outstanding truths about the church. First, “the church of the living God [is] the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Second, Christ alone is…
What should a Christian do if he/she lives in an area where there is no church to attend?
There are many areas of the world where restrictions are placed on Christians in regard to when, where, and how they may worship. In some countries, Christian worship in any form is not permitted, and some repressive governments arrest and kill Christians simply for declaring or exercising their faith. Christians who live in such areas…
Is it wrong to attend two (or more) different churches?
The New Testament does not directly address the subject of attending two or more different churches. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians begins, “To the church of God in Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2), indicating one church, whereas the book of Galatians begins with “to the churches in Galatia” (Galatians 1:2), indicating more than one in the…
What are appropriate reasons for missing church?
Many people have an improper or unbiblical understanding of church attendance. Some people’s feeling about church attendance borders on legalism—they must attend every time there is any kind of service or meeting, or they risk God’s wrath. Some people experience guilty feelings whenever they miss a Sunday morning service for any reason. Sadly, some churches…
What factors should one consider when trying to find a good local church?
When trying to find a good local church, it’s good to remember that, just like the people in them, no church is perfect. However, there are many important issues that should be considered when choosing a church. Some people live close to only a few churches, and their choices will be limited, but for others…
Why is church membership important?
The universal Church—the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5)—is composed of all true believers in Christ, and local churches are to be microcosm of the universal Church. As believers, we have our names written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 20:12), and that is what is most important. However, it is also important to commit…
When is it right to leave a church?
Perhaps the best way to discern whether one has grounds to leave a church is to go back to the basics. What, after all, is the purpose of the church? The Bible is clear that the church is to be the “pillar and ground [foundation] of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Everything in the church…