I am thankful that now, as an adult, you see the value of having your kids in the company of fellow believers for fellowship, growth, and worship of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.  I pray that your desire comes from the fact that you have accepted Christ as your savior and now want to expose your children to the things of the Lord.

Not being raised in a church group, I can easily see how you are concerned about what type of church to take them to.  I’m also encouraged that you do not want to SEND your kids to church, but you want to TAKE them.  I could easily tell you to take them to a Bible-believing church group, but all groups declare they believe and follow what the Bible says…although many do not.  If so, all groups would teach the same thing and there would be no divisions. 

The Lord wants us to gather with like-minded believers.  We read in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  It is vital that we gather with other believers for our mutual benefit and for the glory of the Lord.

To be able to discern the proper church group will require you to have a bit of Bible knowledge yourself, so that you might discern the true from the false. First, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ must be taught and held to.  The Bible is clear about the way of salvation.  We read in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  It is vital that those we gather with understand this and acknowledge that there is salvation found ONLY through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Any group that would say there is more than one way of salvation, or that faith in Jesus only will not save, is a group that should be avoided.  This is not a true church and I’m sure you do not want to expose your children to that which denies the truth of the scriptures. 

Jude 3 says, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  You should be with those who have studied and accepted the complete Word of God and will contend for the truth of the scriptures.  You will want to be with those who are not offended if you challenge their teachings by asking to see the proof of their teachings in the Bible.  The Apostle Paul commended those who wanted to verify his teachings by comparing his words to those in the Bible.  We read in Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” 

Those who will compromise the truth in order to bring in more people are not trustworthy and should also be avoided.  The strength of a church group is not found in the number of members.  It is found in its knowledge of and adherence to the whole Word of God.

It would be impossible for me to list all the important doctrines you need to look for in finding a church group.  However, you need to read your Bible and ask the Lord for discernment in associating yourself with a church group.  “Go to the church of your choice” is terrible advice to give to someone.  No, we should seek to be with those who love the Lord, learn His truths, and seek to honor Him.  Let’s consider the priest Ezra.  It is said of him in Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”  I encourage you to do the same thing.  Determine to learn God’s Word, obey it, and teach it to others…especially those in your family.  I encourage you to be much in prayer about this…asking the Lord to guide you in your quest to find the church group where you can grow in the knowledge of the truth and train up your children according to God’s Word.  (CC)  (664.2)