How to Find a Church in Boston

You just moved to Boston and you’re thinking about finding a new church.

I’ve been here through eight years of people moving to Boston: living, working, playing, worshipping, leaving. And I’ve got two pieces of advice that will positively affect the quality of your time and the size of your impact during your time in Boston.

Find a church quickly.

I don’t mean you should close your eyes and point at Google maps, but I do mean that when you arrive pick three or four churches from your online search, go check them out, and if one of them seems legit, stay there. When you’re searching online think about doctrine, teaching style, worship style, and distance. But try not to travel over 25 minutes to get to the “perfect church” or you won’t be able to participate mid-week.

When you find a church you like, go to the membership class the first time it’s offered. They are called “membership class,” or “next steps,” or “growth track,” or something similar. This should be a good time to check and make sure you haven’t accidentally joined a cult or anything weird. They should believe the whole Bible, encourage you to grow spiritually, and be serious about spreading the message of Jesus.

Take a friend if you can.

A friend can help you sort through whether the church is a little too authoritarian, whether the doctrine was correct, or whether you are being too picky and just need to commit. Ideally your friend is a believer, but if you’re roommate isn’t a believer, asking for a wingman/wingwoman is a great way to expose your friend to the gospel message.

A friend will ease the social anxiety of wandering into a room full of strangers. If you have to go it alone, then that’s totally ok. But bringing a friend is a huge help.

Renewal Church is here for you.

Finding a church that is friendly and isn’t weird is hard! Renewal church is in Boston, right on the Boston Common. We’re here to help you grow spiritually, meet a few new friends, and prepare you for a life-time of impact in Jesus name. If our church isn’t right for you, we can help you connect with an amazing church nearby that is a great fit. So I hope you’ll stop by and check it out soon.

Are You Man Enough for God?

How do you measure strength as a man, and where do you draw the line between balancing it and misusing it? Abuse strength and you’re projecting a macho persona to fulfill your own agenda. Lack in strength and you become so passive that it becomes a weakness where you refuse to take responsibility or lead in the way God calls you.

If you’re trying to walk the path to become a true and Godly man, you need to find this balance. In that just-right point on the spectrum, you can realize God’s purpose in you. The bible teaches you to balance physical strength with courage, and to allow God’s spirit to strengthen you through your weaknesses. 

"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (ESV)

 2 Corinthians 12:9-10          

Having the courage to hold back in the face of difficult situations and not exerting force will allow you to balance and build strength within yourself and understand that certain circumstances are not for you to control or handle.

When you reach the point in life where you’re planning for or raising a family, you want to be aware of the type of person you are modeling for your son or daughter. Embracing the strength God gave you to serve other people gives you the opportunity to model the way of Jesus.

Jesus used his strength with compassion to serve, love, and care for people in his life. We want our boys and girls to grow up respecting one another, serving others, and fulfilling God’s purpose for them, too.

(Photo by Mubariz Mehdizadeh on Unsplash)