https://youtu.be/NtzrLpxM298

Skillet’s song, “Stars” is featured in the movie, The Shack.

John Cooper, lead vocalist for Skillet, talks about writing the song “Stars” and what the song means to him personally.  He shares some personal struggles he had as a teenager.  And he talks about how his song came to be on the soundtrack of the movie, The Shack.

What inspired you to write the song, “Stars?” What does the song mean to you personally?

Interview with John Cooper about the song "Stars" - YouTube John Cooper: The song is about we believe that God is in control of very big things.  In other words, most people don’t question whether the sun is going to come up the next day, if we are going to all freeze to death because the sun burns out, or the Earth in rotation, all these big things in the Universe are being run every day and we have faith for that.  But a lot of times we don’t have faith for the little things: that God can help heal a relationship between a husband and a wife, or a parent and a kid, or save a marriage, or help me when I feel alone, or help me through a bad time...things like that. When I’m struggling with depression or loneliness or whatever that may be. So, the song “Stars” is about the fact that God is in control of all these big things, but He still knows who you are. He knows your name. He knows your pain and He knows where you live.  It’s very worshipful but it’s also very personal as well.

Did you write the song “Stars” by yourself or what happened with this song?

John Cooper: This was a little bit different because normally my wife, Corey and I write most of our music but we do write with other folks as well.  This is one of the only songs we’ve ever written that had 4 people involved.  It was me and my wife and two other writers. It was good because I wanted to get something a little bit different than what Skillet normally does.  So, I drew on some people I was a fan of and some writers and we wanted to try something new and worshipful. We’ve done things like that in the past but it’s been a very long time.  And that’s why “Stars” is kind of cool.  I’m a fan of music, of course, and other bands and I love it when bands do something that I’m not quite expecting.

So, I’m assuming you write the song, “Stars” first and then the movie people like your song so they come to you and say, “Can we use your song in the movie?”  Is that the way it works?

Personal interview with John Cooper from Skillet about "The Shack" - YouTube John Cooper: It works in lots of different ways. In this particular situation, it was very unique because the Shack sound track is meant to be songs inspired by the film.  And most people wrote new songs for it.  I think we might be one of the few that did not, we happened to have an existing song that just very much tied into what the movie was about. It was meant to be. It was kind of a long, crazy bunch of events that led to this happening which all seemed kind of miraculous.  I was really excited and very proud because this is a really powerful movie. I’ve seen the prerelease of it. Honestly, I watched it 5 times, I could not quit watching this movie…it was extremely moving.  I think a lot of people are going to be impacted in a huge way from the film.

You’ve released an album recently, called Unleased with this song on it?

John Copper: The album was released last August.  The song “Stars” is on our record but there is the new version which is kind of the acoustic version which is on The Shack soundtrack. It’s not on the record, it’s its own release. So, it’s the same song but different versions, I guess you would say.

There’s a line in the song: “If you can calm a raging sea, you can calm the storm in me.”  Do you have a personal story of God stepping in and calming a storm in your life?

Skillet interview about their lyric, “If you can calm a raging sea, you can calm the storm in me.” - YouTube John Cooper: That is my absolute favorite line in the song. To me, it not only sums up what the song is about, that very much sums up what a lot of Skillet is trying to convey in our music over our career.  It’s very much us.  Probably the biggest struggle in my life, my mom passed away when I was 14. She had cancer for about 3 years.  When I was 11, she got diagnosed with cancer and fought that.  She had operations and chemotherapy and after 3 years of fighting it, she passed away. I was a Christian and my mom was a devout believer and my family was.  But nothing quite prepares you for that sort of thing.  My mom used to tell me, if something happens and I do die, you can’t be mad at God.  God is in control and God is good and things like that…which is great parenting and great teaching. But after she did die, my dad got remarried and there just began to be this struggle in our household and fighting. Honestly, I struggled with hatred and anger and bitterness for years and years and years.  And I remember when I was 16, is probably when I really reached out to God and asked Him to calm that storm in me. I needed to know Jesus as a friend.  I knew him as my Savior and my Lord, but I began to talk to Him like a friend, like I need someone. That was probably my biggest moment, hardest moments of my life and some of the most beautiful too.

A lot of people who come to TheHopeLine, come to us during their most time of struggling, during their darkest time. What would you say to someone who is in one of their darkest times? What do you think would help them the most in that moment in that time of their life?

John Cooper: It’s different for different people, of course. There is no easy answer that anyone can give that is going to all of a sudden make someone feel not sad or not lonely or not depressed. I will say, in my own life, reaching out to God and asking Him to be…The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is a comforter. He is someone that comforts us when we need to be comforted so that is truth from the word. I do tell people, if you reach out to God, he will comfort you, he will draw near to you.  That’s also what the Bible says…if you draw near to God, he will draw near to you. It’s not going to be like you’re asking Him for help and He’s going to refuse to answer you but it also doesn’t mean everything is just going to be great all the time, that’s not necessarily what the Bible teaches.  You might have to do that all the time and you might still struggle in certain ways.  But I think beginning to find your value, not in yourself, and not in your achievements, or how many friends you have or how you are treated at school or your job or whatever. Finding your value in being a son or daughter of God is really what’s going to take your eyes off of yourself and onto Him. So, I do think in America we need a big dose of: It’s not about me and my life isn’t really about me. If you belong to Christ, then your life really is not your own…it belongs to Him and for His glory so if you can focus on Him, all of a sudden you’re going to find out, you’re not as sad as you used to be.  It’s a little bit like having kids. When you have a kid, you don’t really have time to think of how you feel because you’re so tired all the time…you’re giving out to this child and all of a sudden you begin to be a little bit more fulfilled. You are finding your fulfillment in being there for someone else…that’s a little bit what it’s like.  You’ll put your eyes on Christ and all of a sudden you won’t have time to remember you are feeling down or people don’t like you at school and things like that. I’m not minimalizing or trivializing the pain of adolescents and growing up, all those things are very real and it doesn’t mean they’re going to go away right off. But I know from personal experience, if you reach out to God, He will draw close to you. Watch Film Trailer: THE SHACK Connect with Skillet: Website Facebook Twitter

Receiving Something You Don't Deserve

If you have accepted Jesus' gift of salvation, you have been saved by grace! But what exactly does that mean?

Being saved by grace means that we have received a gift from God that we do not deserve. God gives us his favor, his love, his son...despite the fact that we have done nothing to earn it.

God sent his son to pay for our sins through his death on a cross…EVEN though we are sinners who have done nothing for God.  God freely gives GRACE to us out of His love for us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

And now that we have received His Grace – we are made right with God. We can have a relationship with him. And we can look forward to eternal life in heaven with him.

Sometimes people refer to this acronym for Grace:

God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense

We are the recipients of all the goodness of God through Christ's death.

This amazing grace has been sung about for centuries by millions of people.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

https://youtu.be/CDdvReNKKuk?si=KeqdmAK3K3O2U5R-

Why Would God Give Us His Grace?

God knows we are sinners. He knows we mess up. He wants us to live obedient lives but knows that we will never be able to do that on our own. Even so, He still wants a relationship with us.

So, Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died a sacrificial death on a cross. All we need to do is believe that is the truth and confess it and we will be “washed clean” by Jesus’ blood. When God, the Father, looks at anyone who believes in Jesus, His son, He sees them as forgiven and pure, and they can be in relationship with Him.

What Does Grace Look Like?

Picture this:  You are standing before a judge who has a huge list of all the crimes you have committed that are punishable by death. However, there is someone in the crowd who promises to take your punishment of death, and you will be given their clean slate. That results in getting something you don’t deserve. And that is what Jesus did for you. But just as you would need to

ACCEPT the clean slate in court which you didn’t earn, you need to believe in and receive this same gift from Jesus.

Accepting God's gift of grace is the best decision you can ever make!

Jesus! What a Beautiful Name!

One more song for you today.  It's all about the beautiful name of Jesus because he made a way for us to be in relationship with God.  As the song says:

You didn't want heaven without us
So, Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now.

https://youtu.be/nQWFzMvCfLE?si=IX1S5_L1HBmCrWhc

Be encouraged by these Verses of Hope for Salvation. And if you are a new believer, please check out the resources found here - For the New Believer.

In Christ:

I Am Accepted I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
I am Jesus’ chosen friend. (John 15:15)
I am holy and acceptable to God (justified). (Rom. 5:1)
I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. (1 Cor. 3:16)
I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. (1 Cor. 6:19, 20)
I am a part of Christ’s Body, part of His family. (1 Cor. 12:27)
I am a saint, a holy one. (Eph. 1:1)
I have been adopted as God’s child. (Eph. 1:5)
I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins. (Col. 1:14)
I am complete in Christ. (Col. 2:10)
I Am Secure I am forever free from punishment. (Rom. 8:1- 2)
I am certain all things work together for good. (Rom. 8:28)
I am free from any condemning charges against me. (Rom. 8:31f)
I cannot be separated from the love of God. (Rom. 8:35f)
I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)
I am certain that God will finish the good work he has begun in me. (Phil 1:6)
I am a citizen of heaven, along with the rest of God’s family. (Eph. 2:19)
I can find grace and mercy in times of need. (Heb. 4:16)
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)
I Am Significant I am salt and light to those around me. (Matt. 5:13,14)
I am part of the true vine, joined to Christ and able to produce much fruit. (John 15:1,5)
I am hand-picked by Jesus to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
I am a Spirit-empowered witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am a temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in me. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)
I am at peace with God, and He has called me to tell others that they can also have peace with God. (2 Cor. 5:17)
I am God’s co-worker. (2 Cor. 6:1)
I am seated with Christ in heaven. (Eph. 2:6)
I am able to do all things through Christ who gives me strength! (Phil. 4:13)
More Verses of Hope.

Will This Last?

How do I know that Christ is in my life?

Did you receive Christ into your life according to His promise in Revelation 3:20? "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

Knowing Jesus Christ is the most exciting relationship you can have. It is the beginning of a life of adventure with an all-loving, all-powerful God. If you have asked Christ to come into your life, you can be sure that your relationship with God is secure. As a result of Christ's death on the cross, you have been completely forgiven and accepted by Him. There are many exciting things that are true in your relationship with Christ. Understanding these truths will help you build a firm foundation on which to grow.

My Feelings About God Keep Changing

1. Feelings can be unreliable

You might have expectations about how you should feel after placing your trust in Christ. While feelings are important, they are unreliable indicators of your sincerity or the trustworthiness of God's promise. Our feelings change easily, but God's Word and His character remain constant. This illustration shows the relationship between fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word) and our feelings.

• Fact - this chair is strong enough to support you.
• Faith - You believe this chair will support you, so you sit in it.
• Feeling- You may or may not feel comfortable in this chair, but it continues to support you.

The moment you received Christ by faith, as an act of your will, many things happened, including the following:

1. Christ came into your life - Revelation 3:20, Colossians 1:27
2. Your sins were forgiven - Colossians 1:14
3. You became a child of God - John 1:12
4. You received eternal life - John 5:24
5. Your great adventure for which God created you began - John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

2. Dealing with doubts

Even though feelings are important, your relationship with Christ is based on facts, not on feelings that can change daily. Doubts, questions and varying emotions are common parts of everyone's life, but they are very unreliable gauges of anyone's relationship with Christ. The Christian lives by faith in the trustworthiness of God and His Word.

But what if you don't feel like a Christian tomorrow? Place your faith in the faithfulness of God Himself and the trustworthiness of His Word. The more you learn, the more you will be able to answer any doubts with solid facts. Your feelings will begin to respond to the truth of God's Word and not to your circumstances.

Since you have trusted in Christ's payment for your sin, understood the basis of your relationship with God and have learned five truths about your relationship, you can be confident in your relationship with Christ.

If you would like to talk through what you have learned, you can  journey with a mentor and receive prayer.

This article is an adaptation by The Life Project of Dr. Bill Bright's material on Knowing Jesus Personally. It was originally posted here.

You are a new creation!

Once you become a Christian there is a shift within you. You are born-again! You accepted Jesus, His love and His great sacrifice for you and now you want to live for Jesus! Are you wondering, "What now? How will my life change now that I'm a Christian?"

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the gift of Holy Spirit is given you.  You now have God’s power living in you.  The Holy Spirit helps you have faith and compassion. It convicts you of right and wrong and gives you the power to resist temptation and make choices to glorify God.

This doesn’t mean you are never tempted to do wrong or that you will never sin again. You can choose to ignore the power of the Holy Spirit in you. But as you continue to pray to God, spend time in His Word, and spend time with other Christians…as you turn your heart TOWARDS God, the more you will fully desire to serve and please God with your life.

As you do this, you will be filled with such joy and peace.  Your heart will be overwhelmed by what God has done for you and you will desire to put off your old, bad, self-serving habits and start living for Jesus.  You will understand that your old ways can’t fulfill you the way Jesus can.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

As the Holy Spirit lives in you and you walk with God, you will receive the fruit of the Spirit.  You will exhibit these traits:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22

How will becoming a Christian Make a Difference in your Life?

1. First – You can rest assured in God’s unconditional love

You no longer need to prove yourself or feel unworthy.  God loves you and He is FOR you! You find your identity in who God says you are. “This I KNOW: God is for me.” Psalm 56:9

2. You have unexplainable peace

Even when things are tough in life (and they still might be) you believe that since God is for you, He is never going to abandoned you and he is working all things out for your good, even if you don’t understand it all.  You trust God and know that HE IS GOOD. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

3. You belong

You are a member of the family of God. You are welcome here. There is great joy in finding other Christians to be in community with. “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

4. Your future is secure!

You are going to heaven!  Don’t be fooled…heaven and hell are real. And as a Christian you have the security that you are going to heaven to live with God eternally.  And quite frankly, heaven’s going to rock!!  What a great thing to look forward to!

Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

So How Do You Please God with Your Life?

God has done so much for us. So how do we live in grateful response for all he has done? You live according to His word and you glorify God with all you say and do.

In the Bible you will find many instructions for living. God left us these instructions for a few reasons:

1. To protect us from ourselves.
2. To teach us how to love others.
3. To enlarge the Family of God.
4. To Bring glory to God.

Did you notice that “To earn our salvation,” is NOT one of the reasons. We have been saved by grace.  However, grace is not opposed to our EFFORT to live a life worthy of God's gift, it is just opposed to EARNING the gift.

Following God’s Law

The 10 Commandments are found in the Bible and they are often called God’s Law.
The first four Commandments show us how to love God and the last 6 show us how to love others. Here they are:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

Some people think that God's Laws are restrictive. They don’t want anyone telling them how to live.  But God’s laws are actually an act of love…put in place protect us. Take commandment #7, for example, “Do not commit adultery.” God desires to preserve marriages and save us from the pain that cheating can cause.  Or commandment #9 – which said another way says, “Do not lie.” God knows that lying hurts you and almost ALWAYS comes back to haunt the liar. You get the picture - God wants the best for you.

Jesus summarized the law like this:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" Matthew 22:37-39

In the Bible God also tells us to do the following:

• Forgive each other
• Care for the poor
• Fight for justice
• Be kind and compassionate
• Take care of the widows and orphans
• To tell others about Jesus
• And so much more

Go out into this big beautiful world with joy in your heart and Love God and Love Others.

Up Next:

You Belong in this Family! The moment you are saved you are welcomed into the family of God called the Church. Here are some tips on how to find a church.

Prayer

We have a wonderful direct line for talking to God. Prayer.
First John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

The power of prayer comes from faith in a powerful God.

Some think prayer is a duty. Others think of it as a quick fix. And yet others consider it a last resort. The truth is that prayer is the way to talk with your Heavenly Father anytime and anywhere.

Think about your relationship with your best friend- you talk to them, listen to what they have to say and enjoy spending time together. In order to make that relationship grow and be healthy it takes communication. The same is true for your relationship with God. You need to talk to Him. Prayer will draw you closer to Him as you trust him with your heart.

When Should You Pray?

Jesus taught his followers to pray constantly. Jesus said: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10).

Many people pray before a meal asking God to bless their food.  Others pray before they fall asleep.  These are good practices, but your prayer life can be so much more than “Bless this food.”

Prayer to God can be a conversation anytime…when you are driving, when you are walking, when you are working.  You can cry out to God in your time of need and praise God when prayers are answered.

It is also good to set aside time each day to pray. A wonderful way to start your day is by reading the Bible and praying to God. “Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

What should you pray for?

Many feel they have to pray recited or memorized words.  This is fine, but your prayer life can be so much deeper. God wants to hear directly from you.  Tell him what is on your heart. You can just talk to God as you would speak to a best friend.

The whole Bible is filled with encouragement to pray: "Pray when you are sick." "Pray when you need help." "Pray for peace." “Pray to confess your sins.” Why are we told to pray so much? It is because God wants to answer our requests.

Sometimes when you don’t know what to pray, read the Psalms aloud to God. "I have called upon you, for you will answer me, O God; Incline your ear to me, hear my speech." Psalm 17:6

How to Pray to God

Jesus teaches us to pray in the Bible with the words of the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13:
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”

The Lord’s Prayer can be memorized and recited.  It is a beautiful prayer.  But Jesus was also teaching us what’s important in our own personal prayers.  The Lord’s prayer demonstrates that prayer should:

1. Praise God for who He is. We honor God when we humbly come before Him and praise Him for His greatness. He deserves all our praise!

2. Ask God to meet our needs by sharing our requests with Him.

3. Confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

It is important to include all of these things in our prayers.  It shouldn’t simply be us telling God our wish list.

Will God Answer Every Prayer

Many people wonder, “Does this mean that we can ask for anything and God will give it to us exactly how we ask?”
The simple answer is no.

First – our prayers need to line up with God’s will.  In the Bible it says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14

But how do we know if what we are requesting, lines up with God’s will?  The Bible teaches us about the character of God. For example, we know God desires life and love, peace and unity, provision for the sick and poor, and salvation for all.  These are just a few of the MANY truths about the will of God.

However, if we are praying for selfish gain or with bad motives, chances are our prayers won’t line up with His will.

Prayers that go unanswered remind us that God is God. We do not control Him. His ways are higher than ours. And His answers are better for us than anything we asked for. - Greg Morse

And yet, sometimes even when we believe we are praying within God’s will, our prayers might not be answered the way we expect or think they should be answered.  Sometimes it may seem like it is taking God too long to answer our prayers.  It is important to remember that God always has our best interest in mind. His ways are always better than our ways.  God might answer our prayers directly, and other times He may answer our prayers in a way we didn’t expect, or it may take years for us to see how God answered our prayers even when we weren’t aware.

Don’t Give Up

Even when it feels like God is not answering your prayers keep praying. Maybe you have an ongoing request such as:

• Physical healing
• Emotional restoration and healing
• A Job
• Recovery from addiction
• A friend or loved one’s struggle
• Finances

You glorify God by needing Him, by asking Him for help, and by counting on Him. - John Piper

If you’ve asked God for what you need and He hasn’t answered yet, don’t stop praying. It is important to keep praying because:

1. Praying about it will give you hope and with hope comes patience! “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25

2. Praying to God deepens your relationship with Him. “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8

3. Praying about it helps you focus on God and not the issue!

4. God changes you through prayer!

5. God answers prayers!

“If you need wisdom, ask God and it will be given to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask God, be sure that your faith is in Him alone and that your sole desire for wisdom is to glorify Him. Do not give in to selfish intentions, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” (James 1:5-8)

Have others pray for you

It is a great blessing to have others pray for us.
“Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

We can also learn a lot about prayer by reading and hearing the prayers of others.  You can see how others approach God and lift prayers up to Him.

We have a WONDERFUL way for you to have others pray for you. TheHopeLine prayer page - is an interactive prayer website. Here you can post a request for prayer and Prayer Champions will type a prayer to God on your behalf.  Check it out and sign up to request prayers. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

You Belong in this Family!

The moment you are saved you are welcomed into the family of God. This promise is given in the Bible, “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12). This family is called the Church. It is important to know a few things about how to find a church in your community.

The Church is so much more than the four walls and roof of a building. The Church is every believer, young and old, all across the world who have called out to God and asked to be saved. In fact, the Church is a chosen people, God’s very own possession.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God. 1 Peter 2:9-10

So, you belong to the broader idea of the church, but how do you go about finding a local church in your community? Here are some tips:

Finding a Local Church

How do you get connected to this family? As a Christian, you are automatically part of God’s large family called the Universal Church. God also has a smaller family for you to be a part of called a local church. A local church is simply a group of believers in Jesus who have committed to support each other and follow Jesus together. God knows you need the guidance of a pastor, the care of other Christians, and the safety and support of a good church home to help you grow as a Christian.

We have talked about church being like a family. It is important to understand that no church is perfect, just like no family is perfect. In fact, it is best to think of the local church as a hospital. It is full of broken people who are forming a community of believers while finding hope and healing from the Lord.

Where do you start?

Practical Steps to Finding a Local Church

Most communities have plenty of churches available, but where do you begin your search?

1. The internet. It's not bad to start the same place we search for everything else in our lives - Church Finder is a great website for finding a Christian Church in your community. Check out the websites of many churches. Read any reviews. What church appeals to you?  Check those out.
2. Ask Around.  Do you have any friends/teachers/co-workers/family members who attend church?  Get curious and ask around to where people go to church.
3. Drive around on a Sunday morning.  You probably pass by many churches every day.  On a Sunday morning are the parking lots full? Find out what time the service starts and go next week.
4. Visit more than one church.  It's o.k., even good, to visit a few churches before choosing one.  Trying different churches allows you to see where you feel most comfortable, what worship style you like, where you think God can teach you the most and where God can use you.  If the first few you visit, don't feel like a fit for you, don't give up. Keep searching. If you love the first one you visit, keep going!

Is On-Line Church Enough?

God's purpose for the church is not to simply hear a sermon.  Sermons are good, and, in fact, as you are looking for a church, listening to some on-line sermons may be helpful to see what that church believes. But there is so much more to Church than a sermon.  God's purpose for the church is to build community and support...to learn from others and care for one another...to serve together and share the good news of Jesus together.  You can't get that on-line. This isn't about checking a box on Sunday morning.  This is about being a part of a family.

They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles’ teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings... met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God.  Acts 2:42,46-47

So, how do you find the right Church that teaches the right stuff? The following questions might help guide your search:

What Makes a Good Church?

1. Does the church believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to be saved?

Jesus himself tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to be saved. Some churches teach that faith in Jesus is not enough, but rather that there are extra things that need to be done to be saved. This is not what God intended. We can never do enough, on our own to be saved.  The salvation message presented should be that the only way to God is through believing in His son Jesus. Believing that he came to earth to die for the sins of mankind and that he also rose again after three days. Death, burial and resurrection. Salvation through grace by faith alone.

2. Does the church believe that the Bible is 100% true and teach from the entire Bible?

Some churches only believe that certain parts of the Bible are true. Others reject the Bible altogether in favor of the writings of their church founder. This is a red flag.

You will want to find a church that respects the Bible as God’s complete Word. Keep in mind that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16).  It is essential that, in addition to the message of salvation, the church teaches about how you are to grow in the Lord and applies the Bible to our daily life.  Look at the information on the church’s website and see if they offer small group Bible studies. Also, many church’s post the pastor’s sermons on their website. You may want to listen to a few.

3. Is the church active in the community?

Do they reach out to the community to be the hands and feet of Jesus and serve those in need?  Does the church tell others about Jesus? If not, then it is not following one of Jesus’ direct commandments. Jesus tells us to go out into our communities and tell them about God. We should all want to share what God has done for us.  It is important to find a church that does the same. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

4. Does the church also have times of fellowship for its members?

Become part of a church that has ways for you to get involved for your own personal growth and encouragement. Do they offer Bible Studies, Sunday School or Small Groups? Small Group ministries within a church are very helpful for connecting you to other people so you feel a part of the community. Also are there opportunities to serve within the church and be involved?

5. What are the Foundational Beliefs of the Church?

Just as you would want your home to have a solid foundation to support the structure, a church also needs a solid foundation. Here are important foundational beliefs.

• Belief in the Trinity. One God in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  1. God the Father - Creator of Heaven and Earth
  2. God the Son -  Jesus who paid the price for our sins
  3. God the Holy Spirit - the counselor sent to live within us when we believe.
• Baptism (infant or adult) is taught as representation of your salvation. Baptism does not add to your salvation, it does not save you. It is a showing to others that you have accepted Christ into your heart and life and that you want to follow him in your life from this day forward.
• Communion or The Lord’s Supper is practiced. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Jesus told his disciples this during his last supper before he died:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."  Matthew 26:26-28

Ask God for Guidance

As you start your search for a church, ask God for guidance through prayer. God wants you to find church where you will grow in your faith, be encouraged by other Christians, and serve Him. As you pray to God for direction in this process, trust that He will direct you to exactly where He wants you to be.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

The Stories Project: Camille

Camille Paddock has been through a lot!  She was bullied to the point where she considered taking her own life.  Thankfully, she did not.  She decided to use the challenges she faced for positive change.  Check out Cam's Story, brought to you by our friends, The Nuno Twins:

She started her own online anti-bullying community through Facebook, called Cam's Dare to be Different where she could reach out to other people dealing with bullying and give them a place to vent and find hope.  She advocates for anti-bullying, suicide prevention, and "just being who you are."

Bullying Lead To Thoughts of Suicide

In 4th grade, Camille was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata, it caused her to lose her hair (including her eyebrows) which resulted in bullying from people at her school.  It got worse in middle school.  They called her names; like a freak, hairless cat, ugly, told her she was worthless.  Then they started calling her names online and they would text her and call her and say horrible things.  Camille fell into a deep depression that led to self-harm and thoughts of suicide.  She asked God, "Why, is this happening to me?"  She explains, "Suicide seemed like the only solution."

Then she wrote her suicide note.  She was home alone and had a bottle of pills she was ready to take.  Then the garage door opened and she heard her sister come into the house.  Her sister felt like something was wrong and that she needed to come home.

She asked Camille, "Are you, okay?" and it hit Camille...she couldn't leave her family.  Camille decided she couldn't go through with suicide.

Sharing Her Story Helped Others

She wanted to get better, but she didn't know how.  Camille then decided to start a Facebook page, Cam's Dare to Be Different because she knows everyone has something about them that makes them different.  On her page, she shared her story, vented, shared inspiring quotes and stories that helped her so that they could help and inspire others.

People started reaching out to her and it began the healing process for her.

She was a cheerleader at the time and the cheer gym asked her to share her story with a cheer team that was struggling with bullying, teasing, and bickering.  It was really hard for her to speak in front of those cheerleaders, but as she finished telling her story, she looked up and everyone had tears in their eyes.

Sharing Her Story Helped Her Heal

It hit her that she had the ability and power to do something good.  All of the pain and hurt she went through could be used for something beautiful.  The more she spoke at schools and events, the better she felt about herself because not only was she helping people but they were helping her to heal.

Have you been through something similar to Camille?  Is there a way you can use the pain and hurt you've experienced and turned it into something beautiful?  Let us know in the comments!

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world. For additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

For more information on bullying, here's a guide to understanding the types of bullying and cyberbullying and how to deal with it.