Church – Page 71 – Michelle Lesley

Your recent article on prayer really helped me. I was always taught that prayer was a two-way conversation. For years, I would talk to God and wait for Him to talk back to me, but He never did. I thought it was because there was unknown sin in my life, or that I didn’t have enough faith, or that God just wasn’t interested in me. It’s so freeing to know the truth.

Comments like this from readers are always bittersweet for me. It makes me practically giddy to hear from Christian women who have been set free from false doctrines they’ve been taught, but it also grieves me deeply to reflect on the years they spent thinking they were somehow deficient as Christians or doubting God’s love for them simply because they were taught, and believed, unbiblical notions and ideas.

Let’s see if we can dispel a few of those today:

1. Prayer is this big, complicated, mystical thing.
Nope. Prayer is simply talking to God about whatever is on your heart. What’s made prayer complicated is the unbiblical teachings that have grown up around it such as praying in “tongues,” listening prayer, contemplative prayer, sozo prayer, soaking prayer, etc.

8 Things You Need to Know about Prayer

2. “Women’s Ministry” equals fluff and silliness.
There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun from time to time. Hey, we all need to blow off steam, right? But if cookie exchanges and teas and painting parties and dress up parties and sleepovers and makeup parties and fashion shows and movie nights are all your women’s ministry does, it’s unhealthy. And it’s not really a ministry, either. If something is a “ministry” it should exist to point people to Christ and disciple them once they get to Him. Your women’s ministry should include ministry of the Word, discipleship, evangelism, comfort ministry (to the ill, shut-ins, new moms, new members, etc.), serving the church, encouragement, supporting your pastor and elders, and so on.

Mary and Martha and Jesus and Women’s Ministry
Biblical Women’s Ministry – Part 1
Practical Women’s Ministry – Part 2

3. Women’s Bible study- great balls of fire, don’t get me started.
♦ A Bible verse (or half a Bible verse) plus an inspiring story from the author’s or someone else’s life is not Bible study. Bible study is picking up your Bible and studying it.

Bible Study
Bible Studies

Bible study is picking up your Bible and studying it.
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♦ If you’re hosting a women’s Bible study, you do not have to use books and DVDs written by someone else. In fact, I would recommend against doing so. Get someone who is able to teach – yes, it could even be a man – and study a book of the Bible from beginning to end.

You’re Not as Dumb as You Think You Are: Five Reasons to Put Down that Devotional and Pick Up the Actual Bible

McBible Study and the Famine of God’s Word
Can you recommend a good Bible study for women/teens/kids?

♦ One reason I recommend against using “canned” women’s Bible studies is that the vast majority of them (95% in my estimation- not an exaggeration) teach false doctrine. When you walk into most Christian bookstores the first thing you’ll see is the best sellers shelf, and the majority of those books are written by false teachers such as Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Christine Caine, Lysa TerKeurst, Sarah Young, and others.

♦ If you do decide to occasionally do a book study, you do not have to use one written by a woman. In fact, if you want a book that’s doctrinally sound, you have a much better chance of finding one written by a man than by a woman, sad to say. Check out some godly men who are pastors, authors, and teachers at…

Recommended Bible Teachers

4. Faithful church attendance isn’t that important.
If you think you don’t need church or that you can skip it whenever something more fun comes along, your thinking isn’t biblical. God thinks it’s important enough for His people to gather regularly for worship that He emphasizes it throughout the entirety of Scripture- Old and New Testament. Get your heiney in the pew every week, honey, and find a place to serve.

7 Reasons Church is Not Optional and Non-Negotiable for Christians
Searching for a new church?

5. I am woman, hear me roar.
♦ Beth Moore and many other female teachers who rebel against Scripture by preaching to and teaching men in the church say that they are doing so “under their husband’s and/or pastor’s authority”. Neither your husband nor your pastor has the OK from God to allow you, or any other woman, to teach men in the church. God says women aren’t to teach or hold authority over men in the church, and when God says no, no one has the authority to say yes. Furthermore, there isn’t a single passage of Scripture that allows any man to give any woman this type of “under my authority” dispensation to teach men. To say that it’s permissible for a woman to teach men “under her husband’s/pastor’s authority” is just as biblically absurd as saying it’s OK for a woman to lie, commit adultery, gossip, or steal “under her husband’s/pastor’s authority.” Sapphira sinned under her husband’s authority and look what happened to her.

Fencing Off the Forbidden Fruit Tree
Jill in the Pulpit
Ten Things You Should Know About 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and the Relationship Between Men and Women in the Local Church at CBMW

Neither your husband nor your pastor has the OK from God to allow you, or any other woman, to teach men in the church.
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♦ Egalitarians are often so vehement in their insistence that women should teach men and hold authority over men in the church, that they are essentially saying that the only way a woman’s service or leadership in the church can have any value is if it’s exercised over men. I’ve heard many of them turn up their noses at the idea of teaching women and children and other forms of service (that don’t involve teaching or authority over men), in a haughty “we’re better than that” kind of way.

No way.

Have you seen the garbage women and children are being taught in the church under the guise of “Sunday School” or “Bible study”? Women’s and children’s classes at your church are in desperate need of women who are doctrinally sound and able to teach. What about the need to visit church members who are in the hospital or shut-ins? How about record-keeping, working in the sound booth, welcoming visitors, serving on committees, mowing the church’s lawn, participating in outreach activities, fixing a meal, chaperoning youth activities, hosting a visiting pastor or missionary? There’s a ton of important and valuable work for women to do in the church. We don’t have time to worry about teaching and holding authority over men. Let the men worry about that.

Servanthood
Let Me Count the Ways: 75 Ways Women Can Biblically Minister to Others

6. My feelings and opinions reign supreme.
Uh uh. Not if you’re a Christian, they don’t. That’s how lost people operate. If you’re a Christian, you’re not entitled run your life or make decisions by any opinion other than that of your Master. What He says – in His written word – goes. Period. Regardless of how you feel about it or whether or not you agree with it. That means if a “Bible” teacher you really like is teaching things that conflict with Scripture, you dump her. You love Mr. Wonderful and want to marry him, but he’s not saved? Nope. You’re a woman who’s certain God has called her to preach? No way. Your husband has said no about something, but you want to do it anyway? Forget it.

The Bible is our Authority
Bad Fruit, Diseased Trees, and the Authority of God’s Word

7. If something or someone claims to be a Christian, it is.
I suppose at some point in Christian history, there might have been a time when, if someone handed you a “Christian book,” it was a pretty safe bet it was doctrinally sound. Or if someone said she was a Christian, you could be fairly certain she was truly born again.

Not so much these days.

You cannot take at face value that someone who says she’s a Christian is using the Bible’s definition of Christianity and has been genuinely regenerated. You cannot trust that just because something is sold at LifeWay or another Christian retailer that it’s doctrinally sound. You can’t assume that just because someone is a “Christian” celebrity, writes “Bible” studies, speaks at “Christian” conferences, and has a large following, that she’s handling God’s word correctly (or at all) and teaching you biblical truth. There’s just too much false doctrine running rampant in evangelicalism and too many people who believe and teach it.

Don’t be a weak and naïve Christian woman. Jesus Himself said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven…” There are many people who draw near to God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. It is God’s will for you to be a good Berean and to test everything according to Scripture. We will know the truly Christian from the false by their fruits, not their platitudes.

8. Sugar and spice and everything nice- that’s what Christian girls are made of.
That’s not a Bible verse, but rather and unspoken rule among most Christian women. Somewhere we’ve gotten the idea that Christian unity or love means “being nice” to people. We’re always smilingly sweet and never say anything that might hurt someone’s feelings or could rock the boat at church.

Are we to be kind? Yes. Are we to do our best not to hurt others? Of course. Should we be making waves over every little thing that rubs us the wrong way? Absolutely not.

But neither is it loving to see a Mack truck bearing down on an oblivious sister in Christ and refrain from yanking her out of harm’s way because it might dislocate her shoulder. It is not unity to see Satan deceiving a friend through sin or false doctrine and not plead with her to turn to Christ and His word because she might think we’re rude. And that’s the situation we often find ourselves in at church or with Christian friends.

Was Jesus – our perfect example of love – being unloving, unkind, hateful, or divisive when He rebuked the Pharisees, cleared the temple, or said, “Get behind Me, Satan!” to Peter?

Love for the brethren isn’t “being nice.” It’s caring so much about a fellow saint that we want what’s best for her in Christ. Sometimes that requires being firm, confrontational, or demonstrating “tough love.” People’s eternities and spiritual health are at stake. How loving is it to stand aside and let a sister waltz into Hell or struggle for years on end in her walk with the Lord because she’s living in sin or believing false doctrine? “Being nice” isn’t a fruit of the Spirit. It’s time we stop being nice and start being biblical.

I Can’t Sit Down, Shut Up, and Play Nice
Discernment: What’s Love Got to Do with It?

“Being nice” isn’t a fruit of the Spirit. It’s time we stop being nice and start being biblical.
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Do you believe any of these unbiblical notions? If so, set them aside, repent, and believe and practice what Scripture says. Any time we believe something that’s in conflict with God’s word, it’s a hindrance to the abundant life and growth in Christ that He wants to bless us with.

False doctrine enslaves. It places a yoke of confusion, anxiety, and “try harder” on the shoulders of those who embrace it. Christ did not set us free from sin so that we might turn right around and become captives to a new, pseudo-Christian type of sin: false teaching. It is for freedom and a healthy spiritual life that Christ has set us free.

Christ did not set us free from sin so that we might turn right around and become captives to a new, pseudo-Christian type of sin: false teaching.
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Church

Reader Recommended Churches

May 23, 2017January 24, 2026 Michelle Lesley

One of the great joys of this ministry is helping people find doctrinally sound churches to get plugged into. An awesome resource for finding good churches is my readers, especially my social media and blog followers, whose recommendations I continue to add on to the list below.

Though there are many Reformed/Calvinistic churches on this list, please be aware that there are also many churches listed which are not. This is a list of churches which have been recommended as doctrinally sound, not strictly churches which are Reformed/Calvinistic. (My own church, which is not Reformed, is listed below.)

If you’re looking for a church in a certain area,
scroll down to the list.

Also, be sure to check out the
church search engines and other resources
at the Searching for a new church? tab
in the blue menu bar at the top of this page.

Please read ALL of the information in this section before recommending a church. Recommendations which do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.

If you’ve got a personal connection to a doctrinally sound church and would like to publicly recommend it, you can do so in the comments section of this article. Please include the website of the church you’re recommending. (Churches submitted without websites will not be considered for inclusion on the list.)

Before recommending a church, please make sure it meets all of the parameters listed below, and please check the list of churches to make sure the church you’re recommending isn’t already on the list.

Due to doctrinal issues, at this time I am not accepting recommendations for:

Continuationist churches
United Methodist Churches
Calvary Chapel churches (continuationist)
Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) churches (continuationist, egalitarian, social justice)
Any church that believes/teaches entire sanctification/sinless perfection
Any church that believes/teaches a genuinely regenerated Christian can lose or forfeit his salvation
Churches that consider Calvinism/Reformed theology to be false teaching
KJV Only churches (Churches which consider the King James Version to be the only acceptable and/or inspired translation of the Bible. Churches which merely prefer using the KJV are fine.)
Any church that uses music from Bethel, Jesus Culture, Hillsong, Elevation, Maverick City, anyone connected with these groups (such as Phil Wickham), Catholics, non-Christians, or any other contemporary musician who isn’t doctrinally sound.
Any church that uses or recommends books and materials from false teachers. This includes churches recommending, affiliated with, or financially supporting The Gospel Coalition, CRU, or any other parachurch organization which platforms false teachers, and/or is egalitarian, woke, compromises on the Bible’s teaching on gender/sexuality, etc.
Any church that violates Scripture’s teaching on the role of women in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-3:7). This includes, but is not necessarily limited to: churches with a female bearing the title of “pastor” (of anything) or “elder,” churches which allow women to function in pastoral roles without the title of pastor / elder (for example: female ministers of music / worship leaders; discipleship “facilitators” or “directors” who essentially function as elders / associate pastors, and so on), churches which allow women to preach to, hold unbiblical authority over, or instruct men or co-ed groups in the Scriptures (for example: teaching / co-teaching co-ed adult Sunday School / Bible study classes or home / small groups).
Any church that does not have a detailed statement of faith (“What we believe,” “Doctrinal statement,” etc.) or link to such,
Any church that does not have the pastor’s name (and pastoral staff / elders, if any) listed on its website. (I don’t list churches which are currently without a pastor. You’re welcome to submit your church once you get a new pastor.)
Any church that does not have a website (a social media page alone is not enough).

Thank you for recommending your church!

See a church that shouldn’t be on the list?

Please keep in mind that this list has been in existence since 2017. Unfortunately, a few of the churches listed below may have taken an unbiblical turn since that time. If you see a church listed that you know for a fact isn’t doctrinally sound, please email me or post a comment to let me know, and provide specific evidence.

Examples of “isn’t doctrinally sound” include, but are not limited to: holding/practicing an unbiblical view of homosexuality, allowing women to serve as pastors, elders, or other positions of teaching/holding authority over men, a pattern of using Bible study materials authored by false teachers, a pattern of using music from heretical sources, New Apostolic Reformation/prosperity gospel false doctrine, Critical Race Theory, social justice tendencies/teachings, significant and ongoing ungodly behavior by the pastor or church members, etc.

*A few of the churches on the list have deaconesses / female deacons. There is biblical support for this position (please click here for more information) in some cases, and this does not necessarily mean the church is doctrinally unsound or feminist. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the church directly to discuss this with the pastor.

DISCLAIMER: I cannot personally vouch for the theology of any of the churches recommended nor the people who recommended them. Please use this list only as a suggestion of churches to check out using biblical wisdom and discernment. (Concerns about deaconesses/female deacons? See * above.)

Churches outside the United States are toward the end of this list. Click on the name of the church for the church’s web site.

United States

Alabama

Birmingham- Glen Iris Baptist Church

Clanton- Peach City Fellowship

Clay- Mt. Calvary Presbyterian Church

Dothan-
Logos Baptist Church
Westgate Baptist Church

Florence-
Emmanuel Baptist church
Ransomed Community Church

Fort Payne- Grace Presbyterian Church

Hueytown- Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church

Huntsville-
Grace Community Church
West Huntsville Baptist Church

Mobile-
Christ Fellowship
Crawford Baptist Church

Muscle Shoals- Grace Life Church of the Shoals

Ozark- Reformation Church

Remlap- Providence Reformed Baptist Church

Talladega-
Faith Worship Center
First Baptist Church

Tanner- Belmor Baptist Church

Troy-
Bush Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
Grace Bible Church
Troy Church

West Blocton- Camp Branch Baptist Church

Alaska

Anchorage-
Anchorage Grace Church
Church in the Wildwood

Chugiak- Peters Creek Baptist Church

Homer- Homer Reformed Baptist Church

Kenai- Calvary Baptist Church

Arizona

Casa Grande- Providence Reformed Baptist Church (Gabriel Hughes, pastor)

Chandler-
Apologia Church (James White, Jeff Durbin, pastors)
Shepherd’s House Bible Church (Costi Hinn, pastor)

Gilbert-
Redeemer Bible Church
San Tan Bible Church
Southeast Valley Bible Church

Goodyear- Redeeming Grace Church

Overgaard- First Southern Baptist Church

Peoria-
Fellowship of Grace Church
King’s Church

Phoenix-
Desert Hills Bible Church
Northwest Community Church
Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church

Sierra Vista- Sierra Vista Baptist Church

Tucson- Christ’s Church of Tucson

Arkansas

Beebe- The Bible Church of Beebe

Benton- Gravel Hill Baptist Church

Bryant- First Southern Baptist Church

Cabot- Bible Church of Cabot

Conway-
Conway Missionary Baptist Church
Grace Bible Church

Fort Smith- Oak Cliff Baptist Church

Greenwood- First Baptist Church of Jenny Lind

Heber Springs- Little Red River Bible Church

Jonesboro- Central Baptist Church

Little Rock-
Central Hope Church
Midtown Baptist Church
The Bible Church of Little Rock

Marshall- Marshall First Baptist Church

Nashville- Maranatha Baptist Church

Perryville- Perryville Second Baptist Church

Rogers- Trinity Grace Church

Russellville- CrossLife Church

Van Buren- Lee Creek Baptist Church

Witcherville- Fellowship Baptist Church

California

Alhambra- Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles

Aliso Viejo- Compass Bible Church

Anaheim Hills- Kindred Community Church

Apple Valley- The Community Church at Jess Ranch

Aptos- Santa Cruz Baptist Church

Arcadia- Arcadia Bible Church

Arroyo Grande- Berean Bible Church

Bakersfield-
Grace Bible Church of Bakersfield
Sovereign Grace Church

Brawley- Western Avenue Baptist Church

Burlingame- Grace Church of the Bay Area

Camarillo- Pleasant Valley Bible Church

Carlsbad- Redemption Church North County

Castaic- Lake Hills Community Church

Clovis- Trinity Community Church

Costa Mesa- Mission Bible Church

Cupertino- Creekside Bible Church

Duarte- Berean Bible Church

El Cajon- Faith Community Bible Church

El Monte- Chinese Congregational Church

Fontana- Summit Bible Church

Glendale- Lighthouse Bible Church Los Angeles

Huntington Beach- Compass Bible Church

Inglewood- Fairview Heights Baptist Church

Irvine- Irvine Community Church

Kingsburg- Grace Church of the Valley

La Canada- La Canada Korean Church

Lakeport- Clear Lake Baptist Church

Long Beach- Pillar Bible Church

Menifee-
Faith Bible Church
Menifee Hills Bible Church
Valley Christian Fellowship

Mission Viejo-
Resonate Church
Reverence Bible Church

Modesto- Grace Baptist Fellowship

Morgan Hill- Trinity Bible Church

Murrieta- Faith Bible Church

Newhall- Placerita Bible Church

Oxnard- Faith Community Church

Pasadena-
Emmaus Community Church
Redeemer Bible Church
Trinity Baptist Church

Rancho Cucamonga- Grace Rancho

Redding/Palo Cedro- Cow Creek Community Church

Ridgecrest- Cornerstone Bible Church

Ripon- Christ Community Church

Riverside-
Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church
Reformed Baptist Church of Riverside
Refuge Bible Fellowship

Sacramento- Immanuel Baptist Church

San Diego-
Barabbas Road Church
Doxa Church
Pacific Hope Church

San Gabriel- San Gabriel Community Church

Santa Clarita- Santa Clarita Baptist Church

Santa Maria- First Baptist Church

Santa Rosa- Christian Family Fellowship

Shingle Springs- Gold Country Baptist Church

Sierra Madre- CrossLife Community Church

Sun Valley- Grace Community Church (John MacArthur, pastor)

Trabuco Canyon- Trabuco Canyon Community Church

Tustin-
Compass Bible Church
Mission Bible Church

Upland- Foothill Bible Church

Waterford- First Southern Baptist Church

West Covina- Christ Community Church

Whittier- Disciple Church

Willits- Agape Bible Church

Vallejo- Community Bible Church

Victorville- God’s Grace Reformed Church

Visalia- Abounding Grace Church

Yankee Hill- Calvary Concow

Colorado

Austin- Surface Creek Community Church

Centennial- Southside Bible Church

Colorado Springs-
Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church
Mesa Hills Bible Church

Denver- Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Fort Collins- The Town Church

Golden- Chapel in the Hills

Grand Junction- Heritage Church

Greely- Grace Church

Highlands Ranch- New City Church

Mancos- Summit Lake Community Church

Morrison- Red Rocks Baptist

Parker- Parker Bible Church

Pueblo- Pueblo West Baptist Church

Wheat Ridge- Newland Church

Cape Coral- Grace Baptist Church (Tom Ascol, Pastor)

Chuluota- Cornerstone Baptist Church

Clearwater- Lakeside Community Chapel

Coconut Creek- Emmanuel Baptist Church

Destin- Cornerstone Presbyterian Church

Fernandina Beach- Christ Presbyterian Church

Gainesville- The Chapel of Gainesville

Glen Saint Mary- Glen Baptist Church

Hialeah- Miami Bible Church

Lithia- Crossroads Baptist Church

Jacksonville-
Grace Community Church
Paradise Church
Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
Sovereign Grace Family Church (Keith Foskey, Pastor)

Jupiter-
Beacon Baptist Church
Grace Immanuel Bible Church

Lecanto- Providence Baptist Church

Melbourne- Harbor City Baptist Church

Miami- New Testament Baptist Church

Ocala- Olivet Baptist Church

Orange Park-
Community Bible Church of Orange Park

Orlando-
Lake Nona Presbyterian Church
Liberty Church
Orlando Bible Church

Ormond Beach- Riverbend Community Church

Palm Harbor- Grace Community Church

Panama City- Covenant Presbyterian Church

Pensacola- McIlwain Presbyterian Church

Plant City- Reformation Church

Sanford- Saint Andrew’s Chapel

Sarasota- Bethel Community Church

Seminole- Christ The King Presbyterian Church

St. Augustine- Christ Reformed Community Church

Steinhatchee- Fellowship Baptist Church

Tallahassee-
Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Grace Church of Tallahassee

Tampa-
Christ Central Presbyterian Church
The Church at Tampa
Grace Bible Church / Grace Bible Deaf Church
The Grove Bible Chapel

West Palm Beach- Redeeming Grace Church

Weston- First Baptist Church

Winter Garden- Calvary Baptist Church

Winter Park- Redeemer Bible Fellowship

Georgia

Athens-
Green Acres Baptist Church
North Avenue Church

Atlanta-
Berean Bible Baptist Church
Christ Covenant

Canton-
Canton Bible Church
Cherokee Presbyterian Church

Dacula- Harbins Community Baptist Church

Douglas- Carver Baptist Church

Douglasville-
Arbor Heights Bible Church
Grace Presbyterian Church
Prays Mill Baptist Church

Dublin- Jefferson Street Baptist Church

Duluth- Providence Church

Fayetteville-
Fayetteville First Baptist Church
Heritage Reformed Baptist Church

Lilburn-
Cornerstone Bible Church
Killian Hill Baptist Church

Macon- North Macon Presbyterian Church

Madison- Remembrance Community Church

Marietta- Grace Community Church

Oxford-
Church at Haynes Creek
CrossPointe Church

Palmetto- Ramah Baptist Church

Peachtree Corners- Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church

Powder Springs- Midway Presbyterian Church

Rincon- Centerpoint Community Church

Rockmart- Victory Baptist Church

Sandy Springs- Mount Vernon Baptist Church

Sharpsburg- Faith Bible Church

Smyrna- Smyrna Presbyterian Church

Tucker- Atlanta Reformation Fellowship

Villa Rica- New Georgia Baptist Church

Watkinsville- Treasuring Christ Church

Woodstock- Faith Community Church

Hawaii

Haleiwa-Sunset Beach Christian Church

Honolulu- Hawai’i Kai Church

Kapolei- Makakilo Bible Church

Mililani- Island Grace Church

Idaho

Boise- The Well

Burley- Calvary Baptist Church

Driggs- Teton Valley Bible Church

Kootenai- Kootenai Community Church (Jim Osman, pastor. Justin Peters’ former church.)

Meridian-
Ambassador Bible Fellowship
Compass Bible Church
Faith Community Bible Church
Meridian First Baptist Church

Nampa-
Kindred Bible Church
New Hope Baptist Church

Illinois

Alton- Heartland Baptist Church

Arlington Heights- First Baptist Church

Ashton- Ashton Bible Church

Carlock- East White Oak Bible Church

Chicago- Garfield Ridge Baptist Church

Frankfort- Peace Community Church

Freeport- Park Hills Evangelical Free Church

Joliet- New Covenant Community Church

Lansing- Lansing Bible Church

Mackinaw- New Castle Bible Church

Mahomet- Church of the Cross

Matteson- Hope Reformed Baptist Church

Mattoon- Providence Church

Momence- Momence OPC Presbyterian Church

Mt. Vernon- Second Baptist Church

New Lenox- Cornerstone Church of LincolnWay

Norridge- Maranatha Bible Church

Oak Forest- Grace Fellowship Church

Paxton- The Upper Room Bible Church

Peoria- Bethany Baptist Church

Princeton- Princeton Bible Church

Rockford- Calvary Baptist Church

Sparta- Calvary Church

Springfield- Southern View Chapel

Washington-
Bethany Community Church
First Baptist Church

West Chicago- West Chicago Bible Church

Zion- Lakeview Church

Indiana

Anderson- Grace Bible Fellowship

Avon- Harvest Bible Chapel

Brownsburg- Bible Church of Brownsburg

Evansville- Evansville Bible Church

Fort Wayne- Emmanuel (Soest) Lutheran Church

Greenfield- Hancock Reformed Baptist Church

Indianapolis- Cruciform Bible Church

Lanesville- Harrison Hills Baptist Church

Mishawaka- River Valley Church

Paoli- First Baptist Church

Roselawn- First Baptist Church

Shelbyville- Blue Ridge Christian Union Church

Sheridan- Christ Covenant OPC

Valparaiso- Faith Evangelical Bible Church

Westfield- Cornerstone Bible Church

Iowa

Ankeny- Grace Life Church of Greater Des Moines

Cedar Rapids- Stonebridge Church

Martensdale- Martensdale Community Church

Orange City- Cornerstone Baptist Church

West Des Moines- Redeemer Baptist Church

Kansas

Douglass- Cumberland Bible Church

El Dorado- Vine Community Church

Emporia- Flint Hills Bible Church

Hutchinson- Grace Bible Church

Junction City- First Southern Baptist Church

Kansas City- Mission Road Baptist Church

Liberal- Redeemer Bible Church

McPherson- Cornerstone Bible Church

Meade- Countryside Bible Church

Olathe- New Hope Presbyterian Church

Overland Park- Countryside Church

Wichita-
Cornerstone Bible Church
Heartland Community Church
The Bridge Church

Kentucky

Bowling Green- Grace Community Church

Campbellsville- Friendship Baptist Church

Frankfort- Buck Run Baptist Church

Lexington-
Porter Memorial Baptist Church
Todds Road Grace Church

Louisville- Anchor Bible Church

Mt. Sterling- Living Water Church

Murray- Redeemer Community Church

Louisiana

Baker- Reformation Church

Baton Rouge-
Central Bible Church
Christ Covenant Church
Providence Baptist Church
Trinity Baptist Church
Woodlawn Baptist Church

Denham Springs- Grace Covenant Church

DeRidder- DeRidder Presbyterian Church

Duson- Christ Church

Franklinton- Richardson Baptist Church

Gonzales- First Baptist Church

Keithville- Redeemer Community Church

Livingston- First Baptist Church

Opelousas-
First Baptist Church

Prairieville- River Community Church

Shreveport-
Grace Baptist Church
Trinity Baptist Church

Maine

Ellsworth- Faith Community Fellowship

Hancock- Hancock Eastside Baptist Church

Limington- East Limington Baptist Church

Portland- Redeeming Grace Fellowship

Standish- Living Stone Community Church

Topsham- Cornerstone Baptist Church

Windham- Windham Baptist Church

Maryland

Baltimore- Baltimore Bible Church

Bowie- Belcroft Bible Church

Columbia- Hope Bible Church

Hollywood- Truth Bible Church

Millersville- Anchor Baptist Church

Oakland- Grace Reformed Church

Massachusetts

Burlington- Church of the Open Bible

Chelmsford- The Shepherd’s Church

West Boylston- Bethlehem Bible Church

Westport- Calvary Bible Church

Weymouth- First Baptist Church

Michigan

Ann Arbor- Fellowship Bible Church

Battle Creek- Faith Baptist Church

Calcedonia Township-Whitneyville Bible Church

Comstock Park- Maranatha Bible Church

Dansville- Dansville Baptist Church

Dearborn- Warrendale Community Church

East Lansing- University Reformed Church

Eaton Rapids- First Baptist Church

Farmington Hills- Oakland Hills Community Church

Grand Rapids-
Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church
Trinity Baptist Church

Hamburg- Hiawatha Bible Church

Hudsonville-
Grace Community Church
Trinity Protestant Reformed Church

Livonia-
Bell Creek Community Church
Berean Baptist Church

Mt. Morris- Mt. Morris Community Church

Niles- Redeemer Church

Plymouth- Solid Rock Bible Church

Rochester- First Baptist Church

Roseville- Cornerstone Baptist Church

Southfield- Highland Park Baptist

Three Rivers- Verse by Verse Church

Trenton- Community Bible Church

Waterford-
Grace Baptist Church
Oakbrooke Bible Church
Redeemer Church

Westland- Harvest Bible Church

Ypsilanti- Calvary Baptist Church

Minnesota

Akeley- White Oak Bible Church

Burnsville- Berean Baptist Church

Crosby- Lifespring Church

Oslo- Kongsvinger Lutheran Church

Plymouth- Anchor Bible Church

Rochester-
Calvary Baptist Church
Northbridge Church

Saint Paul-
Beacon of Hope
Faith Bible Church Twin Cities

St. Louis Park- Gospel of Grace Fellowship

Mississippi

Brandon- Grace Baptist Church at Castlewoods

Gulfport- Bayou View Baptist Church

Hernando- Oak Grove Baptist Church

Jackson- Grace Community Church

Lakeshore- Lakeshore Baptist Church

Meridian- Northpointe Presbyterian Church

Olive Branch- Grace Bible Church

Summit- Berean Community Church

Missouri

Branson- Branson Bible Church

Branson West- Reformed Bible Church

Jackson- Grace Baptist Church

Kansas City- Faith Community Church

Lee’s Summit- Summit Woods Baptist Church

Liberty- Liberty Baptist Church

Nixa- First Baptist Church

Rogersville- The Summit Church

Rolla- Grace Bible Church

Sedalia- Bethany Baptist Church

Springfield-
South Creek Church

St. Louis-
Christ Fellowship Bible Church
Forest Park Bible Church
South County Bible Church

Wildwood- New Community Church

Montana

Billings-
Cornerstone Community Church
Valley Bible Church

Bozeman- Grace Bible Church

Ekalaka- Ekalaka Bible Church

Frenchtown- Frenchtown Community Church

Great Falls- Emmanuel Bible Church

Helena-
Calvary Baptist Church
Reformed Baptist Church

Kalispell- Central Bible Church

Lewistown- First Baptist Church

Missoula- Sovereign Hope Church

Nebraska

Gretna- Providence Bible Church

Henderson- Crossroads Bible Fellowship

Lincoln-
Heartland Bible Church
Indian Hills Community Church

Omaha- Omaha Bible Church

Papillion- Grace Baptist Church

Nevada

Carson City- Fellowship Bible Church

Las Vegas- Trinity Reformed Church

Minden- Grace Community Church

Reno- Community Bible Church

New Hampshire

Gilmanton Iron Works- Harvest Bible Church

New Jersey

Corbin City- Corbin City Baptist Church

East Millstone- Calvary Community

Hamilton Square- Faith Baptist Church

Matawan- First Baptist Church

North Brunswick- Christian Fellowship Church

Ocean City- Ocean City Baptist Church

Trenton- Fellowship Capital City

Wayne- Bread of Life Fellowship

New Mexico

Albuquerque-
Desert Springs Church
Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
–SGBC also maintains a directory of like-minded churches throughout NM.

Roswell- First Baptist Church

Santa Fe- Gospel Life Community Church

New York

Coram- Hope Reformed Baptist Church

Dansville- Grace Baptist Church

Elmira- Elmira Christian Center

New York City- Providence Baptist Church

Rhinebeck- Grace Bible Fellowship

Ridge- Missio Church

Salt Point- Netherwood Baptist Church

Woodside- Woodside Community Church

North Carolina

Clayton- Southside Church

Charlotte-
Fairbluff Bible Chapel (Per the recommender: Most of the women practice head covering.)
Prosperity Presbyterian Church
Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church

Creedmoor- Promised Land Community Church

Concord- Southside Baptist Church

Fayetteville-
Church of the Open Door
Veritas Church

Fuquay Varina- Redeemer Community Church

Greensboro-
Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Westover Church

Harrisburg- Grace Church

Indian Trail- Grace Fellowship Church

Jacksonville- Pillar Church

Matthews- Christ Covenant Church (Kevin DeYoung, pastor)

Mills River- Calvary Fellowship

New Bern- Berean Community Church

North Wilkesboro- Word of Grace Baptist Church

Pittsboro- Grace Hill Church

Raleigh-
Capital Community Church
Friendship Baptist Church

Selma- Thanksgiving Baptist Church

Waxhaw- Rehobeth Presbyterian Church

Wilmington- Eastwood Community Church

Winston-Salem-
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Tapestry Church
Twin City Bible Church

North Dakota

Fargo- Community Baptist Church

Minot-
Christ Reformed Church
Harvest Reformed Church

Ohio

Ashland- Little Flock Fellowship Church

Beavercreek- Grace Covenant Church

Beloit- The Community Bible Church

Canton- Faith Bible Church

Chillicothe- Chillicothe Baptist Church

Cincinnati-
Faith Bible Church
Truth Community Church (Don Green, pastor)

Columbus-
Calvary Bible Church
Maranatha Baptist Church

Coshocton- Calvary Baptist Church

Englewood- Englewood Church of Grace and Truth

Greenwich- The Ripley Church

Harrison- NewSong Church

Liberty Township- Liberty Heights Church

Loveland- New Hope Baptist Church

Middletown- University Baptist Church

Mt. Orab- First Baptist Church

North Ridgeville- Cornerstone Bible Fellowship

Olmstead Falls- Olmstead Falls Bible Church

Ontario- Westwood Alliance Church

Parma- Cornerstone Church

Peoria-
Bethany Baptist Church
Fellowship Bible Church

Sandusky- Firelands Grace, OPC

Sylvania- Bethany Community Fellowship

West Liberty- Grace Chapel

Wilmington- Wilmington Reformed Fellowship

Winchester- Grace Bible Church

Xenia- Cornerstone Bible Church

Oklahoma

Ada- Sovereign Grace Bible Church

Broken Arrow-
Arrow Heights Baptist Church
Grace Community Church (Susan Heck’s church)

Chattanooga- First Baptist Church

Harrah- Fellowship Bible Church

Jenks- Jenks Bible Church

Mustang- First Baptist Church

Oklahoma City- Mission Bible Church

Owasso- Bible Church of Owasso

Tulsa-
Christ Reformed Church
Grace Bible Church
Grace Community Church

Oregon

Albany/Tangent- Grace Bible Fellowship

Beaverton-
Beaverton Grace Bible Church
Southwest Bible Church
Southwest Hills Baptist Church

Bend- Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church

Enterprise- First Baptist Church

Hermiston- Victory Baptist Church

Hood River- Faith Bible Church

Klamath Falls- Immanuel Baptist Church

Lebanon- Cornerstone Bible Church

Medford- Redeemer Bible Fellowship

Mt. Angel- Mount Angel Bible Church

Oswego- Lake Bible Church

Portland-
Bethany Baptist Church
Hinson Baptist Church
Sauvie Island Community Church

Salem- Sunnyslope Christian Reformed Church

Tangent- Grace Bible Fellowship

Pennsylvania

Ambler- Cornerstone Presbyterian Church

Annville- GraceLife Church

Brogue- Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Carnegie- Bible Baptist Church

Chicora– St. John’s Reformed Church

Clearfield- First Baptist Church

Downington- East Brandywine Baptist Church

Harrisburg- Grace Bible Fellowship Church

Harrison City- New Life Presbyterian Church

Larksville- High Point Baptist Church

Lebanon- Lebanon Bible Fellowship Church

Mohnton- CrossWay Church

Telford- Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia

Transfer- Lakeside Evangelical Congregational Church

Uwchland- Windsor Baptist Church

Wrightsville- Calvary Bible Church

Rhode Island

Bristol- Mount Hope Church

North Providence- Grace Community Baptist Church

South Carolina

Beaufort- Community Bible Church

Charleston- Grace on the Ashley Baptist Church

(West) Columbia- Covenant Baptist Church

Greenville- Faith Free Presbyterian Church

John’s Island- New Life Fellowship

Lexington- Grace Bible Church

Mount Pleasant- Christ Church Presbyterian

Myrtle Beach- Calvary Bible Church

Rock Hill- Grace Covenant Church

Simpsonville-
Temple Baptist Church
Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church

Spartanburg- Trinity Presbyterian Church

South Dakota

Canton- Solid Rock Bible Church

Chamberlain- St. Olaf Lutheran Church

Hartford- Central Valley Community Church

Sioux Falls- First Evangelical Free Church

Spearfish- Faith Bible Church

Tennessee

Arlington- Macon Road Baptist Church

Athens- North Athens Baptist Church

Bartlett- Redemption Community Church

Brentwood- Stonebridge Bible Church

Bristol- Liberty Baptist Church

Chapel Hill- Smyrna Baptist Church

Clarksville- Pathway Presbyterian Church

Cookeville- Midway Baptist Church

Eads- Crossroads Baptist Church

Greeneville- Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church

Jackson- Pleasant Plains Baptist Church

Jefferson City- Mill Springs Baptist Church

Joelton- Calvary Bible Church

Johnson City-
Grace Gospel Church
North Johnson City Baptist Church

Kingsport- Bridwell Heights Presbyterian Church

Knoxville-
His People Church
Hope Church

Lawrenceburg- New Prospect Baptist Church

Lebanon- The Journey Church

Lookout Mountain- Christ Reformed Baptist Church

Loretto- Liberty Grove Baptist Church

Maryville- Grace Community Church

Murfreesboro- Trinity Presbyterian Church

Munford- Cornerstone Community Church

Oakland- Sovereign Grace Church

Powell- First Baptist Church

Sevierville- Smoky Mountain Bible Church

Smyrna- Grace Christian Assembly

Spring Hill- Community Baptist Church

Texas

Argyle- Northlake Bible Church

Austin-
Dayspring Fellowship
High Pointe Baptist Church
South Austin Presbyterian Church

Belton-
Grace Reformed Church
Tapestry Community Church

Boerne-
Christ Church
Grace Bible Church

Bryan-
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Redeemer Baptist Church

Clifton- Zion United Church at Womack

College Station- New Life Baptist Church

Copperas Cove- Watershed Church

Corpus Christi- Corpus Christi Community Church

Cypress- Harvest Bible Church

Dallas-
Believers Chapel
Trinity Bible Church

Denton-
Denton Bible Church
The Church at Pecan Creek

Diana- First Baptist Church

Duncanville- Faith Baptist Church

Elgin- Grace Community Baptist Church

Forney- Grace Reformed Baptist Church of East Texas

Fort Worth-
Christ Fellowship Bible Church
Glenview Church

Frisco-
Heritage Grace Church

Georgetown- Grace Community Fellowship

Harlingen- Covenant Presbyterian Church

Houston-
Bridgepoint Bible Church
Christ Community Church
Copperfield Bible Church
Faith Memorial Baptist Church
First Lutheran Church
Grace Family Baptist Church
Harvest Bible Chapel

Katy- Cornerstone Bible Church

Keller- First Baptist Church

Kerrville- Kerrville Bible Church

Killeen- Killeen Bible Church

Lindale- First Baptist Church (Tom Buck, pastor)

Longview- Faith Baptist Church

Lubbock-
Fellowship Church
First Baptist Church Roosevelt

Lufkin-
Believers Bible Church
Keltys First Baptist Church

Mansfield- Heritage Baptist Church

Marble Falls- Providence Reformed Baptist Church

Mauriceville- First Baptist Church

Mesquite- Lake Ridge Bible Church

Nederland- Hillcrest Baptist Church

New Braunfels- First Baptist Church

Orange- Grace Point at Eagle Heights Church

Palestine- Westwood Baptist Church

Pasadena- Providence Baptist Church

Pflugerville- Providence Presbyterian Church

Plano- Cornerstone Church

Richland Hills- Reformed Baptist Church of Fort Worth

San Angelo- College Hills Baptist Church

San Antonio-
Believers Fellowship
Crossway Bible Church
Grace Community Church

Southlake- Countryside Bible Church (Tom Pennington, pastor. Master’s Seminary extension center on campus.)

Spring- Founders Baptist Church

Stephenville-
Rocky Point Baptist
Shiloh Church

Sugar Land- Sugar Land Bible Church

Tyler- New Harmony Baptist Church

Van- Grace Baptist Church

Watauga- 116 Bible Church

Weatherford- Weatherford Presbyterian Church

Willis- Grace Covenant Baptist Church

Wylie- Cornerstone Baptist Church

Utah

Draper- Corner Canyon Church

Ogden- Refuge Church

Roy- Roy Bible Church

Salt Lake City-
Christ Presbyterian Church
Evangelical Free Church of Salt Lake City

St. George- Desert Ridge Baptist Church

West Jordan- Jordan Valley Church

Vermont

Middletown Springs- Middletown Springs Community Church

Rutland-
Green Mountain Baptist Church
Redemption Church Rutland

Virginia

Blacksburg- King’s Reformed Baptist Church

Broadway- Broadway Baptist Church

Chesapeake-
Grace Community Church
Redemption Church
South Norfolk Congregational Christian Church

Christiansburg- Christ Church

Culpeper- Providence Bible Church

Fredericksburg-
Christ Fellowship Bible Church
Trinity Bible Church

Harrisonburg- Providence Baptist Church

Haymarket- Piedmont Bible Church

Lynchburg-
Grace Assembly
Redeeming Grace Baptist Church
Timberlake Baptist Church

Midlothia- Grace Bible Church

Newport News- Reformation Christian Fellowship

Norfolk- Trinity Presbyterian

Prospect- High Bridge Presbyterian Church

Purcellville- Loudoun Valley Baptist Church

Radford- Christ Church (Anthony Mathenia, pastor; Paul Washer’s church)

Springfield- Immanuel Bible Church

Stafford- Pillar Church

Sterling- Cascades Bible Church

Suffolk- Westminster Reformed Presbyterian

Virginia Beach-
Colonial Baptist Church
Grace Covenant Church
Green Run Baptist Church

Warrington- Covenant Reformed Baptist Church

White Stone- Crossroads Church

Williamsburg- Grace Church

Winchester- Blue Ridge Grace Brethren Church

Woodbridge- Occoquan Bible Church

Washington

Battle Ground- Cornerstone Baptist Church

Bremerton-
Calvary Baptist Church
Faith Community Bible Church

Carnation- Snoqualmie Valley Bible Church

Federal Way- Christ’s Church

Kent- Eastridge Baptist Church

Keyport- Keyport Bible Church

Lake Stevens- Cornerstone Bible Church

Lynnwood- New Beginnings Church

Monroe- Grace Reformed Baptist Church

Morton- Morton Community Bible Church

Olympia- Littlerock Community Fellowship

Port Orchard- Calvary Church

Puyallup- Edgewood Bible Church

Spokane- Faith Bible Church

Spokane Valley- Dishman Baptist Church

Stanwood- Emmaus Road Church

Veradale- Valley Bible Church

Washougal- Bethel Community Church

Woodland- Woodland Christian Church

Yakima- Sun Valley Church

Washington D.C.

West Virginia

Bluefield- Covenant Reformed Baptist Church

Wellsburg- First Baptist Church

Wisconsin

Franklin- Cornerstone Bible Church

Nashotah- Lake Country Bible Church

Pound- First Baptist Church

Reedsburg- Five Solas Church

Richland Center- Grace Life Church of Richland Center

Sheboygan- Immanuel Bible Church

West Bend- First Baptist Church

Wisconsin Rapids- Liberty Bible Church

Wyoming

Casper- Sovereign Grace Church

Cody- Redeeming Grace Church

Jackson Hole- Cornerstone Church

Laramie- Laramie Faith Community Church

Pinedale- Grace Life Church

Powell- Trinity Bible Church

Thayne- Emmanuel Bible Church of Star Valley

Worland- Sovereign Grace Bible Church

Outside The United States

(If I have incorrectly listed the name or location of your city, municipality, district, county, region, etc., please let me know. I’ve done my best, but I’m not familiar with the geographical parameters of many countries outside the U.S.)

Some of the churches below may belong to networks or denominations with churches in other cities / areas which are not listed below. I have not vetted the theology of any denominational or church network not specifically listed below, but looking up the websites of those denominations / networks and vetting their theology yourself (see “What to look for in a church” here) may help you find a church in a location that’s not listed below.

Africa

Sola 5 Member Churches– Churches in various locations across Africa

Kenya

Nairobi– Emmanuel Baptist Church

Asia

Hong Kong

Admiralty- Ambassador International Church

Japan

Central Baptist Church

Kuwait

Bible Believers’ Baptist Church (contact church for specific location)

Malaysia

Penang- Covenant Grace Church

Philippines

REBAP LUZON (Reformed Baptist churches in the Philippines- see pinned post)

Paranaque City, Moonwalk- Moonwalk Community Bible Church

Pasig City- Greenhills Christian Fellowship

Quezon City-
Cubao Reformed Baptist Church
Redeemed by Grace Baptist Church

Other Areas- Churches recommended by Cubao RBC (above)

Singapore

First Evangelical Reformed Church

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Dubai-
Covenant Hope Church
Redeemer Church
United Christian Church

Australia

Australian Church Directories

Australian Fellowship of Bible-Believing Churches

Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches

Free Reformed Churches of Australia

Keysborough:
Dingley- Village Church

Melbourne-
Altona Evangelical Church
Mitchell Christian Fellowship

South Australia:
Modbury/Clovercrest- New Community Church

Europe

Germany

Heidelberg- Selbständigen evangelisch-reformierten Kirche (Free Evangelical Reformed Church)

Munich- Munich International Community Church (English speaking, international church)

Ireland

Carrigaline- Carrigaline Baptist Church

Dublin- Grosvenor Road Baptist Church

Italy

Chiese Presbiteriane e Riformate in Italia (Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Italy)

Milan- La Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia (Philadelphia Reformed Church)

Norway

Stavanger- First Presbyterian Church of Norway

Switzerland

Zurich- Der Presbyterianischen Gemeinde in Zürich (Zurich Presbyterian Church)

United Kingdom

FIEC- Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. Nearly 600 member churches in the UK. Includes church search engine.

London-
Enfield Town Community Church
Gracelife London

North Yorkshire:
Blossomgate/Ripon- Zion Evangelical Baptist Church

Oxfordshire:
East Hanney- Hanney Chapel
Oxford– Oxford Presbyterian Church

Staffordshire- Grace Church Stafford

Suffolk- Wattisham Chapel

North America

Canada

Alberta:
Calgary-
Calvary Grace Church
Fairview Baptist Church

Edmonton-
Grace Life Church
Meadowlands Baptist Church

Lethbridge-
Grace Reformed Church
Lakeview Bible Church

Medicine Hat-
Evangelical Free Church of Medicine Hat
Grace Family Reformed Baptist Church

Red Deer- Redemption Red Deer

British Columbia:
Abbotsford- Prairie Chapel
Armstrong (North Okanagan)- Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Coldstream- Lavington Church
Mission- Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
North Vancouver- Westlynn Baptist Church

Manitoba:
Altona- Grace Covenant Church
Brandon- Faith Fellowship Baptist Church
Morden- Redeeming Grace Bible Church

Nova Scotia:
Upper Canard- Kentville Christian Reformed Church

Ontario:
Cambridge- Hespeler Baptist Church
Killaloe– Calvary Baptist Church
Quinte/Madoc- Madoc Baptist Church
Toronto- Grace Fellowship Church
Walsh- Walsh Baptist Church
Waterloo- Trinity Bible Chapel

Saskatchewan:
Saskatoon- Fellowship Baptist Church
Weyburn- Gospel of Grace Fellowship

Canadian & American Reformed Churches

Mexico

Baja California:

Mexicali- Gracia y Paz Iglesia Cristiana

South America

Argentina

Buenos Aires

Lobos- Iglesia en Lobos

Colombia

Bogota- Comunidad de Gracia

Cali- Iglesia Bíblica Cristiana de Cali

Mailbag

The Mailbag: Mailbag Turnabout- Readers Answer Fellow Readers’ Questions

May 8, 2017June 8, 2019 Michelle Lesley

Last Friday, I wrote an article about the blessings of social media for Christians. One of those blessings is thinktanking:

There are a lot of godly people out there who have read a lot of books, listened to a lot of teachers, know a lot of Scripture, and been through a lot of experiences. Harness their knowledge and share your own.

And I thought- what better way to demonstrate and make use of thinktanking than to enlist the help of my blog and social media readers to answer the questions of fellow readers that have me stumped or that I’m unable to research at the moment?

So today, I’m sharing a few of those questions and asking my readers to help answer them in the comments section. (I’ll chime in a little, but I’ll mostly be relying on your answers.)

To the “Askers”
Please keep in mind that I have readers from all sorts of doctrinal schools of thought, and varied levels of discernment and spiritual maturity, who may be answering your questions. While I’ll do my best to weed out any false doctrine/false teachers before posting their answers, you must do the work of comparing everything to Scripture before believing it or using it as a biblically trustworthy resource.

To the “Answerers”
To answer a question, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and answer in the comment box. If you’re new to the blog or have never read the comment parameters in the Welcome tab, please do so before answering. Answers violating these parameters will not be published. Please make clear which question you’re answering. Helpful hint- more people will read your answer if you keep it fairly brief. Links to useful, biblical resources are encouraged. Your answer might be edited for length or doctrine.

All set? Here we go!

1. Do you know of any doctrinally sound resources for visually impaired people?

As far as books, descriptive videos, etc., I just don’t know. I can tell you that Bible Gateway has a page of audio resources, including audio Bibles (click the drop down- I’d recommend ESV, NASB, HCSB/CSB, or NKJV. You’ll want to avoid NIV and MSG.) and devotionals (listen discerningly, some of these may not be doctrinally sound).

Any readers out there familiar with biblical resources for our visually impaired friends?

2. Can you recommend any doctrinally sound “Christian living” (relationships, modesty, stewardship, suffering, etc.) books or materials specifically geared toward college-aged (late teens-early 20s) young adults?

Though I have no doubt they’re out there, I’m not familiar with any of the books/materials specifically written for this age group.

Which young adult books or materials would you recommend?

3. Do you know of any doctrinally sound books or resources in Russian or Latvian?

Bible Gateway has Bible translations in a variety of languages including Russian, but I cannot speak to how accurate any of them are. I know that prolific, doctrinally sound authors like John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul have had their books translated into many languages, so I would suggest checking the Grace to You and Ligonier online stores or possibly e-mailing them for more information. Beyond that, I have no idea.

Anybody experienced in Russian/Latvian or know a missionary in that area who could make a good recommendation?

4. Can you recommend a doctrinally sound church in any of the following areas:

Harrisonburg, Virginia
Wichita, Kansas
The United Kingdom (this reader is also looking for “any faithful teachers, bloggers, charities, businesses in the UK.”)

Each of these readers has already been directed to the Searching for a new church? tab at the top of this page. It contains several good church search engines (including churches pastored by Master’s Seminary grads). This is a request for recommendations of churches, ministries, etc., you’re personally familiar with.

5. “I home school, and we participate in Classical Conversations. I’ve noticed some problems with my CC group: unruly children/lack of discipline, and some concerning unbiblical beliefs and practices. Are these problems that are common in other CC groups?”

I home school, and, while I have friends who participate in CC, we don’t, and I’m not very familiar with it. My guess is that there are going to be similar problems in any home school group (or, for that matter, any group that involves parents and children).

Home schooling readers- any input here?

If you have a question about: a Bible passage, an aspect of theology, a current issue in Christianity, or how to biblically handle a family, life, or church situation, comment below (I’ll hold all questions in queue {unpublished} for a future edition of The Mailbag) or send me an e-mail or private message. If your question is chosen for publication, your anonymity will be protected.

Discernment, False Doctrine, Guest Posts

Guest Post: A Reader’s Review of Wellspring Group

May 2, 2017May 13, 2019 Michelle Lesley

If your theology pretty much matches up with mine (as outlined in the “Welcome” and “Statement of Faith” tabs) and you’d like to contribute a guest post, drop me an e-mail at MichelleLesley1@yahoo.com,
and let’s chat about it.

Yesterday, I published a new discernment article which included Wellspring Group. I did not find enough information online to be able to make a recommendation on whether or not this ministry is doctrinally sound. I subsequently heard from a reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) who has had some personal experience with this organization and agreed to share her thoughts. Though I have no reason to doubt her word, neither can I vouch for her as I do not know her personally. This information is provided for your consideration, and to give you some things to watch for, should your church decide to take part in this program.

Objections to the Wellspring Process and Theology

Questionable interpretation of Scripture to fit the Wellspring model and process.

Proverbs 4:23 is the key verse for the Wellspring process of living wholeheartedly. The NIV translation is used, which says “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” The whole Wellspring “process” focuses on needing to understand our heart, that God is found in the deepest desires of our heart. This concept is not found anywhere in Scripture.

The Bible doesn’t describe God as being at the depth of our desires (in fact Jeremiah (17:9) said the heart is wicked and deceitful above all things, and beyond cure, and who can understand it?)

We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Luke 10:27), which indicates our whole being, not four different levels of our heart.

The NASB reads, “Watch over your hearts with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” When reading over Proverbs 4 in context we see that wisdom is the focus, not the desires of our heart. Wisdom is the thing we need to guard because from wisdom comes [abundant] life.

Verse 23 has to be pulled out of context to fit the Wellspring concept. The heart becomes the focus (and then an entire “process” is built from that assumption) when wisdom is real the focus of the passage. The Bible indicates that wisdom is what will provide the abundant life for us, not a deep and exhaustive understanding of our heart and its desires.

The manual says, “Follow your desires deep enough and you will find God and the image of God in you.” Where is this found in Scripture?

Hebrews 12:1 describes the “cloud of witnesses” and is understood by participants as people who have died who are watching us, as well as our “domain” – the community of people we are in contact with in our life. Biblically, the cloud of witnesses is not a group of people in Heaven watching us, they are believers who have passed on who witnessed the truths of Scripture and Jesus. Hebrews 11:39-40 describes who these people are. (How this plays out in the Wellspring process is described below under the Fellowship concept.

The cloud of witnesses is the group of people listed in Hebrews 11, “the great Hall of Faith”. The author of Hebrews ends chapter 11 with his main point for listing them, “they gained approval through their faith and didn’t receive what was promised because God provided something better.”

Chapter 12 begins with “Therefore”, i.e. because God provided something better than fulfilling the promises He made to these people during their lifetime, we “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race set before us.”

The point of 12:1 is not that the cloud of witnesses will protect us and whisper to us and propel us into God’s story. The manual includes, “Praying the Four Realities” citing, “I see the Communion of Saints surrounding me and cheering me on to persevere all the way to the final Consummation.” Biblically they are not a group of people cheering us on, their lives left us a legacy to be followed.

The “Fellowship” concept.

The Fellowship is described as consisting of the Trinity, the Body of Christ, the Word of God in Scripture and the Communion of Saints (the cloud of witnesses). A circular drawing in the manual indicates that all four parts of the Fellowship are equal. Supposedly this “Fellowship desires to protect you.”

The communion of saints, whether defined as Wellspring does or as the Bible does, ARE NOT equal with the Trinity.

The Battle for Your Heart manual describes this Fellowship as one entity, having characteristics of personality:

“The Fellowship is pursuing you.”

It is suggested that we interact with this “entity”, “Above all else, do whatever it takes to cooperate with the Fellowship that desires to protect you.”

This entity supposedly motivates us, “The Fellowship not only desires to protect you but also to propel you into your part of the Story as an intimate ally.”

This entity supposedly talks to us – members are asked after viewing a clip from the movie Bagger Vance, “What do you hear the Fellowship whispering to you through this scene?” Later in the manual the same question is asked after viewing a clip from Good will Hunting. (If by “whisper” they merely means “teach” then why doesn’t he use the word teach? Why make it creepy?)

The Fellowship supposedly “walks with us” – on the website under a description of the Women’s program it says this, “It’s a rigorous, demanding experience that opens up your whole hearts, gives you clear path to change and connects you to The Fellowship that will walk with you into your part of God’s Larger Story.”

Participants are told that The Fellowship through God’s voice will give you a new name – this is a misconstruing of Revelation 2:17. Jesus will give us a new name after He returns. This indicates that we can receive personal revelation from Jesus, which is not Scriptural.

The manual states “The only way you can win that Battle (for your heart) and live in your part of the Story that is yours and yours alone is through intimately engaging with the Fellowship that desires to protect you and propel you into that Story.”

Again, this is not Scriptural. That statement follows this one, “only through your heart can you discover and live in your part of God’s Story.” Wellspring has missed the emphasis of the Bible – that we are to understand God by studying Scripture (not our heart) and then to think and behave by following Jesus’ example and the illustrations presented by the lives of people who did what pleased God.

Exclusivity – which is bound to cause division among people, between the Wellspringers and the nonWellspringers who don’t understand the lingo and are not “living out of their whole heart”.

They indicate that the deeper life is only found through Wellspring. The creator of Wellspringclaims that rarely do people learn to live out of their “whole heart” without the Wellspring process. This quote is found on the website under the Process for Women, “There is something in the life of every woman that fuels her deepest desires – for relationship, for value, for connecting with her destiny. The Bible calls this hidden source of life a wellspring. Few find it. But for those who do, a world of change is possible. The Battle for the Heart process helps you discover this wellspring in your own life.”

Wellspring alone. People are encouraged not to do any other small groups besides Wellspring – on the website under FAQs there is a question, “Can I participate in this process and another small group at the same time?” The answer says that’s up to them but “many find that they need to back off of another group for a year in order to fully engage in the Battle for the Heart process.” So does that mean no other Bible study is needed? That should send up warning flags. It has been observed that many of the participants drop out of Bible studies in order devote all their time to studying the Wellspring concepts, which is NOT a Bible study.

Wellspring has the secret. (Very gnostic) The manual states that “unless you understand the context of this Story (God’s Larger Story) and where you are in it, you will be confused, disoriented, effectively taken out of the battle.” The booklet doesn’t describe what this Larger Story is, so obviously you have to attend the retreat to gain this information if you don’t want to be confused, disoriented, etc. The Larger Story is described in the workbook as something you can only find by living “wholeheartedly” out of the four levels of your heart. And unless you learn the Wellspring process you won’t be able to do that.

The manual states, “We can only be fully human as we experience the redemptive love of Christ at all four levels of our hearts and then express that love from all four levels of our hearts.” Unless you take the WS courses you won’t know what the four levels are because they are not taught in the Bible.

Completely new vocabulary. This can cause two groups at church – those who understand the vocabulary and those who do not. Throughout the entire booklet there is new vocabulary that no one will understand unless they go to the retreat. There isn’t enough information in the booklet to define this vocabulary and it is used very differently from biblical language.

God’s Larger Story. What is larger than the story of redemption through Jesus and learning to live according to His commands and by His example? You have to attend the retreat to find out what this larger story is and how you fit into it.

Implication that a church is insufficient without the inculcation Wellspring process.

People are encouraged on the website to get their churches involved as partners with Wellspring after they attend all four retreats.

Under the FAQs the question is asked, “Why consider the Battle for the Heart Community Process?” The answer shows the reader their absolute need for this process (that can’t be found anywhere else but Wellspring), “When leaders are not living from their whole hearts (defined biblically as their thoughts feelings, desires and choices), their lives suffer, their relationships suffer, and their service in the body of Christ is hindered.” Then several examples are listed of what this looks like:

“People will talk about the love of God, but don’t experience that love in a way that results in significant, sustained change.”

“Achieve objectives, but often with significant collateral relational damage.”

“Unconsciously seek approval from God through performance instead of
performance flowing out of love for God and being loved by God.”

“Live in marriages where they are committed to their spouses, but there is little true intimacy, and they become “roommates on the way to heaven.”

“Become unable to effectively experience and express their own emotions and desires or effectively experience the desires and emotions of those they love the most.”

While some of those statements may be true in some people’s lives, Wellspring is not the only place to find healing in these areas, yet the website indicates that “few find it” aside from learning and following the Wellspring concepts. The Word of God is what changes us, “For the Word of God is living and active…” Hebrews 4:12a ESV.

Implied insufficiency of Scripture.

Film clips are used during the courses to illustrate the four levels of the heart and the elevator model of the heart. The manual states, “To assist you in getting in touch with all four levels of your heart we will ask questions after film clips and in your team meetings designed to help you go down the elevator.”

This is a huge red flag – The films they show clips of are made by Hollywood and rarely based on Scriptural principles. While they can have good illustrations about life, they should not be substituted for the Word of God when we are trying to grow closer to God.

The manual states that connecting on all four levels is really only possible with other Wellspring attendants, as implied in the manual, “Knowing your own heart at all four levels is the foundation for effectively connecting with others at all four levels of their heart.”

Again, this is secret knowledge that only those that attend Wellspring will gain, implying that the Bible alone is not sufficient for learning how to effectively connect with others.

The Bible is not the only source of Wellspring ideas, the manual states that “The Battle for the Heart draws upon ancient spiritual disciplines, such as reflective reading of Scripture, contemplative prayer and the power of intimate fellowship, and places them in an organic structure.”

The website at one time recommended reading books by John Eldridge’s and David Benner, who are both followers of “mystic” Christianity.

Overall, the Wellspring program encourages an unhealthy focus on self. Supposedly we find God from intense introspection, understanding an unbliblical concept of our heart and its four levels, searching within our deepest desires and through watching movie clips to gain insight. All of that is NOT what Scripture teaches.

Discernment

And Rebuke Those Who Contradict It

April 25, 2017April 24, 2017 Michelle Lesley

“We have to be clued into the popular false teachers and know why we disagree with them,” says Pastor Casey Lewis in his excellent article, How Do We Lovingly Guide Church Members Away From False Teaching?

And, indeed, we do, pastors as well as as those of us in the pew. People ask me all the time why pastors don’t warn their church members about false teachers. This is why. Most of the time, they simply aren’t clued in. Pastors are extremely busy and stressed by their duties at church. They often don’t have time to research false teachers and the latest fads in false doctrine.

Your pastor might find Pastor Lewis’ article helpful, and there are a few things you as a church member can do to “hold his arm up” in this area:

1. Make sure your church isn’t placing so many demands on your pastor that he doesn’t have time to both preach sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9).

2. If you’re a faithful, trustworthy member of your church, offer to be a “research assistant” for your pastor. Let him know that if he ever needs somebody to vet an author or speaker you’ll be glad to do the legwork and report back to him so he can make informed decisions.

3. Pray regularly for discernment for your pastor and others in leadership at your church. Discernment is a gift only the Lord can bestow upon a person.

The pastorate can be a very demanding job. Love your pastor by doing what you can to help him.

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