Thankful for an Awesome Church

There is one thing I've been really thankful for in the past few weeks, and that is a solid church. I settled at Community Christian Alliance Church (CCAC) about 4-5 weeks ago and it has been an amazing blessing to me. These are a few reasons (out of many) that I love this church.

1) Solid Biblical Preaching
-Dang! The sermons are so awesome because they are based on scripture - and the word of God does not fail to convict me. These sermons humble me in light of God's glory. And the expository style makes me want to read my Bible more and examine the scriptures.

2) They preach Doctrine
-Most churches don't and if they do, a lot of is doctrine taught out of pride. They say doctrine builds your heart in pride. It then hardens your heart. Goodness gracious. Doctrine should not build your pride nor should it harden your heart. The more you know doctrine, the more you know God, and it should humble you and soften your heart! Doctrine and humility go hand in hand because as you realize the greatness of God and the greatness of your sin, you realize you are nothing. I love how they stress this.

3) Praise
-I love the praise here. I don't know what it is about praise, but I love the song choices, and I love the environment of the fellow congregation praising together in this church. It just draws me to worship God with all my heart. Today we sang the hymn - How Deep the Father's Love - my new favorite hymn.

4) Welcoming and Sincere Congregation
-Out of all the churches I've ever visited in my entire life, this church has been the easiest to make friends, find accountability partners, and associate with. It took one thursday night college bible study (Sojourners) to get to know many of them. And they open up so easily to everyone who is new! I love my church members. I love the peers, the young ones, and the older ones. They are so encouraging - even in light of their sufferings.

5) Easy to serve
-It is easy to serve at this church. People are always needed to serve here in simple and harder things - from picking up trash, moving tables, to Fun Factory (Holy-ween type thing at Korean Churches for Halloween). Also, serving opportunities on the bulletins and announcements!

6) Multi-ethnic Congregation
-It started out as a English speaking Chinese Church, but is very multi-ethnic. We have a white pastor who can speak chinese! We have a multi-ethnic group of pastors and members that I love seeing. I love how easy it will be to bring friends or nonbelievers to church with me (unlike before where I went to a Korean church).

7) Amazing Spiritual Growth
-I am finally growing in church as much as I have been growing in KCM. Never have I grown in faith like I have in KCM - especially not in churches. But here, I finally am! When I graduate, KCM will no longer be in the picture, but church will.

8) God-focused, God-centered, God-everything
-It is focused on God and not us! God is the supreme, not us. It preaches no prosperity gospel, it preaches no reduced message. It preaches God. And it welcomes the nonbeliever, and it reaches out to the community (like through Fun Factory) and rejoices when someone comes to accept or even take a step closer towards being found in salvation. Oh how I love a God-centered church.

Just had to share that blessing. I feel rejuvenated after every week. Refreshed in having been able to relax and enjoy the presence of God together with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If anyone is looking for a church - let me know. This is an awesome one. =]