We should be guided in our relationship with other believers by the example set by the early church.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;[Mar 16:15-17]
... those who gladly received his word were baptised ... and they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. [Acts 2:41-42]
Peter said to them 'Repent and let everyone of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' [Acts 2:38]
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. [1 Tim 4:16]
The main way to pursue this is not to just read the Bible but to study it.
He took the cup and gave thanks and said 'Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.' [Luke 22:17-19]
Watch and pray [Mark 14:38]
... the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. [John 4:23]
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [Col 3:16]
He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. [2 Cor 9:6-8]
Tithing, is heavily promoted by some, but it is not promoted in the New Testament. However, it is important to give to the work of God and too the poor. The following link is to an incredibly well balanced teaching on giving.
| Vlad Savchuk |
Untold Truth About Tithing YT(48m)
let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. [Heb 10:24-25]
... but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
[1 John 1:7]
Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ ... that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. [Phil 1:27]
So how do we find a healthy church to become part of? The church should be a place where you find good friends but it should be far more than a social club. Many churches follow customs and teachings that are contrary to the teaching of the Bible. Do your utmost to have fellowship with wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. Fellowship with fake or lukewarm believers will surely hinder and not help you.
If you are a complete newbie to following Christ you could just try "churches" but this could mean you may go somewhere that really will not be helpful to you at all. Please, please, please really seek the Saviour's guidance on this issue.
To give general advice about churches will send some into hallucinogenic fits. However, there are many institutions that consider themselves Christian that do not follow the Bible at all. In fact they are are little more than satanic lodges. They have added their so called later revelations to the scriptures and in doing so have become enemies of Christ. To be pleasing to God we need to follow the teachings of Christ
Heaven and earth will pass away but My words (messages) will by no means pass away. [Matt 24:35 & Mark 13:31 & Luke 21:33]
If you abide in my word (message) you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. [John 8:31-32]
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Yehovah your God which I command you. [Deut 4:2]
Good indicators of how healthy a church is, is whether it preaches holiness and can see people set free of demons. Also if it conducts evangelism and is involved with ministering to the poor and needy.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. [Jas 1:27]
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [Mar 16:17]
As mentioned above there are those who have so compromised the teaching of Jesus they in effect preach a fake gospel. They are to be avoided. Sadly though there are many who are asleep, happy to live comfortably in an unchallenging lukewarm church.
Then there are groups that are seemingly alive but the spirit you observe moving is not the Holy Spirit. They preach some Bible truth but mix it with worldly wisdom and it can get very confusing and complicated especially for the newbie. The Devil is cunning and proud. He likes to parade himself as though he is God. He loves to promote fake churches promoting a fake gospel and demonic fake miracles.
Despite the fake we are exhorted to seek the true. We are told to desire the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these work that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
[1Co 12:4-11]
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. [1Co 14:1]
There are some churches that have fallen into the trap of using New Age practices that allow demons to manifest and mimic the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Due to observing the Devil's counterfeit many then shun the gifts completely, often claiming that such gifts have now ceased to operate. I get the impression there are far more false teaches and prophets on YouTube than the real thing.
The following comments are massive generalisations and may not apply in your locality. This website is not affiliated to any Christian institution.
Churches that may be able to supply the Fellowship you need:
Most probable at the top.
Pentecostal (Elim and Assemblies of God)
Independent Fellowships
Baptist
Congregational
Salvation Army
United Reformed
Presbyterian
Churches that were once hot but appear to have cooled down:
Methodist
Anglican
Brethren
Quakers
So called Church institutions considered to be in serious error:
Seventh Day Adventists
Christadelphian
Christian Science
Jehovah's Witnesses
Mormons (Latter Day Saints)
Roman Catholicism
Sometimes it may not be possible to find a healthy established church close by, so what do you do then? Consider these words of Jesus.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. [Mat 18:20]
Even if you can only find just one other person to fellowship with, you can do "church". You can fellowship, worship, study the scriptures and pray for one another. That is true church. You do not need an oversight institution or premises.
| Early British Church History |
Some fascinating forgotten history.
| Church History |
A brief overview of the history of the European church.
| House Church |
Church Without Walls International
| Cell Church |
Joel Comiskey Groups
| Zoomer |
History of the entire Church, I guess... YT(15m)