How to Find a New Church - Part II

So earlier this week I was sitting with a friend James and chatting about what God has in store for us in this next chapter. We wandered on to the finding a new church topic. He's moved a couple of times and was sharing his thoughts. It was all building on what I had in my last blog about being comfortable in a church vs. being in the church God wants and allowing Him to make you comfortable. James had a slightly different but very cool take on things.

He shared that the worship, the people and the sermon do matter some but really have very little importance at the end of the day. As he explains every church, no matter what the denomination or style, has a common and unifying characteristic...God is there expecting us and He has invited us.

So rather than trying to be comfortable and find the perfect worship and pastor...just show up with a big appetite and be prepared to be fed.

James talked about our relationship. We can talk on the phone and it's good communication but not really personal and close. We can meet over a table in a coffee shop and we become closer but when we invite someone for Thanksgiving dinner and the feast and festivities that comes with sharing that meal it changes our relationship and draws us even closer together.

Going to church is like God's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner with Him. He has prepared the banquet feast just for us with all of the fixins.

So rather than seek out the best of everything or the place we are comfortable, we just need to show up hungry and ready to dine with Him. With that as the expectation, He will meet us there and He will quench our appetite and we will be drawn in closer to Him.

The Message - 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.