Looking for a Church?
The vehicle through which the Eternal Purpose of God is being established in the earth until Christ's return is the Local
Church. This means we have to consider the Local Church as being our first priority as it is God's primary focus on the earth
through which he is working his plan for mankind (Ephesians 1:10-11; 3:10-11, Hebrews 13:20-21).
Here at Gresham Christian Fellowship we believe that the Lord adds to each individual local church body as He sees fit
(1Corinthians 12:18), and that as followers of Christ we need to listen and act according to the leading of the Holy Spirit when
it comes to finding out what local church body we should fully commit ourselves to (John 10:3-4; 16:13).
Often times due to ignorance about the word of God, or cultural thinking that says "I pick and choose where I go to church", or
other factors like choosing a church because of what "it has to offer me" in the form of programs and departments from
children's ministry to singles ministry; it can be easy to get lost in a consumer's view of church when what we really need is to
find the perfect will of God for our lives and that especially includes finding the local church he has prepared for us (Psalms
92:12-13)
Ephesians 4:11-16 (Amplified Bible)
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some
prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some
pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His
consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), 13 [That it
might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the
Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the
standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness
found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and
wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of [b]unscrupulous men, [gamblers
engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all
things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is
the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various
parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power
adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Additional Scriptures on the Local Church
Psalms 84:4, Psalms 27:4, Psalms 92:12-13, Isaiah 2:2-3, Isaiah 61:3c, 1 Corinthians 12:18, Galatians 6:10,
Ephesians 2:19, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 3:1-6, Revelation 1:20; 2:3
Church. This means we have to consider the Local Church as being our first priority as it is God's primary focus on the earth
through which he is working his plan for mankind (Ephesians 1:10-11; 3:10-11, Hebrews 13:20-21).
Here at Gresham Christian Fellowship we believe that the Lord adds to each individual local church body as He sees fit
(1Corinthians 12:18), and that as followers of Christ we need to listen and act according to the leading of the Holy Spirit when
it comes to finding out what local church body we should fully commit ourselves to (John 10:3-4; 16:13).
Often times due to ignorance about the word of God, or cultural thinking that says "I pick and choose where I go to church", or
other factors like choosing a church because of what "it has to offer me" in the form of programs and departments from
children's ministry to singles ministry; it can be easy to get lost in a consumer's view of church when what we really need is to
find the perfect will of God for our lives and that especially includes finding the local church he has prepared for us (Psalms
92:12-13)
Ephesians 4:11-16 (Amplified Bible)
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some
prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some
pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His
consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), 13 [That it
might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the
Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the
standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness
found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and
wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of [b]unscrupulous men, [gamblers
engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all
things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is
the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various
parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power
adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Additional Scriptures on the Local Church
Psalms 84:4, Psalms 27:4, Psalms 92:12-13, Isaiah 2:2-3, Isaiah 61:3c, 1 Corinthians 12:18, Galatians 6:10,
Ephesians 2:19, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 3:1-6, Revelation 1:20; 2:3
- THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING FOR YOUR LOCAL CHURCH:
- First, if you are leaving your current local church, ask yourself - "Am I leaving correctly and for the right
reasons?" Many, if not most Christians, don't know how to leave their local church correctly. Make sure that
you are being led by the Spirit to another church without leaving behind unresolved offenses, hurts, or
bitterness toward leadership, or dissatisfaction with a church because you "feel" your expectations and/or
needs are not being met the way "you think" they should. Did you submit to your leaders at your current
church? Did you tell them what you were sensing by the Spirit and do you have at least 2-3 ways (2Corinthians
13:1, 1 John 5:7-9, Deuteronomy 19:15) the Lord has confirmed your leaving? Wrong reasons for leaving your
local church family include - disobedience to leadership, being hurt and/or offended with an unforgiving heart,
issues/offenses with leadership and or people in the church. You should not leave the church God planted
you in unless He is leading you and you'll know he is leading you and that you are hearing Him correctly
because you will not want to leave.
- Seek God with prayer and fasting. Ask God for confirmation, and if you are praying about leaving your current
church ask the Lord to confirm it through your leadership who are the Delegated Spiritual Authority over your life
(Heb 13:17).
- Visiting and Church hopping should be minimized when you are led of the Spirit because He will specifically
lead you to where you should go. When you rent a house you don't leave the house and wander around the city
and then find another house; you find the next house you are going to move into before you move out of your
current house. God isn't random with you he is specific, clear, and confirming (1 Corinthians 12:18).
- When you find your local church commit to it and be planted. The Local church is necessary for proper
spiritual growth and development. This growth doesn't happen overnight it takes years to grow and develop
good fruit; trees are planted and grow for years in that place they aren't uprooted every few years (Psalm 92:12-
15; 27:4; 52:8). Remember that as you are growing so also is the Church as a whole growing, and in that
process you are contributing to that overall growth and not just being a consumer Christian.
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. - Psalm 127:1a
