9 Steps to Finding the Best Church For You In Ringwood

Finding a new church can be hard.

Whether you’ve just moved to Ringwood, or have decided it’s time to find a new church – it’s not a decision to make lightly. Your choice of church will influence everything from your personal growth to your family and your own spiritual walk with God.

Here, we’ve outlined some steps you can take to make sure you’re making the right decision for you and your family.

Choosing The Right Place Of Worship For Your Spiritual Needs

Step 1: Go to God 

Any major spiritual decision you make in life, including choosing a church to fellowship in, should always start with God in prayer.

Prayer should be the starting place whether you are moving to Melbourne, or have lived in Ringwood for years. Every venture to find a new church should be grounded in prayer.

Step 2: Evaluate your values and make sure they line up

There’s no point in going to a church that doesn’t believe the same things you do. While a lot of Christian churches have similar beliefs, mostly thanks to the Bible as a key authority, there’s no denying that there are a variety of interpretations and variations in how faith is practised – right down to how a Sunday service is run.

So, if you have been a Christian for a long time, or have an idea of what kind of church you want to be a part of, do some research into the values of the churches you are considering attending and check if they match your own. You’ll often find this in a church values statement somewhere on their website.

Step 3: Talk to your friends and family

If you’ve got friends and family who are Christians that live in the area, it’s likely that they will know a fair few of the churches that are around and will be able to give you advice.

While you should use wisdom and discernment about who you listen to, often personal testimonies are really great ways to find out more about a church and what it’s like.

Step 4: Have a look online

Google is a great resource for church hunting. Most churches have websites and social media pages you can look at to give you an insight into what they are like.  You’ll be able to find all the information on what the church offers, from the weekend service to discipleship opportunities, and whether they have programs for children, youth, students, singles, couples or seniors!

Step 5: Check out the pastors and leaders

The beauty of the online world is that often you can find out about a church leadership team, all before you turn up for a Sunday service.

If you’re really nervous about attending, or worried about what the teaching in the service may involve, some churches even have their sermons and services from past weeks available online on a church YouTube channel or through podcast services like Spotify.

Step 6: Check for signs of community

The church is about much more than an hour’s service on Sundays.  Being part of a church is about being part of a community that is built on love and supporting one another.

The bonds and friendships you build are a big part of our church community, so make sure you look for signs that the church is community-focused. Signs can include being welcoming of visitors, having programs, opportunities and connection groups for everyone from children to seniors, students, youth and adults, and preaching messages of love, hope and grace.

Step 7: Look for opportunities to grow

The church you attend should be a place where your relationship with God can grow and flourish. If you’re looking for a new church, look for signs that it will support you in your personal walk with God.  Are there small groups and Bible studies you can attend? Is there a Bible college or Bible courses you can take to learn more? Are there pathways you can take to grow in your faith?

Step 8: Look for opportunities to serve

‘Church shopping’ can often become a very self-focussed experience, but your walk with God is also impacted by looking beyond yourself and sowing back into your church and community. As important as it is to make sure the church you choose is one you can grow in and be supported in, make sure it’s also a place that you can serve and give in.

Serving and giving looks different for everyone, so make sure there is an avenue that works for you to participate as you become part of the church community.

Step 9: Look for happy people

You can tell the health of a church by the fruit of the people in it. If you can see happy, welcoming people, full of the love of Jesus – this is a good sign. If you visit and no one talks to you, or people look like they’d rather be somewhere else – this is a good sign that it may not be a healthy spiritual environment.

Take the plunge and visit a church this Sunday

The ONLY way you’ll ever find a new church in Ringwood is to visit one. You can do all the prayer and research in the world, but until you take a step through the front doors of a church, you won’t really know if it’s the right church for you.

Just like faith without works, finding a new church requires you to take action visit.

The good news is that most churches are welcoming environments – and even if it doesn’t end up being the right place for you – the visit will hopefully give you a better sense of what to look for in the next church you visit.

You’re invited to C3 Powerhouse this weekend

If you are looking for a new church to visit in Ringwood, we would love to welcome you to join us at C3 Powerhouse Melbourne East, located in Ringwood.

Our doors are always wide open to new visitors, and you’ll even be met in the carpark by a friendly team of people who will help you find a car park, show you to the children’s program if you need, and help you find a seat for the service.

Services are on every Sunday at 10am, and you’ll find us conveniently located at 3-4/100 New Street, Ringwood, 3134.