Are you looking for a church in Knoxville, IL? As a Galesburg, IL church, we’re just nearby, and we’re glad to be of help.
We know this is an important decision that impacts your whole family, and it’s worth taking some time for prayerful consideration as you consider your options.
The Knoxville area is full of rustic scenery and historical sites. If you’re just settling in to the area, we hope you’ve found some time to enjoy the beautiful views! We recommend the Knox County Scenic Drive for a weekend excursion in the fall, and the Knox County Museum anytime you’d like to get a glimpse of the rich local history.
Questions To Ask About A Church in Knoxville, IL. . .
As you begin your search for a Knoxville church, it’s important to ask the right questions about prospective choices. Different churches near Knoxville feature different worship styles and doctrinal positions, and discernment is vital in making your choice. So, what questions should be at the forefront of your mind as you research and visit a potential new church home?
Do the Church Members Love God?
This is a hard question to answer in concrete terms. It’s not like we can chart passion for God on a graph or examine it as data on a spreadsheet. However, there are a few obvious signs to look for. A church that’s passionate about loving God will put Him at the forefront of all its activities. Sermons will be focused on teaching church members about the Bible and fostering their knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. Music will be centered around giving praise, honor and glory to God alone, not to instrumentalists or singers. The Bible itself will be a key focal point throughout each church service, and activities apart from Sunday morning services will be God-glorifying. Jesus said that his greatest commandment to us is to love God with all of our strength, and a church that is following Jesus will take this commandment seriously.
Loving God also involves teaching His word accurately and thoroughly. On our “Sermons” page, you can learn more about how we study God’s word together, and our commitment to faithfully sharing its message.
Do the Church Members Love People?
The second commandment Jesus gave is to love other people like we love ourselves. This is a tough standard to meet. After all, other people can be unfamiliar at best. They can also be messy, complicated, confusing, uncomfortable, and generally hard to love. However, Jesus’ commandment is clear. We are to love people who don’t look like us, dress like us, sound like us, or think like us, as much as we love those who do.
When you visit a church, ask yourself: would people who don’t “fit the mold” feel loved and respected here? A biblical church will uphold God’s standards of holiness and call sin what God calls it. However, it will also find ways to love people in sinful lifestyles, people who are sincerely searching for God, and people who know God but aren’t as close to Him today as they once were.
An important aspect of loving people is showing them the truth of God’s word. If a church is unwilling to confront sin among its congregation, this can be just as problematic as a church that’s unwilling to show love, grace and compassion to those in need.
On our “Who We Are” page, you can find out more about what we believe, where we came from, and where we envision for our future as a family of believers.
What Not to Ask . . .
The most important questions you should ask involve Jesus’ commandments to the church. However, there are also some questions we should avoid asking when evaluating a prospective new church. Here are a few of them:
Are the Members Perfect?
It might sound appealing to join a church family where no one is annoying, hard to get along with, or difficult to talk to. However, we all know that churches like this don’t exist. It’s important to remember that churches are filled with imperfect people, and Jesus expects us to love one another in spite of our flaws. Sometimes, your interaction with other church members who have some rough edges or prominent flaws are important tools that God can use in your own sanctification process. Likewise, when you join a new church, you bring your own baggage and imperfections to the mix. Commit to loving other members of the body as Christ loves them, even when it’s not easy.
Is the Music Perfect?
Each of us has a unique taste in music, and it’s probably based on several complex factors. Musical tastes are often formed in early childhood and shaped by our life experiences and personalities. It’s not likely that you’ll find a church to perfectly suit your musical taste on every occasion. If a church’s music follows the clear standards laid out in God’s Word and is intended to bring glory to Him, then it’s a joyful noise to God’s ears. Keep in mind that the purpose of church music isn’t primarily entertainment, but praise.
Is the Pastor Perfect?
Pastors are people, just like everyone else. They have good days and bad days, they make mistakes, and sometimes they say things they regret the next day. Paul lays out some clear expectations for pastors in First Timothy 3, and these guidelines can be helpful when determining whether to place yourself in a specific pastor’s care. Among other things, a pastor should be prone to teaching, exempt from scandal, and kind to other people. However, it’s important to have grace and patience with your pastor, just as you would with any other church member.
Come Visit Us!
We welcome you to visit Harmony Baptist Church in Galesburg, IL. A Sunday morning visit can help you find out what God is doing here and how you can fit in to our local body of believers. Check out our “Contact” page for the details you’ll need. We can’t wait to meet you!
