Xtreme Faith Christian Fellowship

The Main Sanctuary

The Main Sanctuary: Selecting a church? There are many reasons why a person chooses a church today; a lot of them are unfortunately the wrong reasons--which are too numerable to contend with here. The Bible, a life manual for everything pertaining to life therefore is both instructive and explanatory to lead you to general ideas about what to look for in the selection process of a church. The Bible teaches several characteristics that you should know of and review in your selection of a church: Here are five solid principles regarding the governing of the 1st church that was established by God... this is known as the first century church in Jerusalem after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection: (Ref:Acts: 2:40- 47).

Here they are! A healthy church is:

(1) A Saved Church: The first church not only spoke about belief but actually "practiced" salvation in daily life, at great risk to themselves during much of their early existence--they were very devoted followers--. They loved the things of God --they were focused in on salvation, being saved, and evangelizing others; they were a church that was being transformed by the power of Christ and became an extension of Christ comment of the Gospel itself: they were, "seeking to save that which is lost...." So, salvation was at the root of the agenda of the church in its earliest forms--. So should today's church be involved in the salvation of its hearers and the sharing of that in the communities in which it exists and thrives. Calling people to accept salvation through Jesus Christ is something a healthy church practices, maybe not in every session... but rather regularly, and this is what anyone seeking a church should see in the possible candidacy of any vote for a church home--.

(2) An Apostolic Church: The first century church clung to the teachings of the apostles and "rightly divided," (taught), the Word of God --. They did not vary or vacillate from Jesus Christ, and the apostles teachings of HIM. The early church was deeply passionate about the LORD and His Word, often speaking by great concern and regard, and the fear of the Lord--. In the Spirit...they shared the Word often and at depth in public forums, congregational settings - as well as through informal gatherings, and one on one meetings by which they all grew and produced more disciples, greater faith, and a deeper and richer enthusiasm and inspiration for Christ. The preservation of apostolic teaching should be at the heart and root of any healthy church --and should often come in very strong and consistent doses, administered in regular frequency consistent enough to experience personal change in the heart of a life attending any potential church home.

(3) A Fellowshipping Church: The first church had a rich fellowship with one another--spent interested time with each other, and had trusted friendships and alliances with church members; they loved and ministered to each other through the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and gave to each other as anyone had need; there was a sense of community amongst the first century church and an aura of a Spirit of selflessness and high regard for other church members and their needs. The first century church subjected itself to one another's accountability and discipline of its members when or if necessary to keep the whole healthy. Encouragement and under - girding was at the heart of all their practices of such things and ought to follow any church philosophy to dealing with its attendees - they are God's sheep - His lambs. The first century church was social on a spiritual level, as should any particular choices be reviewed regarding a church fellowship.

(4) A Communing Church!: The first church was all about having intimacy with the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit -- this they sought both together as well as individually; the first church focused on communion with the Lord--through the remembrance of his sacrifice and atoning death regularly and at particular gatherings yet ---the even greater results of this were the imitation and obedience to the Word of God. In works rooted in the realization of the love of God towards them--a natural response to Christ's love for them illuminated, they then echoed the Words and acts of their Lord and Savior through the ministering the Gospel and persecutions that followed them in their service (Eph 5:1; Acts 7:60). A healthy church cares more about the fellowship of following Christ at whatever cost to itself: Like its Lord -- like its servant ought to be the scriptural motto of the modern church. Communion often existed not in breaking of bread solely but rather in suffering of which today's church could stand a little more open to subjecting itself to in becoming counter-culture and not user friendly to the world it attempts to change or affect.

(5) A Prayerful Church: The Bible teaches that : The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty for pulling down strongholds---the early church followed the mandates of Pauline teaching and became the users of the "armor of God" as instructed (Eph 6) --In essence they were a prayerful lot--there was much time spent in the development of the dependency on Christ for every need. Intercessions and petitions rose from the first church as the vividly and expressively as the priestly incense rose in the Temple in Jerusalem during seasons of sacrifices. Throughout the book of Acts you see the frequencies of prayer continually and lavishly applied. This, my friend, is the kind of church you ought to look for! One that is dependent on the Lord and not itself--a great sign of a healthy church--look for this - a praying church and church leaders!

If you come to Xtreme-Faith - , the qualities of what I have listed above are what you can expect--. In good conscience we must say that the practice of these things are in as much effect as humanly possible within our fellowship -- and that being for no other reason than they are commanded by the Lord of His church to do and to trust in and lastly --that they are absolutely and consistently fruit bearing in the Application of their practice thereof--.

Pastor Glen Doty