WHY Go to church?

With all the excitement and stress that comes with living in a new country, it can be easy to ignore your deeper needs while you figure out your day to day needs. However, there are lots of reasons to find a good church as an international student.

Living in a new place can sometimes be lonely, and church is the perfect place to meet new people with different backgrounds and ideas.
Many churches can provide you with information and teaching that you might not get at your university or at ISMA.
Church is a great place to learn more about yourself and about God.

As Christians, we believe that meeting with other Christians and learning from the Bible is how we grow and mature. Even if you’re not a Christian though, give church a try! You might be surprised by what you see.

CHOOSING a Church

There are as many different kinds of churches as there are different kinds of people. Some churches attract older people, some younger, and some appeal to everyone. Some have a more modern worship service; some prefer traditional services. Some have fifty members; some have thousands. With so many options, finding the right church for you can be really difficult. Here are a few things you should always look for in a church before deciding on one.

Make sure the teaching comes from the Bible: Unfortunately, there are some bad churches out there. Some church leaders will use their position to teach their own personal ideas, some of which might not be true. We believe that the Bible is the word of God, so naturally the teaching of the church should come out of the Bible. If something the pastor says doesn’t seem right to you, don’t be afraid to look in the Bible for yourself! (Acts 17:11)
Make sure the gospel is the focus of the Church: Great music and interesting people are fine reasons to choose a church, but the main focus should always be the news of Jesus Christ. As one famous preacher said, “Go where the gospel is preached, the gospel that really feeds your soul, and go often.”
Make sure that the people who go to the Church are trying to live by the Bible: No one is perfect, and since people make up churches, no church is perfect. Still, if you start going to a church, you should really notice a difference in the lives of the other people going there. If you can’t, then it might not be the best place for you to develop. (James 1:22)

If a church has these qualities, then chances are it’s a quality church. After that, it’s simply a matter of finding somewhere that works for you. Look around, and don’t be afraid to ask us to help you find a place. Don’t be put off by one service; try another week, or a different time of the day. And if you went to a church in your home country, remember; you are in a new country. Just as life here might be different in a lot of ways, the churches here might be different too. Don’t expect to find a church exactly the same as the one you had back home. Try something new, it’s what being an international student is all about!

>> CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCHES IN AMSTERDAM <<

WHY Go to church?

CHOOSING a Church

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