herlucidlife

Church, a place where like-minded people go to communion with the Spirit of God. Believers, non-believers, those confused, lukewarm, anyone is welcomed in the house of God. My favorite aspects of church are praise, the reading of scripture, discussing God’s word, and lastly the sermon. All churches are not the same. Growing up I always trusted my mom had picked the right church for us to attend. Right being based on the word of God. Not a small verse but the whole passage. Just as God does not contradict Himself, neither should the person bringing the message because all should be God breathed. As I got older I discerned for myself the church I was a part of was absolutely teaching the word of God. Teaching is a huge part of choosing a church because if that church is not teaching you how to understand scripture for yourself, then the listener is always at the mercy of another person. 

Jesus shed blood so we could come to God’s throne without the help of a human. Hear me clearly, all kinds of broken people are in church. They are not better than the folks who do not go to church, humanity does not leave the body because one goes to church. For many go to church yet lack a relationship with God. Many go to church but have never accepted Jesus into their lives so that He may change their heart. When I moved away from home, my prayer was to find a church that taught the word of God. Having gone to a church that did so I knew what to look for and avoid. Avoid the church that only preaches prosperity because walking with God is hard, we lose and gain and life keeps going but with God He changes our hearts through it all. Avoid churches that only ask for money or have several offerings in one service, God is not a cash cow that can be used to gain material things. His gift is eternal life with Him, knowing Him intimately and it is a changed heart through the blood of Jesus.

 Avoid churches that share perspective more than scripture. I’ve seen a whole sermon preached on one verse that was completely taken out of context. When I began going to the church I do now I could feel the Holy Spirit, meaning I felt welcomed, peaceful, calm, convicted, called to share the gospel and spiritually fed. With that said a good church teaches how to spread the gospel and compels all to live and speak the truth of God. The blood of Jesus should be through every message, it should be the basis of every message. I knew I was at the right place when scripture was read throughout the service, not just the beginning. I knew I was in the right place when my bible study group chewed on the word of God. Meaning we study the words to get a better understanding. When church is done right it is soul filling. God is coming back for His people; the church is those who have God in their heart. 

A God filled community. There should be community in church, never feeling alone, people that fervently pray for each other. Encouragement and correction in love based on scripture. It should also be a place of authenticity. Coming as you are does not mean how you are dressed, it means being able to expose your heart and brokenness and still be loved. Because that is exactly how God loves us. He accepts the flaws, washes us clean with the blood of Jesus and changes are hearts that we move more like Christ. God sees our perfectness through the blood of Jesus, and through revealing who we truly are we also see exactly who God is.