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Excellent stuff, Gavin. Impressive how you can bounce between Dr. Ortlund and Pastor Gavin so seamlessly in your content.

I wish I had found a conservative middle-of the- road church and stayed when my kids were young. Skipping around can make children cynical about church going.

Good job with this video Gavin. I think it’s very helpful.

One thing I feel is needful is helping people navigate when they have to leave a church because of heresy or some other concern that justifies what I would call “leaving loudly,” which includes warningothers of the dangers. How to handle that. Or, other times when a person is leaving the church and it seems morally, right to call others to leave as well. That is a very hard scenario.

As a pastor’s wife, I love the idea of you doing a whole video on encouraging church leaders. :)

Please pray for me, brothers and sisters. I was raised independent fundamentalist baptist. I still love my church, but for a year now my wife has been dealing with great health issues. This has limited our church attendance. During this time i have continued to read the Holy Scriptures and gotten into deeper theology than i was raised with, and also church history. I fear leaving my church now because of the many loved ones and family both blood and spiritual I have there. But at the same time so much of my theology has changed. Im wrestling with Calvinism where I was raised free will, i have a much higher view of the sacraments, especially Communion. I am considering visting a local Presbyterian Churh. The me a year ago would have viewed this as heretical. I just want to worship my Savior and learn more about him and I am yearn for deeper theology in Church. I dont know. I apologize if this sounds like i am complaining. God has blessed me more than I deserve. I know i am saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ through and by his death and resurrection. I dont want to be a Christian blown this way or that by different ideas or denominations. But im not sure i agree with alot preached at my current church anymore. I dont know...I will continue to pray and study, and I trust that God will guide me where me amd my wife should go. If you read this long, I apologize. I hope God richly blessed you.

I am greatly encouraged by this video to not leave my church for selfish/arbitrary reasons, and perhaps to serve in some capacity.

When my granfather was a new pastor in the 1950s/early 60s, he was hired at a church in the midwest, of a mainline denomination, that didn't allow people of color to become church members (they could attend but not become members). My grandfather immediately told the church that this was unnacceptable. Some in leadership at the church wanted to put it to a vote, but he told them no, this is not the type question that is up for debate or up to a vote. The church listened. I don't know whether many people left because of it, but was one such scenario where come hell or highwater there was no compromise that would be acceptable.

john 3:16 saved my life man.. a simple sermon on that verse saved my life….

I love my church. I am 18 and have attended all my life. I have issues such as chronic fatigue and autism that make going to church very hard work. (I am easily worn out, and all the people and music can be overwhelming.) I also have a yearning for deeper theology. My pastor does great nerdy talks but he’s very busy, so those only happen four times a year. The youth groups are very loud and stressful, and I haven’t been able to join a home group yet. I love learning about God, but due to these factors, only go to church around once a month. It’s really hard. Please pray for my walk with Jesus.

Thankful for a video on this topic. I go to a non-denominational church but their theology is so biblical, the preaching is faithful to God and His word, there are so many ministries that are diverse and fit the needs of our community, and it’s hard because ever since I found your channel I just have a lot of questions that I’m wrestling through none the less I don’t think I should leave the church I’m at now, but I do like to look at other congregations here and there and see what they do differently. But often times I find myself looking at my current church and being grateful and realizing God has me there for a reason.

Thank you for your mention of differences in politics there. As someone who is British and has attended quite conservative reformed churches, it is frustrating seeing people on the internet just make sweeping statements about what a conservative Christian believes when really that's just generally American conservatives.

Idk how many people might have thought of this, but there is a danger of deep loneliness in churches with lots of congregants. This problem might especially affect kids, teens and young adults. It’s worse if you’re an introvert and don’t have much of a hold on making friends and socialising.

Appreciate this pastoral perspective, so good for the body to hear the importance of fidelity to the local church. Such a good point to take into account how much our gifts are able to be exercised, it’s important for each member of the body to be functioning alongside the others.

Been going to my church for a fair few years. The worship and sermons certainly aren't to my taste but the big thing I've been struggling with is that we haven't had a plain presentation of the basic gospel in such a long time that it aches. Everything is largely above board regarding orthodoxy but I always come away wondering what it all has to do with Jesus.

I'm certainly not the most teachable person in the world but it really feels so dry that it makes you wonder why we bother with singing and lectures if they're not going to be about the cross

Scenario 3 happened to me last year. It was very painful but we moved on from our nondenominational congregation to a much more solid church in the EPC that was able to provide real accountability in leadership. I really appreciate you saying that scenario 3 is a valid reason, even at the time the leaders of our former church told me multiple times that I was wrong for wanting to leave.

I feel convicted by so many points you raised here. Thank you so much for this very pastoral video, Dr. Ortlund.

I usually try to give encouragement and praise for a good video, and your point about everybody needing encouragement stood out to me.
    Thank you for this video and your content. I really appreciate your humility and wisdom in tough topics. You give people clarity and direction and it is so important for us to have this. I wonder if you even realize how much of a blessing you and your channel is to the Body of Christ.
    I have been struggling with this very topic for a while. You've really helped me, as I'm sure you are helping countless others. The Lord is certainly working through you. Thanks again and take care.

I enjoy these practical videos a lot Dr.Ortlund. Your work is highly appreciated

My wife and I have been serving faithfully for years at a local church and when the pastor was forced to retire due to health reasons the church was handed over to his son who's already a pastor of another church. The takeover was rather traumatic for us. It's a completely different church now with an absentee pastor sending a video sermon to our "campus" every week. We now have a campus pastor making short comments before and after the sermon. Our responsibilities have been taken away and we basically sit in a cubby playing a video every week, being overseen by someone at the "main" campus. Many of our friends left at the takeover but we've stayed for over a year now. We finally decided to leave because there's no edification for us being there. It's senseless for us to stay and there's been no spiritual growth.