Go local! On not driving past a Bible-believing church that is trying

This is a plea to those who would like to think of themselves as bible-believing people with a heart for the gospel. (And perhaps especially to those who have been committed believers for a few years). 

I know you will have your important theological convictions that might be more aligned with a church a few miles away. 

You will have your musical and liturgical tastes. 

You will want times and groups that can work for you. 

You need to have your needs met if you are to grow in loving Jesus. That is totally true.  

You're looking for peers for yourself and maybe for you kids. I sympathise. 

But I want to urge you to try your nearest church. Perhaps especially if you are an evangelical and the local church is trying to believe and share the gospel. If this church is finding it hard to grow and thrive, maybe the motor car is partly to blame. 

If you have a car, you could no doubt find something bigger and better. There are many advantages to a larger church. I am all for larger churches. I belonged to one as a student although it was across town. I benefited hugely. Maybe that was the right thing for me at that time. I found some ways to serve there. 

But your local church might need you. There might be wonderful opportunities to use your gift and to serve. 

In a church of say 50 people or fewer, your presence could make a big difference, whereas if there are already 100 people, your impact is likely to be rather less. 

Humanly speaking, there can be quite a fine line between small and likely to dwindle and viable with potential to grow. But if we all despair of the day of small things, we can guess the result, unless the Lord graciously sends revival. 

If you and a few other people dedicated themselves to the local church, together, and perhaps working with other Christians in the wider area (perhaps to put on some joint youth work, for example), you could have a huge impact on your local community. 

How much easier to invite your neighbours to the church in your parish.

Belonging to a smaller local church may certainly have its costs and sacrifices. But it a bit easier to be involved and serve if your travelling time is reduced. You can be there a bit earlier and linger longer. Getting to something midweek may be less of a juggling-act ordeal.  

If you join a smaller church, it could lead to a music or singing group, or a good service sheet, or effective AV, or a prayer triplet. Perhaps a few of you could start a new Bible study or home group. Or put on an outreach event. 

I confess we use supermarkets. There is lots of choice. It is probably cheaper. But we also use our village shop. We really want it to continue. So we try to support it, even if there are some things we can't get on special offer at 3AM there. Well, I'd like the local church to grow and thrive to serve the local community. 

You could be part of something wonderful. You could be a huge blessing to others. Maybe your local church needs you. 

You must do what you feel is right. It's not for me to tell you which church to go to. But would you think and pray about it? If you're moving, try local! Maybe your pastor would bless you if you said you are thinking of moving to your nearest church and throwing yourself in for the sake of the gospel in your immediate locality. 

By all means tell me how wrong I am, but maybe...?

(I'm grateful to those who have commented on FB and elsewhere. I've made a couple of small additions to this since I originally posted it).