If you’re looking for churches near Abingdon, IL, you’ve probably noticed there are many choices out there.
In fact, it can be pretty overwhelming to evaluate each of them one by one to find a good fit for you and your family.
If you’ve been here awhile, you know our community has a lot to offer. If you’re new to the area, we’d love to help you get acquainted. From La Roma Pizza to the “The Scoop” Ice Cream Parlor, there are plenty of options to shop, eat, have fun, and make memories with your family in the Abingdon area.
Our Church, Harmony Baptist Church, is nearby in Galesburg, IL, and we’re happy to help as you search for the right Abingdon church. Here are a few questions we’ve found helpful in the decision-making process.
Does the Church Welcome My Whole Family?
Everyone has a unique story, and every household does too. Maybe you’re single, dating, married, raising small children, parenting teens, or adjusting to an empty nest and reconnecting with your spouse after retirement. Whatever your life stage or the circumstances you’re in, you have unique needs and unique gifts to share with the body of Christ. It’s important to find a church where people in your stage of life are welcomed and loved. Of course, there’s another side to this coin. If you’re in a demographic that’s less common in the church you join, you have a unique opportunity to serve in that body. You can be the hands and feet of Jesus as you help the church reach out to others like you and show them the love of Christ. If you’re interested in how those in different life stages can connect with other believers at BBC, check out our “Events” page to see what we’ve been up to lately!
Does the Worship Style Honor God?
Worship that brings glory to God can be energizing, exciting, and uplifting. However, it’s important to make sure that the main goal driving the worship service at your church is God-centered, not human-centered. From the music to announcements to sermons and invitations, it’s important that the service isn’t just seeking to entertain, but to help church members have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. A church service that engages members’ minds as well as their emotions is vital. Maintaining this balance can help members grow in wisdom and knowledge, as well as in passion and zeal, as they walk with God. Our “Sermons” page can give you some insight into our approach to worship.
Is the Bible Preached Faithfully?
Are the pastors’ conclusions firmly rooted in God’s Word? A sermon that doesn’t quote the Bible very often is more likely to drift away from a focus on what it teaches. It might be in danger of focusing too much on the pastor’s opinions or pet topics. If the Bible is the centerpiece of every sermon, it’s a good sign that the pastor is seriously committed to teaching it accurately and faithfully. In your search for an Abingdon church, be sure to measure the church’s teachings using God’s Word as the standard.
Does the Church Make Me Too Comfortable?
A major purpose of a biblical church is to help believers grow more sensitive to sin in their own lives. As you participate in church services, feeling a little discomfort can actually be a good sign. Experiencing conviction is never pleasant or comfortable, but a God-honoring church will confront you with hard truths, giving you the opportunity to seek repentance, forgiveness, and victory. A church that encourages introspection and self-examination can help you grow in your walk with Christ.
Does the Church in Abingdon Foster Openness and Honesty?
An atmosphere where church members aren’t too proud or too shy to share their struggles, faults, and weaknesses is essential for the church body to function properly. We’re commanded to bear one another’s burdens. A good church home will inspire you to share your burdens with other believers, so you can experience accountability and support. It’s a good sign when those in the pulpit, as well as people in the seats, are willing to confess when things aren’t going perfectly in their lives. Jesus never intended the church to be a display case for perfect people. Church should be a place where we can open up about what’s really going on and encounter God’s love and grace.
Does the Abingdon Church Obey the Great Commission?
Jesus commanded the church to go into every nation and make disciples. Thousands of years later, his followers are still seeking to fulfil that command. Churches have many demands when it comes to the use of funds, resources, and energy. However, it’s important that much of the church resources are devoted to sharing the gospel with others. This can take many different forms. Church outreach can seek to reach those who live right around the corner or in neighboring cities, or the church could support foreign missionaries by offering prayer, giving funds, sending physical help, and more.
Besides outreach to those who don’t attend church, there’s another important way in which a biblical church will fulfil the Great Commission. The gospel should be proclaimed, clearly and effectively, from the pulpit. It’s important that sermons have substance and depth, but a church should never stop sharing the good news of salvation, in all its simplicity, from the pulpit. It never loses its power!
We’d Love to Meet You!
We want you to know that whatever your story is, you’re welcome here with us. Maybe you’ve been attending church your whole life, or maybe it’s been awhile. It might even be too long ago to remember! We are here to meet you where you are. We want to walk alongside you as you seek to grow closer to Jesus than you are right now. On our “Contact” page, you can find directions, service times, and everything you need to know to come for a visit. We know there are many churches near Abingdon, IL, and we’d be honored if you chose to worship with us.
Give us a call if you have any questions: (309) 344-2144
