How Do You Find a Good Church?

[@edadan]

I was in a megachurch for almost 10 years, and it took me almost that long to realize that ALL of their messages were “what’s wrong with you and 5 ways to fix it”. Invariably, one of those 5 ways was to give more and more money to the church. Not surprisingly, the pastor had a degree in psychology. In hindsight, it is surprising that the pastor and his wife regularly posted pictures of themselves on exotic vacations…all over the world. I still know people that go there and they get upset if I say anything about these issues.

[@Jeff-gr3yl]

When believers gather we see each partaking. Ist Corinthians 14:26. You don't see that today. Lets get back to that type of fellowship.

[@davidwalker5274]

Thank you for posting this. I used to attend a church regularly until the Lord opened my eyes to see that whatever we received from the preaching was only feel good messages. A spiritual hug telling you, you're ok. As the Lord told me, "There is much work to do, but you are like little children running around having fun." Every church I've checked out, either taught a man centered message, unbiblical practices, and as you said, the worship was just entertainment. My wife and I were told we couldn't do ministry with one place because we expressed concerns over false teachings. (They were teaching new age practices as kingdom principles and mixing native spirituality with church worship) I can not seem to find a good place. Oddly enough, my job has had me working most Sundays, so I'm unable to attend anyway. That might be for the best until the right place can be found. Each time I've tried to address my concerns, I've been told, " Well, no church is perfect" I look forward to reading your posts each morning along with my Bible reading. It is faithful men like you who have kept me going. Kept me encouraged, challenged and hopeful. Thank you again gor clarifying what questions ought to be asked when discovering the place the Lord has for each of us.

[@paulsmodels]

The last church my wife and I tried, they played the "worship" music so LOUD that we had to plug our ears! It was absurd! Then the guy who came out and "preached" didn't really teach the word of God. He did a series of stories , and threw in some Christian words now and then. We haven't found a good church yet.

[@stanlarsonhj3439]

I also ask what their views of the Sacraments are: Baptism and Holy Communion.

[@John-yt5zr]

Chad, you sent me a link to your KZbin channel from facebook, this was very informative and helpful as to church selection. I don’t want to see a concert, and in your first question and response “just leave “😂😂, I agree. Thank you again. God bless. I liked and am a new subscriber!

[@charlesknight3204]

Chad … It is thought provoking and wise videos like this that are the reason I subscribe to and view your videos and shorts!!! You continue to be my go to source for wisdom in the Lord!!! I thank you for your willingness to share, educate, pastor, and inspire!!! You are a gift from the Almighty and your words continue to ring true!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the soul work that goes into each of your videos!!! God bless you and yours from me and mine!!! Chuck Knight from Atascocita, Texas. ✝️😵‍💫👨‍🌾😵‍💫🙏

[@jaybuffie9624]

Solid requirements. We should all be Bereans, always, both in and outside church.

[@my-name-is-Roxanne]

I really appreciate this, thank you so much Chad 🙏

[@sukirmansukirman9399]

I fully agree the criteria. In short we shall be in the Orthodoxy Church. Praise be to the Lord I find and am in the mentioned criteria congregation.

[@meganvester8819]

A church that preaches from our identity IN Christ I find is essential.

[@luxolomoshoeshoe1601]

Thank you so much. This is one thing I've been struggling with. I remember watching a video where you were teaching that there's no churchless Christian. I was troubled because I had been churchless for over a decade and I had been wondering which church to be a part of. We thank you Sir!

[@jmitch9269]

Good luck to anyone looking for a good church. All I can find is churches that want to entertain with a light, watered down, funny message with no reverence or even respect of God and His Word. Or a church that is only focused on rituals and traditions and acquiring sacraments in order to merit salvation. Or a church that wants to beat me up with the KJV Bible and scold the congregation about tv shows we watch or clothes we wear. Very difficult to find a church that just preaches the gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work of conviction of sin and regeneration of the heart. Where I do find this type of preaching is reading scripture on my own and the few pastors online that preach this way. This is one of the few pastors. Thank you Pastor Chad Bird. 🙏

[@chadbird1517]

If you are willing to share the city in which you live, I or others might have recommendations on a healthy congregation near you.

[@pauledwinrediang7127]

I do not belong to any world religion. But I am looking for a True Church.

[@solitaryone1536]

Christ the Light of God's Knowledge is the One True Church. Spotless and Without Blemish, its Doors are Within You, Knock and He Shall Open them for You, and There, you Will Find Rest for your Souls, for He Alone is Our Repose.

[@melaniek.h.]

Hallelujah❤🙏🏽!!!

[@MrJohnontheTube]

I am also looking for invitations for genuine fellowship coupled with hospitality outside of the church building.

[@tadaskrivickas8409]

I remember when my father talked with priest, and priest said he believes in reincarnation. How they even have these positions when there beliefs is not based on scriptures.

[@jenbennett3995]

Chad what are your thoughts on Church online? What if someone geographically has no orthodox church within their city or town? They cant afford to drive far distances. But they find a solid, biblical orthodox church online?

[@chadbird1517]

If it is the only option, if you are surrounded by a swamp of Gospel-less "churches," then I suppose it is the only way to go. But, needless to say, it has serious downsides, not the least of which is the inability to receive Holy Communion.

[@jenbennett3995]

​@chadbird1517 so you are not a proponent of online communion, I'm deducing from your answer?

[@chadbird1517]

@@jenbennett3995 No, not really. We are meant to eat together as the body of Christ, as we do with all meals.

[@TimothyMiller-yv5mg]

I look for liturgy, Eucharist and a sermon that will help me draw closer to God and love my neighbor more. I don't like a sermon with an outline that came from seminary -- Law, Gospel, and ends up with Baptism. If I hear that every Sunday I know the preacher isn't in the Word.

[@alejandroumaslay3657]

if you understand the concept of the original sin, then you need to be baptize, is it scriptural? yes it is, psalm 51:5, surely I was a sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me, that verse alone can open your eyes that we are not born in a state of holiness, so baptism is necessary, that if you understand the concept of the original sin, and there are more verses to support that, Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, John 3:5-6, the Eucharist also is very important, why? because the real presence asserts that in the holy Eucharist Jesus is literally wholly present body and blood, soul and divinity under the appearances of bread and wine, I know many Protestants attack this doctrine as unbiblical, but the Bible forthright in declaring it, ( cf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-29, and most forcefully, John 6:32-71 ),the early church fathers interpreted these passages literally, in summarizing the early father’s teachings on Christ real presence, renowned Protestant historian of the early church, J.N.D. Kelly, writes, “Eucharist teaching, it should be understood at the outset, was in general unquestioningly realist, e.,the consecrated bread and wine were taken to be, and were treated and designated as, savior’s body and blood,”

[@cecilly59]

And so, when there is no church within a reasonable drive that meets these criteria, what should one do? Or, which and how many of them can reasonably be compromised?

[@chadbird1517]

In that situation: 1. Drive the unreasonable distance when possible (once a month? Twice?) 2. Relocate. That might not be possible but moving in order to be close to a good church is far from out of the question. People move for far less important reasons. 3. Start a small group of believers who are in the same situation that you are in. Perhaps that might be the start of a missionary congregation. I’m sure there are other possibilities, but those are the first three to come to mind.

[@mr.enriquez2442]

I attend in pentecost church. Any advice ?

[@billsiegrist1733]

‪“How Do You Find a Good Church?”‬ ‪Written? Where is this message written so that I can read the words?‬

[@jackdollins]

My purpose would be different if I still had children at home, but ... my calling is to a church that most Christians I know would not think is a good church at all. I go to pray for the preacher, for the people, for the music and Lord's supper and fellowship, etc. And I go there to Pray and to bear witness of Christ -- for our *Need* of a Savior, and that entirely by His Grace He has provided that Savior. In short -- I don't go there to be fed ... yet I find that I am always fed.

[@toothgeek87]

Thank you for this video! My husband and I have been struggling with the Lutheran church we have been members of for well over 10 years. It has become increasingly political and the pastor refers to God as “He or She” (which this pastor thinks you would agree with 🙄-I completely disagree with his assessment but I’ll let you speak on that!) Needless to say, we are searching for a new church.

[@grandmag5577]

Must be elca

[@61loneviking]

@@grandmag5577 No doubt. They need to find a Missouri Synod congregation

[@chadbird1517]

For the record, I would not agree with referring to God as "He or She." God consistently presents himself as Father, Son, Brother, King, etc. Yes, there are maternal metaphors used for God on rare occasions, but that is a far cry from referring to God as She. How God has revealed himself is how we must confess him.

[@toothgeek87]

Thank you Chad for confirming what I already knew was true!! All I could do was roll my eyes.

[@richardawhitesel7691]

Hi Chad, what guidance do you have about being in an apostate Lutheran denomination? Thanks. Rick

[@chadbird1517]

Seems there are two choices. One, if you are part of an orthodox congregation within that denomination, you can remain and be fed there with the Gospel. Two, you can find a different denomination that corporately adheres to the orthodox faith.

[@mr.e8432]

Just find your nearest Roman Catholic church, preferably one that offers the TLM, and call it a day.

[@chadbird1517]

Sounds easy, but the name on the building (Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, whatever) is no guarantee that you are going to hear the gospel when you are there, not to mention the other important truths which I discussed in this video.

[@wazzuptrey]

Actually, you are more guaranteed to hear the gospel in a Catholic mass then any other church, I would argue. The church reads from the OT and the Gospels at every mass and is on a strict church calander that is celebrated uniformly across the entire world. They also check all of your other boxes about having a sense of duty to respect and preserve the churches history and theology. Also, you arent going to get a preacher that has a lack of historical knowledge or one who is lame in the depth of spcripture. It takes years to become a Catholic priest. Philosophical and Theological trainging is required. And you also get the Eucharist, which Jesus himself invited all of us to participate in. It REALLY is that easy. God calls and welcomes all to his Holy Church. The Mass has everything you need in any part of the world.

[@lukewarmnomore7523]

Or you find a decent church, and then over time you realize they are introspection preaching every Sunday, all in on glawospel teaching, but wait theres more, all of their motives are based on ACBC "biblical counseling". Like that is the Cornerstone here. I got saved 35 years ago out of Mormonism, now im right back in it. Joseph Smith said "For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do". Church today teach "For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, WITH all we can do".

[@FrankieCostelo-df8pp]

Find a congregation that does not use mechanical instrument in praising God. It marks the beginning of the worship service's entertainment.

[@Heightsomethinghuman]

Mechanical ? Hammer, electric drill?

[@grandmag5577]

Can we clone you

[@chadbird1517]

Ha!

[@God_gave_His_Son_for_you]

Roman Catholics are misunderstanding Matthew 16:18. The confession that "Jesus is the Christ the Son of God" is the only foundational truth that Christ builds His church on. They have been deceived to reject the only foundational truth of the confession that "Jesus is the Christ the Son of God." Through demonic influences they twist the scripture to say Peter is what Christ is referring to, and then after accepting this lie they say that Peter has successors (another lie). They say these [deceived persons] have taught that the atonement of Christ’s work on the cross is not sufficient (anti-Christ) and does not cover new sins and then they have to do the rituals and ceremonies in their organization.... Also through demonic deceiving influences, they say that Peter's successors also teach that they can pray to others who have died (spiritual adultery). They have rejected the truth and accepted a lie. On the lie they have built more lies. You cannot build truth on lies but can only build only more lies. Truth has to be built on truth. 1Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.

[@Jeff-gr3yl]

Surely a gathering of believers are people who had heard the message and got saved. So why preach to a gathering of the saved. And to bring the law into the new covenant is to make Jesus an unacceptable priest. Its Obsolate. The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of the sin of unbelief through the gospel. John 16:8-9. Note verse 9. Romans 10:17. Not by the law. All the verses throughout the gospel speak of unbelief. And Hebrews speaks of unbelief. Its not about pointing out individual sins by the law which is obsolete but by the Spirit's conviction of unbelief through the gospel.

[@Veteran22out]

Church is not preaching the message of the Bible its sad

[@johnirish989]

How to Quit Church Without Quitting God by Martin Zender. Why going to church today is unbiblical, un-Christlike, and spiritually risky. Though Clyde Pilkington,'s two books ---- Church in Ruins and The Outsiders ---- might even be better.

[@1117Acts]

Sorry but Jesus said I AM THE CHURCH and the greatest commandment is to love…not go sit in a place with a cross on top. That creates the I,lesion and assumption those people love God. Why? Geography? 1 John 4 tells me who to have fellowship with.

[@aussierob7177]

There is no such thing as a "good" Church. There is only one Church, the Body of Christ, established by Christ in 33 AD, on the foundation of the apostles, possessing the fullness of the means of salvation which he has willed : correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession.

[@johornbuckle5272]

Faith in Christ, yes. Sacraments, which ones. Ordained by elders, yes apostolic succession, er no, shepherds like Peter, yes

[@thecrisisfortruth]

David, David why can you not see truth in scripture, but instead hold to the fallen tradition of the church which is traditions of men? Jesus prayed to his father because he is Gods Son. it is that simple. To make convoluted reasons to explain away the trinity is going far beyond scripture.

[@thecrisisfortruth]

We are having this problem, there appears to be no church that teaches bible truth. We look for: No trinity, as Yahweh is one God. No hellfire doctrine, No immortal soul teaching, The true Israel of God are Christians in Christ, not the nation Israel today. A church that does not teach dispensationalism, as we are not living in any last days. Looked everywhere and found nothing, so we have our own Bible studies at home as a family study.

[@toddstevens9667]

Well you probably aren’t going to find a church that checks all those boxes. But maybe the problem is that your list of demands is just a personal list of hobby horses. Maybe if you went to a real Christian Church, you might find some different perspectives on some of these issues. Basically, you are demanding a Christian church that rejects much of Christianity. Probably gonna be a hard find. But teaching yourself is probably what got you into this problem in the first place.

[@avsfan7777]

good luck ...maybe some humility is in order

[@domonkospap2421]

I wish I knew bible truth, but Ecclesiastes 7:23, Romans 1:22 caution me not to presume

[@toddstevens9667]

@@domonkospap2421what do those verses have to do with you learning the Bible?

[@thecrisisfortruth]

@@domonkospap2421 "All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me. What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it? Ecc 7:23 This scripture is not a reference to following Bible truth, Solomon was referencing the knowledge of God compared to men. "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" Rom 1:22 . this scripture s talking about the wisdom of the world not following Bible truth. Truth is a necessary part of true worship as it sanctifies us as Jesus said at John 17:17 "Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth" The hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him.  God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth" John4:23-24 Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life- John 14:6 There is certainly no caution on finding truth and no reason to accept false teaching anywhere in scripture, but there is caution in scripture in accepting falsehood and rejecting truth because it leads to death. "I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! Gal 1:6-8

[@LoudounDemocrat]

There is no such thing as a “good church”, LOL.