Attending church services is very central to the Christian life and experience. There are even those who are assumed to be Christians simply because they go to church. Finding out which are the best churches in Ghana to attend, though – is that even remotely possible?
First, some background.
Why do we go to church?
Going to church, prayer meetings, Bible study group meetings and all other kinds of church services is a given for any serious Christian. The primary reason is that the Bible teaches and advocates it.
Looking at the Scriptures you find several reasons why a Christian must go to church. Here’s a brief look at a few of them.
1. Jesus went to church Himself, and so should you
The Lord Jesus Christ is our example as Christians, and everything He did, was for us to know what to do.
In Luke 4:16 we are told the following:
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.
Luke 4:16, NASB
In His day, the synagogue was the place of public worship. And being raised as a Jew, He was required to go there. For the Christian today, that’s the church.
But beyond that, this Scripture shows He took personal interest in going; it was His custom, an example that as Christians, we are to emulate.
2. The early church met regularly from the beginning
The Bible shows the pattern of Christians meeting together often.
We see this pattern established right from the beginning of the church age, after the ascension of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that day of Pentecost.
The Bible says this in the Book of Acts:
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.Acts 2:42 – 46, NLT
This pattern is also an instruction to later generations concerning the mind of God about Christian people gathering together.
3. The Bible specifically encourages Christians to gather together often
Finally, there is a specific instruction in the Bible concerning the habit of meeting together regularly.
We are told this in the Book of Hebrews:
Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25, NASB
Watch out for a more exhaustive list to be published soon.
The question though, is “What makes a great church?”. And is there a standard by which you can tell which are best ones to commit to?
In many ways, the church you attend has a great bearing on your life and purpose as a believer.
Who you meet, how you serve God and how much of God’s purpose for your life you will discover, understand and effectively walk in, all hinge on associating with the right kind of spiritual company.
So, Which Are The Best Churches In Ghana?
It is important to explain that we cannot just single out a few churches and recommend them as the best churches in Ghana, or anywhere else.
Well, some could try but there would always be a problem with that list. Plus there are simply too many churches to do that.
Aside the orthodox churches, which are fairly fewer, there are thousands of charismatic churches that one simply cannot cover them all.
What this is, then, is not a list of select churches, but a carefully constructed checklist of the most vital elements of a good church, so you can take this list, apply it to any options you may consider, and make your mind up.
What makes a great church?
If you’re looking to join a church that will improve your life and help you to the utmost, look out for the following:
1. A great church is committed to preaching and teaching the complete, unadulterated Word of God
This is most critical to being a great church. The Word of God must be taught in all truth, honesty and clarity.
Teaching God’s Word is the surest way to build up believers on a sound, biblical foundation. Click To TweetAlthough, it may be hard to tell if you’re now joining the church. But as the Scripture says, you need to test the spirit that is in operation. You may not be able to do it in a day, but you need to be sure that the teaching of the church is consistent with the truth of God’s Word.
That may take a while, but it’s worth the test.
It also means the church needs to be open about it’s interpretation of the Word of God, and willing to address questions and issues in an appropriate manner.
A great church holds the authority of God’s Word, the Bible, as the final authority on all matters.
The Bible is God’s final word on life. No other source has the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Click To TweetA great church recognizes this, and allows everyone to take that stand with the Word of God as the last word in their lives.
2. A great church preaches the gospel to the lost and dying world of unbelievers, and is committed to winning them to Christ
The Great Commission is so important. A great church is one that takes this ultimate command very seriously, and is doing what it must to fulfill it.
And I don’t just mean talking about winning hearts to Christ. I mean, doing the actual winning of hearts. Planning, going out, winning souls and training them to be established and become soul winners themselves.
A great church encourages members to reach the lost with the gospel
That involves training Christians to be evangelical and conscious of soulwinning in their daily interaction with the rest of the world, and encourages them to be agents of change in their respective environments.
Any church that operates like this is a great church.
3. Every great church encourages regular fellowship among believers.
We’ve seen it in the Bible about meeting regularly. Some are in the habit of missing such meetings, and any church that is all for it is better than the one that isn’t.
A Ghanaian church having a great time of fellowship.
Meeting together allows each believer to be strengthened and encouraged, both by the Word of God and the fellowship with other believers.
It also allows people to serve God together.
4. A great church believes in the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is central to a daily, personal walk with God. Also, it is His guidance in the life of a believer that keeps him walking in the will of God.
Every church that is serious about making impact will emphasize a personal, living relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, the Word and fellowship.
The Christian must learn to submit to the ministry of the Holy Spirit for the best possible results in his or her walk with God.
5. A great church will place great emphasis on both personal and corporate prayer.
Prayer is indeed a key to a lot of things in the Christian faith. Any church that is going to be excellent is one that knows to teach its members to pray.
The church is a great place for prayer.
Further, the church will provide opportunities for corporate prayer as it helps to build believers in their faith.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. You might want to take a good look at your church or the church you want to join and be sure they’re right for you.
But then also, the church may not be perfect yet. They may not have it all, and you might just be the one to help them become the best church they can be.
What do you think about this list? Anything else you want to add? Let me hear it in the comments!
