4Discernment.com

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We have received this question many times since creating this website. We do not recommend specific churches primarily because it is impossible to monitor every aspect of every local church. However, we are able to advise you on your search for a new fellowship and help steer you in the right direction. 

An important point to understand is that you will not be able to recognize a counterfeit unless you know the real deal. If you are Biblically illiterate and do not know church history, you are open to being deceived by false teachers.  This is one of the reasons it is important to read the Bible systematically on a regular basis and know the five basic doctrines of the historic Christian faith. Here is a link to a recommended Bible reading plan.

Five Basic Doctrines:
1. The Trinity: God is one "What" and three "Whos" with each "Who" possessing all the attributes of Deity and personality.
2. The Person of Jesus Christ: Jesus is 100% God and 100% man for all eternity.
3. The Second Coming: Jesus Christ is coming bodily to earth to rule and judge.
4. Salvation: It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
5. The Scripture: It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life.

Our second recommendation to you is to search for a church that teaches the Bible systematically or verse by verse instead of verse to verse. The importance of reading and understanding the Bible in its proper context cannot be minimized. One will not be able to discern if a verse which is being expounded on is being twisted by the teacher if they are unfamiliar with the wider context it came from. Again, this is also why it is important to conduct a regular, personal Bible study. Please explore our Links & Resources page for helpful sites that will assist you with Bible study methods. 

Thirdly, a sound Biblical church will be fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus commanded his disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, to make disciples teaching them everything He commanded, and to be witnesses of Him. (Mark 16:15, Luke 14:23, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:7-8, Mark 16:15-16) A church that is truly following the Bible will make every effort to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their local communities. 

Fulfilling the Great Commission goes hand in hand with exposing the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).

Finally, and the point that should be the most obvious is to prayerfully seek the Lord to guide you to where he wants you to be. This will not be an easy endeavor and no one promised it would be. Christians are called to live disciplined lives for the glory of God.

Please know we are praying for you as you disentangle yourself from a fellowship which has been led into deception. We know it will be difficult for those who have made many relationships at their fellowship which they now believe they should leave. Let this be your prayer, "Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long."  (Psalm 25:5)

"What church do you recommend?"
"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4 NASB