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FINDING A CHURCH COMMUNITY 
 An article for Christians looking for a new church community
By Kendall Laughlin'Church-shopping,' that is, looking around town for a new community in which to worship, can be anoverwhelming process of web research, Sunday morning visits, and bulletin hand outs. Whether you'vemoved to a new city and want to connect with a new community, or feel God leading you towards a churchtransition, these are some tips that can guide your decision making process.
THEOLOGY – DOES THE CHURCH HAVE SCRIPTURAL BELIEFS?
Living in the United States is a wonderful thing: people of all backgrounds and beliefs have the freedom to worship God as they please. Those pursuing a church that expresses a particular type of belief, however,need to know what to look for and how to find it.Thankfully, some theologians sat down hundreds of years ago (in 325 AD, to be exact) and searched theScriptures to determine what a truly Christian church actual 'is.' What did they determine? Today we call itthe “Nicene Creed.”The Creed is further explained and displayed for further study on Wikipedia.Billy Graham's website has a great example of the beliefs espoused by most Bible-believing, evangelical churchesat billygraham.org. Of course, one paramount belief is the authority of the Holy Bible as absolute truth. For further informationon the authority of Scripture,read a great explanation by theologian John Piper.How does one determine what a particular church believes? Due to the advent of the Internet, there aremany options including:- The church website: Most churches have a 'what we believe' or 'doctrine' section on their website. Also,looking for a 'history' page on the church website will better inform you about what kind of Christiangroups the church originated from (Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, etc...)- Podcasts: With the advent of the iPod many churches now offer podcasts online which include messagesfrom Sunday mornings. Before visiting a church check out one of their podcasts to find out more about what they believe.- The pastor: If you have a specific question about a doctrine or idea, ask the pastor on Sunday morning. Although he or she may not be able to provide a thorough answer at that moment, you may be able to set anappointment to discuss your question further.
MISSION – DOES THE CHURCH EXEMPLIFY CHRIST-LIKE LIVING?
In other words, does the church 'practice what it preaches?' An important aspect of finding the right churchis not just agreeing with a set of doctrinal beliefs, but also finding a community where you can jump in,develop life giving relationships, and impact your community. Most churches have a process through whicha new member can get involved, begin to serve, and get to know other church members. A big part of finding a new church community is finding a group of people that share your passions.Because the Body of Christ is beautifully diverse, some churches may represent the mission God has called you to more than others. Another aspect of church life is being vulnerable with others, so that you can get help when you need it.Churches with a clear system of small groups and discipleship often times provide more of an opportunity to develop deeper relationships.
PERSONALITY – DO YOU FIT WITH THE CHURCH CULTURE?
 What is the personality of the community? Do you feel welcome there? Churches typically have a culture ora vibe that reflects different aspects of the community. Oftentimes this culture is a direct result of themission of a particular church, including the type of outreach and evangelism happening in thatcommunity.Remember, however, that finding a church is not all about your preferences. As Isaiah 55describes, God's  ways are higher than our ways. His perfect plan might seem challenging or uncomfortable at first.
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