There are no good churches in my area, what can I do to get deeper in the word of God?

Question

My young son (on my avatar) loves Jesus and thinks he lives in church. I don't want to deny him church, but I don't get positive vibes from the ones I have visited. They are either "fashion show" churches, or "all about the benjamins" churches, or a combo of both. I buy kid level Christian reading/coloring materials for him and am looking for good morals from the bible in a childrens book for bedtime stories. For myself, do I HAVE to be in church to be a good Christian? My spirit tells me no. I have prayed and meditated on it often. What else can I do?

Answer 1

Trust me, I know (as a former minister) that churches are often pretty bad, for a wide variety of reasons. But fellowship in Christian faith is important, and celebration is important. You need the presence and witness of other Christians to be able to mature in your faith, and it helps with your struggles, too. Keep looking for a church, and keep your options open: visit all the churches you can. Maybe you'll find your home in a AME church, or an Orthodox church, or with Quakers, or with Unitarians -- who knows? Try 'em all. And driving an hour to get to a good church where you're really happy is well worth it.

Answer 2

Church is a great thing for people who need guidance. Church however is not a requirement to get in good with Jesus. I say cut out the middleman. Teach your son that Jesus and God is everywhere and in all things. Every house can be a house of God. If Jesus is truly the only way to heaven why do we need Churches to muddy the waters?

Answer 3

omg, i totally understand. i was in and out of churches my whole life and was really....disappointed in what i saw. instead of a place to feel welcome and comfortable and loved, i felt rejected, self conscious, and intimidated. partly because of my lack of confidence, but also because of my peers being "clique-ish" and so on and so forth. when i went to college, i dropped church for 4 years....afterwards i drifted in and out but it was always the same. then one day, i just felt like going (even tho i had no church in mind). i asked a friend of mine where he went, and it was a very tiny church. so i asked if could go, and he said sure! so i started going to this small church, w/ about 10 members and a pastor, and i just felt .... accepted. maybe cuz it's a small group, maybe cuz i was the only girl (haha), but i felt unjudged, and wanted, and that my thoughts were respected. i kept going, not knowing what i was looking for...and 10 months later, i feel and have learned SO much more about religion and faith that i ever have in the past 26 years! now the important thing about church is to have fellowship w/ people who are Christians..but if you can't find a church u like or connect w/ the members, i understand it will be difficult to find. perhaps u can have fellowship w/ ur son for now, and perhaps continue searching w/ friends, etc to find a church u feel comfortable in.

Also if u have time, please read Romans 5-8: it REALLY opened my eyes to what LOVE and Joy we have as Christians...we are not bound to any laws, or judgements anymore. Jesus died for all our sins, past present and future. so if u feel "bad" for not going to church on sundays, don't... if you have the right heart and the Spirit is with you, you will keep doing the right thing and eventually it will guide you to what is right. have faith in that, and you will never question yourself. good luck, and don't give up!!! finding a church that is right for u is not easy, and if it takes hard work, it will be worth it in the end!

Answer 4

To get a much deeper understanding of the Word of God.
Please see my website first that deals with many topics(includes verses):
topics include: Jesus, Jesus's Birth, Jesus's Death, Bible Truth 1, Bible Truth 2, and many others. This one goes to Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock =
http://community.webshots.com/photo/280929197/1280932397049373547FfeRXo
After you download; you can go to next to see Bible Truth 1 and so on and so forth.


Next go to this site: it has a magazine that deals with topics as a Bible Study Course--I learned much from this church than any other on vital hard to understand subjects.
http://www.lcg.org/orderfree.shtml

Answer 5

I would encourage you to continue looking for a church. If you want a church home then you are praying about, so in time God will show you were you need to go. The bible says to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Do i think or does the bible teach that we have to be in church every time, no but to forsake it means to turn your back on it and reject it. I do believe we should be in church when we can. Church should be a place to worship our freedom in Christ and that He is our Saviour and God. To fellowship with other christians and to share our problems and to comfort others with theirs. If u leave it up to church to grow, mature or give you the spiritual food you need then you will be disapointed cause that not the main reason for it. We can grow in Christ through church but only to an exstent. Our main recource for this spiritual fuel or food is with our own personal time with God in prayer and of course the Word. It does encourage me that you have a real concern and protective spirit for your son, somthing most familys have lost. To get deeper with the Word of God, you have to get rid of sin and laziness. If internet is keeping you down then you need to get rid of it, or those movies late at night on cinemax or porn or whatever. We will struggle everyday with sin, but when you live with 1,2 or 3 stumblingblocks you spend too much time on the ground and getting up than being up on your feet, spiritually speaking. Pray for a hunger for Him and His word and How to get it. Be specific in your prayer time. Always make sure you are prayed and confessed up before getting in the word. Remember, once sin breaks our fellowship with Him, not our relationship but our fellowship so, so make sure thats right cause when our fellowship isnt right, our God time wont be either.

Answer 6

i think what you are doing is wonderful .. i teach my children about Jesus but also about other philosophers and spiritual teachers of other cultures also , perhaps introducing some of these would be lovely ?
i think children can cope with more than we realise and are much more compassionate and tolerant to others if raised in such a way
my children are taught Christianity in school and at home i answer any questions they give me to the best of my ability on any religious matter despite the religion ( as their school is mixed )
now my children wish to go to spiritualist church with me .. and i have told them that this would be contrary to the teachings in their school ... but they love it all because they are very open and wise and know its all about the lessons taught in each
my oldest now attends church with me but only because she wished to and i feel is old enough to decide

Answer 7

Get yourself a good study bible. I have the rainbow study bible which is a great bible to study with. Get yourself a bible dictionary or concordanance to help you understand what you are reading. God wants us to study evey day. The more you fully understand the word of God, the closer you get to Him. He will open up His word to you as long as you pray to Him and ask Him to show you His word before you start to read it. you may have to read the same scripture over and over again before it is clear to you. You can't just pick it up like any other book, because it is not like any other book.

You can also get more bible learning tools here..
.http://www.freepowerboards.com/praywithcarol/praywithcarol.html

Here is my email address and you can write me so I can help you with your studies if you wish.
[e-mail]

God bless you
carol

Answer 8

If you don't go to church, you get to sleep in on Sunday and save 10%. You can still effectively brainwash your son without church.

Answer 9

Check out Charles Stanley's web site. He has some fantastic bible studies

Answer 10

Read Swedenborg - a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

http://www.mechanicsburgnewchurch.org