Should I Stay or Should I Go?

In this episode, Cole Phillips and Pastor Bobby explore the complexities of church membership, why people leave or stay, and how to discern God's will in these decisions. They emphasize the importance of biblical faithfulness, community, and personal growth in the church.

Keywords

church, faith, community, biblical doctrine, church membership, spiritual growth, church leadership, church discipline, church health, Christian living

Key Topics

Reasons to stay in a church

Legitimate reasons to leave a church

How to evaluate a church's faithfulness

The importance of biblical doctrine and orthodoxy

Dealing with church conflict and disagreements

The role of community and accountability in church

The impact of consumer culture on church attendance

The significance of commitment and growth in faith

Addressing church hurt and spiritual abuse

Practical steps before leaving a church

Sound bites

"Church is not a buffet, it's a family."

"Disagreements do not mean death."

"Be a peacemaker, not just a peacekeeper."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and overview of the episode

01:56 The significance of Psalm 23 and its application to rest and contentment

03:53 The question of should I stay or should I leave my church

05:49 The dangers of consumerism and social media trends in church hopping

08:10 What makes a church biblically faithful and healthy

12:00 Key questions to evaluate if a church aligns with biblical doctrine

14:52 The importance of leadership character and biblical qualifications

20:07 The role of community, roots, and commitment in spiritual growth

25:02 When and why it is legitimate to leave a church

29:47 Dealing with doctrinal departure, sin, and abuse in churches

35:04 The importance of communication, accountability, and reconciliation

39:54 The dangers of following personalities and emotional decisions

45:01 Unity in the body of Christ and fighting against division

49:56 Practical steps before leaving a church and the importance of prayer

55:11 The significance of commitment, faithfulness, and spiritual growth

01:00:01 The dangers of consumerism and online church versus community

01:04:48 Living out faith in community and the importance of accountability