How to Find a Bible-Based Christian Community in Johannesburg Without A Family Member or Friend to Walk With You

If you have just moved to Johannesburg, or if you have just come back to faith after years away, or if you have quietly been a Christian for years without a community — and you are wondering how to find a Bible-believing community that does not feel weird — this post is for you. The Bible is clear that the Christian is not meant to walk alone. The Bible is clear that the Christian is part of a body. The Bible is clear that finding a community takes time, wisdom, and the courage to ask.

Why This Conversation Matters in Johannesburg Right Now

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa. Johannesburg is also one of the most transient cities in the country. People move in for work. People move out for work. People move between suburbs. People move between provinces. People move between countries. In a city of this size and this kind of movement, finding a Christian community is one of the most common pastoral questions we hear in our Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore.

The question usually comes in three forms:
Question 1 — I have been in Joburg for two years. I have not been to church. I do not know any Christians. Where do I start?
Question 2 — I tried a few churches. They were either too big, too loud, too controlling, or too prosperity-driven. Where do I find something more Bible-based?
Question 3 — I left a church a few years ago after a bad experience. I want to come back. I am scared. Where do I start?

This post is for all three questions. This post walks through what the Bible says about Christian community, what to look for in a Bible study or small group, and how to take the first step when you do not know a single Christian in the city.

What the Bible Actually Says About Christian Community

The Bible is not silent on this. The Bible has a great deal to say about the Christian's relationship to other Christians. The Bible calls the Christian to belong to a community, not just to believe a doctrine.

Hebrews 10:24-25 — Do Not Give Up Meeting Together

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

The Christian is not meant to walk alone. The Christian is meant to be in regular contact with other Christians. The Christian is meant to be encouraged, and to encourage. The Christian who gives up meeting together has given up a Bible command.

Acts 2:42-47 — The First Christian Community

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The first Christian community met together. The first Christian community broke bread together. The first Christian community gave to one another. The first Christian community was marked by gladness and sincerity. The first Christian community was not perfect. The first Christian community was a community.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 — One Body, Many Parts

"Just as a body, though one cell, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body — whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, 'Wow, I am not a hand, so I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Wow, I am not an eye, so I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, however, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I do not need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I do not need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that the parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

The Christian is not meant to be a lone ranger. The Christian is meant to be a part of a body. The Christian is meant to be connected. The Christian is meant to belong.

Galatians 6:2 — Carry Each Other's Burdens

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ."

The Christian is meant to share the weight. The Christian is meant to help with the load. The Christian who walks alone has not fulfilled the law of Christ.

What a Bible-Based Christian Community Actually Looks Like

The Christian in Johannesburg who is looking for a community has the right to know what to look for. The Christian in Johannesburg who is looking for a community has the right to ask questions before joining. The Christian in Johannesburg who is looking for a community is encouraged to be patient — finding the right community takes time.

Here is what we have noticed, after ten years of running a Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore.

1. The Bible Is the Authority

The community should treat the Bible as the final authority for what it teaches. The community should encourage the Christian to read the Bible for themselves. The community should not be afraid of hard questions. The community should be willing to say, I do not know, but let us look it up together.

The community that treats the Bible as one of many voices has not understood the Bible's claim to be the word of God.

2. The Community Is Free to Join and Free to Leave

The Christian who joins a community should be free to leave. The Christian who leaves a community should not be shamed. The Christian who questions a community should not be silenced. The Bible honours the freedom of the Christian to choose where to belong.

The community that pressures the Christian to commit, to sign, to give, to attend every meeting, or to confess sins publicly has crossed a line the Bible does not endorse.

3. The Community Is Honest About Sin and Suffering

The community that pretends everyone is fine has not understood the Bible. The Psalms are full of lament. Job is full of complaint. The early church had conflict. The Christian community that is honest about sin and suffering is a place where the Christian can be honest about their own sin and suffering.

4. The Community Is Generous Without Being Manipulative

The community that is generous with its money, its time, and its welcome is honouring the Bible. The community that is generous without manipulation is honouring the Bible. The community that constantly asks for money, that uses guilt, that ties giving to blessing, has crossed a line the Bible does not endorse.

5. The Community Is the Same Behind Closed Doors

The community that is one way on Sunday and another way on Monday has not understood the Bible. The Christian community is meant to be the same. The Christian community is meant to be honest, kind, and patient — both in the meeting and outside the meeting.

How to Take the First Step When You Do Not Know a Single Christian

The hardest step is the first one. Here are five first steps that we have seen work for Christians in Johannesburg over the last ten years.

First Step — Start With One Bible Verse a Day

The Christian who does not yet have a community can start by reading one Bible verse a day. The Christian can start with the Gospel of John. The Christian can start with one Psalm a day. The Christian can start with the Sermon on the Mount. The Bible is the Christian's first community.

Second Step — Find an Online Bible Study

The Christian who does not yet have an in-person community can join an online Bible study. Our Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore has been meeting online since 2017, and we have had members from Sandton, Soweto, Randburg, Roodepoort, and Pretoria join from the West Rand, the East Rand, and even from other countries. The online Bible study is one of the ordinary means of grace that God has given in the 21st century.

Third Step — Phone a Christian You Trust

The Christian who knows one Christian can phone that Christian. The Christian can ask, Where do you go to Bible? Would you take me with you? Do you have a small group that is open to new members? The Christian who is willing to ask for help is the Christian who is wise.

Fourth Step — Visit a Few Different Communities

The Christian who is looking for a community is encouraged to visit two or three different communities before deciding. The Christian is encouraged to ask questions. The Christian is encouraged to take notes. The Christian is encouraged to give the community at least three visits before deciding to stay or leave.

Fifth Step — Be Patient With Yourself and With the Community

Finding a Christian community takes time. Trusting a new community takes time. Allowing the new community to know the real you takes time. The Christian is encouraged to be patient. The Christian is encouraged not to give up after one bad experience. The Christian is encouraged to keep looking, keep asking, keep praying, and keep showing up.

A Closing Word to the Christian Who Has Been Hurt by a Community

If you have been hurt by a Christian community before — if you have been pressured, controlled, shamed, or exploited — this section is for you. The Bible is clear that not every Christian community is healthy. The Bible is clear that some Christian communities have failed. The Bible is clear that the Christian who has been hurt by a community is not the Christian who has been failed by God.

Psalm 147:3 — "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Matthew 11:28 — "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Romans 8:1 — "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

The Christian who has been hurt is invited to come to Jesus, not away from Jesus. The Christian who has been hurt is invited to find a Bible-based community, not to give up on community altogether. The Christian who has been hurt is invited to take the risk of trusting a community again, slowly, with wisdom, with patience, and with the help of God.

A Closing Word to the Christian Who Is Looking Tonight

If you are reading this tonight, alone, with no Christian community, with no Bible study, with no one to call — the Bible is for you. The Bible is the Christian's first community. The Bible is the Christian's first friend. The Bible is the place where the Christian can hear the voice of God until they find the people of God.

Our Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore is online. We meet every Wednesday at 7:30pm. We do not require commitment. We do not require tithes. We do not require anything from you other than a willingness to show up. If you would like to join, call Mr. Sim on +27 77 487 1295 or Ms. Dora on +27 67 442 4461, and we will send you the link. If the WiFi is out, we will move to WhatsApp. If the WhatsApp is out, we will meet in Parkmore. The Wednesday night is the Wednesday night, with or without WiFi.

You are not alone. The Bible is with you. The body of Christ is with you. And the God who makes the body is waiting for you to find your place in it.

Johannesburg Bible Study Church meets online every Wednesday at 7:30pm. The Bible study is free, open to anyone, and free to join or to leave. Call Mr. Sim on +27 77 487 1295 or Ms. Dora on +27 67 442 4461 to join.