Have you ever been far away from home and bumped into somebody you know? Perhaps you've been abroad and felt a little disoriented — only to hear a familiar song, or perhaps even someone speaking in your own language?

The sight or sound of something familiar can be a real boon to the weary traveller. When we move to a new city, or country even, the relentless pace and newness of everything can be exhilirating…but also demanding.

So if you're new to Caversham or the Reading area then we hope to somehow lessen the load. Assuming that you've ended up here because you're looking for a new church, here are a few tips to help you out:

Christ crucified and resurrected

There are many banknotes in the world but not all are genuine. In the same way there are many churches out there, but not all are made equal.

It's a sad reality that many "churches" around the world not only teach heresies (even denying Christ) but also take advantage of their congregation by promising them things that God neither said — nor offered us. Diverting from the true gospel, they teach a hotch-potch of Christianity and other faiths and philosophies, which do great damage both to the individual believer and to the body of Christ at large.

So if you consider yourself new to the faith or biblically immature, one of the first pieces of advice is to check out a church's "Beliefs" section. Is what they write very limited or seems vague and non-commital? Do they fail to assert Christ crucified and resurrected? Or do they soft-pedal on how they view the authority of the Bible? If yes to some or all of these questions, our advice would be to avoid.

Don't be afraid to "shop around"

Given that we live in the age of rampant consumerism, it might appear irresponsible to be advising people to play the church tourist game. And yet in reality, there are few hard rules when it comes to finding a new church.

In the likeliest scenario, it may well be that you try two, three or more churches before you finally settle on the one you like. Maybe one option has fantastic teaching but little personal interaction; another is modern, youthful and exciting but seems hollow in matters of discipleship and instruction. Ultimately, you may well have a eureka moment that you can't explain, but if you don't — you'll need something to compare.

Pray and fast

Most Christians will automatically be praying into a situation like finding a new church, but it may be that you don't feel like you're there yet, or maybe you've been discouraged for some reason.

In truth, there's nothing quite like prayer to bring focus, or even resolution to a matter. The Bible is full of references and examples of people who prayed to God to find clarity in a difficult situation. But in James 4, the apostle James also states that, "You do not have because you do not ask God". The key takeaway? "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).

Conclusion

If you're looking around for a church in Caversham and Reading today then we would love to meet you. But the most important to thing to do as you try out the options available to you is to stay in prayer about the decision, and be open to being out of your comfort zone. If you're serious about your faith in Christ then remain proactive in your hunt, and he will certainly guide you to the best place to put down your roots and build your life with him in community.

God bless you, and maybe we will see you soon!