What makes a bad/good church home and why?

Question

What do you look for when choosing a church home and what do you avoid?

Answer 1

Do they love the truth or are they interested in traditions of men?

Is scripture the final authority on a subject matter or do they bring in philosophies of men?

Do they preach and is their focus on Yahshua and Salvation or is their focus on the doctrines of men?

Are you seeing a pattern?

Do they worship in spirit, the service goes where the spirit leads, or are they on a man made schedule that must be kept at all costs?

In other words is the church a work of man or the body of Messiah? That is the test of a good church home.

Answer 2

I don't get a chance to look since my husband is a pastor. We go where we're sent!! The following are a few comments that I've heard in praise of the church where he's appointed.

1) The people are very welcoming when you come to a service
2) Someone offers to help you find your way around
3) A person from the church contacts you to see if they can answer any questions about what the church has to offer. very low key and not at all pushy
4) They aren't constantly hounding you for money.
5) The people of the church are out helping the community - ESL classes, feeding the homeless, sending workers to areas hit by disasters etc.....
6) You like the message the pastor(s) deliver each Sunday

If I had to say things I'd avoid........... well, one thing that offends me is are pastors who are greedy! The ones who expect their congregation to not only pay them but give them perks too. Buy them a car so they can visit the shut in, bereaved etc... (and go on fancy vacations). Send them on spiritual retreats that just happend to be in touristy places - that type of thing. Expect to be invited to EVERY social event that is remotely related to the church. They expect to be paid handsomly for weddings and funerals.
I'd avoid a church that made me feel guilty if I missed a few Sundays without finding out why I missed. I'd also avoid a church where I didn't feel comfortable after visiting 3 or 4 times.
Just a couple of ideas from me :-)

EDIT: Plus everything Chieko above me said!!! She said it much better.

Answer 3

Over the past two years, I've learned a lot about both. We joined one church that seemed friendly and we enjoyed the Bible classes. As time went on we realized the pastor was
intruding way too much in our private lives. He would show up at our houses without notice and demanded we get his approval before we had any functions that didnt coincide with his schedule. After much effort-we pulled out of that one and found exactly the opposite. The one we go to now is a constant joy. Going to church is a blessing and it has added to our lives without consuming our private times.

Answer 4

bad: only a handful of people serve in the ministries
good: everyone is involved with the different ministries, like teens, kids, benevolence, etc.

bad: it's been two weeks and no one has invited you to dinner at their home. it's been two months and you know the names of maybe 5 people from church
good: it's been two weeks and you've eaten with the pastor, several families and some of the college/singles too. it's been two months and you know 25 - 30 new people who have been to your home or invited you to theirs.

bad: you are suffering with a personal problem and no one knows.
good: you are suffering with a personal problem and many people are praying for you, asking you how you are doing, and racking their brains to provide support.

bad: you got sick, had to go to the hospital and no one has come by to visit you except the pastor.
good: you got sick and people have visited you, cleaned your house, babysat your kids and mowed your lawn.

bad: after church you hop into your car to go back to your regular life.
good: after church, you might decide to have lunch with newcomers, play basketball with the church league, or go to a movie with other church members.

bad: you are told to give X amount of money or you are in sin. in fact, your kids are told to give money to the church too.
good: you are told where your money goes, how much goes where, who is watching over the church's finances and no one is ashamed/embarrassed to talk about what they have or can give.

Answer 5

i look for several things for a good church: warm greetings, a sense of feeling that the other members are glad i'm there, and feeling like i would belong there.
i have been to several churches where there were cliques, snobbishness, false and forced smiles. and judgements made because peolple could not dress in designer clothes.

Answer 6

Please define your question. A church home?

A physical building church?
A retirement home?
A medical home run by a church?
A religious family?
A group of families together as a church?

You must define what you want.

Answer 7

If it makes you feel at home, welcomed & comfortable...that's a good church for you.

Otherwise....keep looking

Answer 8

the people make the church, so good people with a good bible based belief system makes a good church

Answer 9

sorry i jumped on you within the different query. the "i are not able to stand folks who ... " facet got here off as harsh to me. this one reads approach bigger. i may not arise with five of both off hand however i am a well trainer and that i suppose i've a well steadiness among amusing and environment obstacles. my worst parenting fault is that i am consistently in a hurry and considering forward to the following factor as an alternative of targeting what is within the second.

Answer 10

I would not live in a church. I live in a very energy efficient 1920 bungalow.