what sort of church do you recommend for someone searching ....?

Question

searching for Jesus**

not the catholic church. laid back sort of thing. non-denominational maybe?

Answer 1

Find the one that is doing the will of God. One who lives by Bible principles. You won't find many, because most churches teach false doctrines. I would study the bible, and get help by getting a concordance and a bible dictionary. After you see what the word of God says then you can look into the churches and see which one is teaching truth. I have found only two, that are applying God's word into what they are teaching. Too many of the churches like to teach what suits their needs, instead of what God is saying. Good Luck!!

Answer 2

I recommend the church that Jesus built (Matt 16:18), and the church he purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)

I recommend the church that will answer the question, "What shall I do to be saved" with the same answer Peter gave in Acts 2:38.

I recommend the church that is organized in the way the church of the Bible was organized. Christ was the head and the church was his body (Eph 1:22-23), and there is only "one body" (Eph. 4:4). Since Christ is the head, the church I recommend has no "headquarters" on Earth, but each congregation goes directly to the Bible to see what it should teach and practice.

Each congregation of the church I recommend is overseen by a group of elders that meet the qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The Elders are also called "bishops", "overseers", or "pastors".

The church I recommend should teach the truth. This truth could be investigated by searching the scriptures (Acts 17:11). They should have a "thus saith the Lord" for everything they teach and do.

The church I recommend should have a name from scriptures and not a man made name. This church should have a name that points to the owner of the church - Christ. The church is the "bride of Christ", and the bride should honor the groom by wearing His name.

Suppose, for example, Mr. Smith asks his girlfriend to marry him. She agrees, but says, “Our friend Mr. Jones is a good man, so when we get married, instead of being called Mrs. Smith, I want to be called Mrs. Jones.” Would Mr. Smith have a reason to question her loyalty to him? Would he feel honored? Why would a bride wear another man’s name? Why would a church want to wear a man-made name?

We don’t have to wear a man-made name. Just as the church is called several names in Scripture, we as individuals are given names to wear. Followers of Christ are simply called things like “saints” or “disciples”. But there is also a specific name given. 1 Peter 4:16 says, “If a man suffer as a Christian… let him glorify God in this name” . Since the Bible gives us a name to wear (Christian), we do not need another name, but some are not content to be known simply by “this name”. We were never meant to be a hyphen-named Christian.

The Corinthians had this problem. Some were Paul-Christians, Apollos-Christians, and Cephus-Christians. (1 Cor.1: 10-13). Because they were divided by these various names, they were called “carnal” and not “spiritual”(1 Cor.3: 1-4). You see, a single name promotes unity, but multiple names encourage divisions. We should be content to wear the name God has given. (Isaiah 62:2)

Is a name important? Names show honor, identify ownership, promote unity (or division), recognize leadership, signify submission, denote doctrine, and demonstrate loyalty. If these are important, then names are also important.

Those who meet together as the "Church of Christ" strive to have all of these characteristics. We try to leave behind all man-made doctrine and be only the church of the Bible, therefore, the church I recommend is the church of Christ.

Answer 3

I recommend a Free Will Baptist church...We have awesome spirit filled services every Sunday and Wednesdays...We believe that you can fall and fail God all the time but you have to repent daily of your sins...We dont believe that once you are saved, you are always saved and that you can go out and commit all kinds of sins and not worry about it...We also observe the washing of feet, like Jesus did for His disciples, believing that we should be as humble as Jesus was...The Holy Spirit is among us all the time during our services, which don't happen in any particular order...We dont have programs to tell you whats gonna happen at a certain time, we just let the Holy Spirit guide us as to what happens next...We have shouting and praising the Lord, singing and testifying (had alot of that today as a matter of fact) Its really an awesome church...Most of the Free Will Churches are located in the South, but there are others around I think....You should check into them if you are looking for Holy Ghost filled preaching that comes from God and not from a sermon that is written down on paper...It all comes from God...

Have a great Day!

Answer 4

The Catholic Church because it is the one that can trace its beginning right back to one of the apostles. I am all about Truth and if I had been raised other than Catholic, I would have needed to choose the Catholic Church any way -- regardless as to whether I actually agreed with it or not -- simply because "the Truth shall set you free". No mere invention by man has that ability. Lutheranism was "invented" in 1517; the Episcopal Church was invented in the 1700s by Samuel Seabury and the Assembly of God was invented only as late as 1914 -- hardly apostolic in its origins.

Incidentally, like Judaism and Islam, Christianity -- at least the Catholic part -- is actually a Middle Eastern religion given its foundation in Jerusalem. All of Protestantism is European or American in its origins -- with no historicity prior to the 1500's.

You want the True Church of Jesus Christ? Come to the Catholic Church. All else is a "Johnny-come-lately" with their own interpretation of what the bible says. Yet Truth is one. If these other sects, as they are properly called, were led by the Holy Spirit, its adherents would all come to the one and same conclusions -- always.

Don't forget -- Luther broke away from the Catholic Church and years later so did John Calvin -- but they did not agree with each other in their beliefs. Henry VIII started his own church for his self-gain and John Knox started his church, the Presbyterian church because he could not agree with any of the other churches. The joke is that Protestantism multiplies -- by division. The other is that "if you don't like the authority in one church, go start your own!" I know of a few men who were in fundamentalist churches who have done just that....they disagreed with authority and they storm out the door and start their own church following the whims of their own hearts rather than God's; these breakaways ultimately become rival churches and many break all ties of communion with their counterparts. Many churches are breakaways of breakaways of breakaways......

Answer 5

Look for a church that is built upon these principles.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-3)

Don't just look for one that will teach the easy things but will teach ALL the word of God.
To many people are looking for a church THEY are comfortable with not so much the true teaching of God.
There is only ONE TRUE CHURCH. I won't say which one it is but I know it is here on Earth right now, and I am a member of it. If you are interested in knowing which one it is just contact me, but I can PROMISE you it will teach many things that seem to go against the grain of other churches but we are here to be tested and seek the truth. We also strictly believe in and try to follow the teaching of God in the Bible.

Answer 6

First of all, not all roads lead to Rome and not all religions lead to the Truth. Therefore, you need to 'test' any religion that you might try to see if it stands up to the criteria of the Bible.

It would take too long and the answer wouldn't get read if I did write it all here that you would need to look at before making a decision. I'll list just a few of the more important things along with the scriptures stating them.

What is False religion?
Jesus indicated that false religion produces bad works just as a rotten tree produces worthless fruit (Matt 7:15-17)
What is the fruit that false religion bears?
Does the religion meddle in war?
l John 4;20 If anyone makes the statement: “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God should be loving his brother also.

Matt 5:43 “YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU; 45 that YOU may prove yourselves sons of YOUR Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. 46 For if YOU love those loving YOU, what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing?

How many religions do know that follow these commands?

Teaching doctrine that is contrary to what the Bible teaches.
Ezekiel 18:4 Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of the son—to me they belong. The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. 6 Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.

How many religions do you know that teach in direct contradiction to the above scriptures, teaching that we have an immortal soul?

Tolerating or condoning immorality:
l Corinth 6:9 What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom.
How many religions do you know that refuse to condone or 'wink' at immorality??

When you find a religion that practices love and is not divided race, culture or social standing and show love amongst themselves (l John13:35, 17:16; Acts 10:34,35)
When you find a religion that trusts the Bible instead of teaching tradition and the commands of men (Matt 15:6-9) and insists on Bible based moral standards to the point that persons not willing to adhere to those standards are removed from the congregation, then you will have most likely found the True Religion. If you are truly seeking truth, Someone will most likely be knocking on your door in the near future. Listen to them.

Answer 7

It depends what you're really looking for?

Is it companionship and socializing? Or is it the meaning of life? What does the Bible really teach? Does God care? What does the future hold?
These and more questions can be answered by a proper Bible study.
Nobody other than Jehovah's Witnesses can teach you the Truth found in God's word the Holy Scriptures. If you have a desire to know this, the answers are there.
The Bible course is Free without obligation.

Go to www.watchtower.org or contact your local Kingdom Hall.

Someone may well call on you tomorrow, let them know your hopes.

Jonn 17:3

Answer 8

If your searching for Jesus, you will find him no other place but the Catholic Church. Not a made up Jesus who fits your mind set, but the real Jesus. I don't think your really searching for Jesus, your searching for something that honors you and not God. Think about it ... if YOU don't like it it is not o.k. Sounds alot like original sin to me. If you think you decide what is right or wrong and not God --your doomed

Answer 9

Biblically speaking a church is not a building, but a gathering of people that are truly seeking Jesus, building a relationship with Him, a gathering of people that are continually seeking the truth, gaining in site, wisdom, love, knowledge, and growing in grace. Sharing, disipling, and reaching the lost.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

By the way, I am non-denominational!

Answer 10

Pray that the Lord shows you & guides you to the church He wants to plug you in.
I was praying daily for 2 1/2 months for the Lord to direct me in a Divine church.Yep that's what I asked for and that's exactly what I got.
My church is non-denomination but we exalt the Name of Jesus! All Glory goes to Him. We strictly go by Gods Word.(The Bible)
He is our shepherd and in charge.