Finding a new church can be a difficult and at times destabilizing process.

Whether due to a move across the country, a change in theological convictions,

or an unhealthy church culture, the decision to leave a former congregation,

perhaps after investing years there, can be extremely painful and lead to all kinds

of questions.

What should you look for in a new church?

How should the preaching, the music, and the theology of the church impact your decision?

Are there warning signs to watch out for and avoid?

In our interview today, I'm talking with Mickey Klink,

senior pastor of Hope Evangelical Free Church in Roscoe, Illinois,

and a former associate professor of New Testament

at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.

His new book is called The Local Church,

What It Is and Why It Matter matters for every Christian from Crossway.

Let's get started.

Well, Mickey, thank you so much for joining me today on the Crossway podcast.

Yeah, great to be here.

So most of us have been in the situation of having to find a new church at some point in our lives.

Often that's due to a move, maybe a change in our theological convictions, or maybe even

unhealthy dynamics in a previous church. But regardless of the reason for the change, I think

most people I've talked to would agree that it's generally not a very fun experience,

not a fun process to have to find a new church to be a part of and actually is quite stressful

...