Looking for a new church in Cardiff, I've been thinking a bit about what characterises a 'good' church (to clarify, by church I mean Christians who meet together, not a building or institution). People might advise us to look for a 'lively' church and/or one which teaches the Bible faithfully. 'Lively' is an essential characteristic- if by it one means that the church is spiritually alive (rather than just lively music etc!). Faithful Bible teaching is important and needed to feed that life, but what if the congregation aren't doing what the Bible says? 'Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says'. (James 1:22) However, the other day I was reading Paul's letters to the Thessalonians and here he seems to be writing to a good, faithful church- He doesn't have any criticisms about them (like his letters to the Corinthians) but rather thanks God for them and encourages them to keep going as they are, doing wh...