1) Existing congregations seem spiritually dead. Most people simply come to the service to fulfill their perceived obligation of going to a service. Little love, togetherness or enthusiasm is present. If you are a well-respected member of that group, pray about whether you should remain there to stir them up or move on. Also, consider looking for other services that are spiritually alive, before starting a new one.

2) Existing congregations do not effectively involve the brethren and their spiritual gifts (1Cor 12-14; Eph 4:11-15; Rom 12:6-8; 1Pet 4:8–11) Unfortunately, the average congregation consists of people simply attending service and listening and watching "the professionals" do everything. This is not helpful for individual growth. A congregation should give everyone opportunity to be involved, ask questions and participate as they are able. A congregation should be active and actively serving in some way.

3) Existing congregations are "alive", but denomination-ism, corporation-ism or local "politics" are greatly decreasing their effectiveness. The Spirit of God is often resisted by church leaders who are more concerned about their position, doctrinal statements and programs. They may actually try to stop effective, spirit-led worship, teaching, local evangelism or service. Technical reasons for stopping them are usually given: "it is not approved by headquarters", "we may not have the budget to handle it", "that idea could endanger our tax-exempt status", "somebody might sue us" etc. But the spirit-led believer may simply see these as excuses for resisting God.

4) Members or leaders in a group are openly sinful and therefore the environment is not a fitting example for new "little ones" just learning the truth. Paul instructed that people should be removed until they change, so that a bad name is not brought upon God's people (1Cor 5:1–7). The principles of Matthew 18:15–17 (see page 20) should be used to take care of these problems, but the leaders or people in some groups will not make the needed changes. (This point does not refer to people in a group who have sinned, repented and stopped sinning, or people who see some doctrines differently. It refers to habitual liars, adulterers, perverts, thieves, etc.)

5) Existing services include significant doctrinal teaching that you believe to be unbiblical and you see little chance of change. No two serious Bible students will probably ever agree on everything that the Bible teaches, but it is difficult to worship in spirit and truth when the teaching of a congregation is limited to a doctrinal statement written by men thousands of miles away or hundreds of years ago. Other groups may teach more psychology than the Bible. Some may teach that all or part of the Bible is a fable. Doctrinal disagreement is easier to work with if a service allows discussion or the expression of multiple points of view. It is much more difficult for a believer to keep attending a service when its leadership allows only one point of view to be expressed and the believer thinks that point of view is wrong.

This is an even greater problem for those who have children who are learning and for those who are bringing new people to the service. How can one recommend a service to friends and family if one must continually tell them about corrections to the messages given?

6) Existing services are too far away for you to regularly attend every week. This author has known people to drive over two hours each way to a service every week. The service may be wonderful, but much of the good can be undone by the exhausting drive and the near impossibility of fellowship opportunities during the rest of the week.

7) You believe that Christ has specifically shown you that you need to serve people in a way that no one else is doing now. This does not mean that you have a personal feeling that you attribute to Christ, but that you have asked Him to show you in a clear unmistakable way that is what He wants you to do.

If one or more of the above applies to you, and if you have seriously looked for other existing congregations and found none that will work, then there may be reasons for starting a new one in your area. But before you get started, please think about whether you, or anyone wanting to start a service with you, is doing it for any of these five wrong reasons:

1) Someone believes that he has the whole truth (nearly all of his doctrines are right). Recognizing major, continually-taught error in other congregations is a reason to leave them. This is much different than someone making the presumptuous assumption that he knows nearly everything important in the Bible—especially in areas he has not thoroughly studied. Never create a congregation that is essentially a collection point for people to follow one person. That will lead to idolatry and division in the body of Christ.

2) Someone believes his understanding of prophecy is "inspired by God". This problem is similar to the above, but can appear quite differently—the prophecy student may not claim to be right in other areas of doctrine, only in prophecy. A person who has spent many hours studying prophecy (either someone else's conclusions or his own) can sound like he has an impressive amount of knowledge about the future. People are often concerned about the future and would love to follow someone who "knows it". However, you cannot know if a prophecy teacher is inspired of God until several things he has predicted come to pass as he said it would. It is good to teach prophecy, but it is not a reason to start a new congregation. If God really does grant someone great prophetic understanding, should not that person travel around and teach many congregations?

3) Someone thinks he can "do a better job" than the current leaders of a local group. If someone believes the current leaders of his group are making mistakes, he should go to them about it. If he is not heard, but others feel the same way, then he should take other witnesses with him (Matt 18:15-17). If it is possible to take the problems to the congregation, do it (some congregations may allow such a procedure—they may even allow the election of new leaders). But until a person has exhausted the possible parts of the above procedure—asking current leaders to change—he should not divide a congregation just so he can be a leader.

4) Someone is tired of serving so much and never getting recognized. People should be serving because the Holy Spirit in them motivates them to a life of service. Our Savior gave His life for people who did not even understand that they needed a Savior. We must learn to serve without human rewards. Never start a congregation for recognition. Most who start a new congregation will probably be doing more work and receiving more complaints than they did in their previous congregation.

5) Someone has doctrinal disagreements that have minimal effect on group practice. As an example, consider "prayer position". Some scriptures mention people praying with their head bowed, others with their eyes lifted to heaven, and others with their hands held up. Some brethren may prefer one particular way—even believe it is the only right way. But a group can stay together with each person praying in the way they believe is best. Areas of belief that do not affect practice are even less of a reason to divide. For example, some people believe Christ was the One who spoke with Abraham and Moses in the Old Testament. Others believe it was the Father. Both sides can find scriptures to support their teaching—which usually make the other side uncomfortable. Some will go as far as to say that those who do not understand this point correctly are "worshiping the wrong God". Nevertheless, a Roman jailer with only one night's teaching came to believe in God for the first time and was baptized—became a member of the Church (Acts 16:20–40). There was not time to teach an in-depth understanding of God. Furthermore, the Bible clearly shows that we will be judged more by how we treat our neighbors than by how well we can explain complex doctrine. Brethren can have different understandings of some theological ideas, and still worship and serve together.

Hopefully, anyone starting a new congregation will have some of the "right reasons" above and none of the wrong ones. It might be good to discuss these points with others who are thinking of starting a new congregation—and maybe with others who think you should not start one. If you cannot answer their truthful objections, then you might not want to start it.

Whatever you do, please realize that starting a congregation is not a "popularity contest". Do not start a new group by attempting to recruit everyone that you think might possibly want to come. Start small. Start by talking to the people that you know share your spiritual desire for a new congregation—probably because of issues mentioned above. If your study, prayer, fasting and conversations with brethren lead you to start a congregation, then start a small one. If the Holy Spirit is working in your new group, then others will hear about it and it will grow. If God is not blessing your congregation and working in it, then it is better if no one comes and it quietly ends.

Nobody needs to convince any human that your motives for beginning a new congregation are right—it is the Perfect Judge in heaven who will righteously judge what you do. If your work is of "gold, silver and precious stones," God will recognize it and reward you (1Cor 3:11–15). Other brethren will recognize your work by the fruit it bears (Mat 7:16). If your work is not of God, you would be better off not to do it (Jms 3:1).