What To Look For When Choosing A Church On The Sunshine Coast

Are you looking for a vibrant, new church on the Sunshine Coast?

You’re in luck, as the Sunshine Coast has a lot of great churches in the community.

Finding the right one for you, however, can sometimes be a difficult task. Visiting a new church can be a big step for most people, so it’s understandable that you want to find your Sunshine Coast church quickly and easily without too much ‘church shopping’.

Here, we have listed some questions you can ask to see if the churches you are looking at will suit you and your family, and help you work out what you’re looking for when looking for a church home to build your faith.

9 Questions to ask when finding a new Sunshine Coast church:

 

1) Is the location within driving distance on the Sunshine Coast?

The Sunshine Coast is a large area, spreading all the way from the North in Noosa to the South in Caloundra – with a 60km QLD coastline!

While travelling for a church that you call home is not necessarily a bad thing, when you’re looking for a new church it’s always important to consider the distance you are willing to travel and how it will impact you. As much as church life is focused on Sundays, there are always lots of other events and opportunities to connect and grow throughout the week that might involve multiple car trips to church. You may have youth to drive to church on Friday nights, Bible College and other courses you want to participate in, and life groups to attend to connect with your church family and friends. That, and the friends you make at church will likely also live closeby, making social catchups easier if you are in the area.

Being a close drive to your Sunshine Coast church can make all the difference when finding a new church home.

2) Do You Feel Like You’re Part of A Community?

Being part of a church is more than just meeting with God. It’s also about being part of a community of like-minded people who do the Christian walk together – encouraging each other, supporting each other in love and praying together.

The community that each individual church seeker may be looking for will vary.  Young adults will likely be looking for social connection opportunities, whereas young families may be looking for child-friendly services and activities. Some people will place a higher value on Bible studies, with others on extra prayer and worship nights, and others the opportunity to serve and work in the community like Jesus.

When you’re looking for a new church, consider what ‘community’ looks like for you, and see if there is an opportunity for you to find that in the church you’re considering.

3) Do your family or friends already attend the church?

A great way to find a church that you can connect with instantly is if it’s one you already have family or friends at. This will help fast-track the relationship-building and connection phase, and you will likely already have a good idea of what the church is like and what it offers.

4) Does the church focus on quality worship time?

Corporate worship is an important part of church life, and the style of music can have an impact on your experience.  Some people find it easier to worship and connect with a more traditional style of music and hymns, while others prefer modern, contemporary worship music.

While the style and quality of worship aren’t necessarily the make or break of whether a church is ‘good’, it is definitely a factor to consider when looking at a new church on the Sunshine Coast.

5) Is Prayer A High Priority In The Church?

Prayer is the fundamental element of your relationship and connection with God and an incredibly important part of church life. If you want to make sure the church you are considering attending is a healthy place, enquire or research about their view and value on prayer. Do the pastors pray during the service? Are there prayer meetings available for you to attend?

If you have been a Christian for a long time, make sure the church’s expression and prayer practices match your expectations and personal priorities. If you have your heart set on attending a prayer group or regular prayer meetings, make sure those are an option! And if you’re new – make sure the church has avenues for you to learn more about prayer and how to do it.

6) Does The Church Practice Bible-Based Preaching & Teaching?

An important part of finding a healthy church is finding one that not only believes in prayer but also places a high priority on Bible-based preaching and teaching. The Bible provides a framework for the belief system of Christian churches and should act as its guiding authority.

How do you know if a church is Bible-believing? Often, it will be included in their faith statement, but you can also verify this by listening to what is preached in the sermons and spoken about by the pastors and leaders during each service and how much it references the Bible, or if it is based on other texts or sources.

7) Does the church have an active children’s ministry?

An active children’s ministry and program is a must for families with kids.

A flourishing kids ministry is also a great sign that the church is a welcoming place that is open to everyone in the community. Questions you may like to consider when considering a children’s ministry are whether there are safety policies in place for the children and people running it, and whether it is a full ministry program or simply a childminding option for while the parents are in church.

Finding somewhere your whole family can grow spiritually is an important part of finding a church community on the Sunshine Coast.

8) Does the church invest in its youth?

Youth programs are an important part of church life for anyone with high school-aged children. Often, this age group can find it difficult to attend church for various reasons, and having a friendship group at church can be invaluable for their Christian journey.

Having events and programs for people of youth ages is also a great sign of the church being connected to the community, with options for everyone of all ages.

9) Is there a young adult community in the church?

A flourishing youth and young adults ministry is often a sign that the church is growing and healthy.

If you are a young adult yourself, having people of similar ages to connect with can be a helpful part of embracing your church community and navigating your Christian walk.

In fact, having a community that includes people going through similar phases and stages of life can be an important part of finding a new church for anyone of any age!

Visit C3 Powerhouse On The Sunshine Coast

So, if you are looking for a new church on the Sunshine Coast, this is a great checklist to get started with.

You are also always welcome at C3 Powerhouse on the Sunshine Coast. You’ll be met by a friendly welcome team who are there to show you around, help you find the children’s programs if you need them, and help you find a seat for the service.

Services are on every Sunday at 9am and 5pm, with youth on Friday nights during the school term, and you can easily find our faith statement online here.

If you are looking for a church community that is friendly, welcoming and easy to visit – come say hi this weekend!