We went to COTH in Auburn today for the first time. I was raised in a small town southern baptist church so I was a little skeptical about the big crowd, simulcasted service, and contemporary music. But we absolutely loved it, the message was spot on, everyone was very nice and accommodating and I really enjoyed the music. If you have been thinking about going to one the services I highly recommend it.

Not sure I can get used to it. Too much dancing and chanting for me.

Love COTH. Great music and the sermons are great. Pastor Chris is doing something right. Its one of the fastest growing churches in the US

To each is own but going in that is what I thought too, but I did not get that impression at all. Like I said I grew up baptist,so of coarse we sat on the back row,so there may have been some dancing going on up front that I didn't see. It was kind of like a lot of people singing along to more modern hymns.

I've heard the worship service is great. The problem I would have is that none of their satellite churches have Sunday school. That is the biggest part of spiritual growth, in my opinion. It is where your personal fellowship happens and where a open dialogue takes place. If you are missing Sunday school you aren't even getting half of what a church should be, in my opinion.

There are small groups that take the place of sunday school. You sign up in a group and meet once a week off campus

Both my daughters attend the Tuscaloosa campus. It was real hard for my wife & me to see them leave our small, rural Southern Baptist church where they both were saved & baptized.

I can't explain to anyone how hard it was.

I'm just thankful that they are both faithful to still being in church.

That's where my family and I go and I love that church. I received a text this morning from my wife while I was in the woods. (I took my son duck/pig hunting this weekend.) She said that I must watch (on computer) today's sermon by Chris when I get home. So, I guess I'll be watching it later tonight.

Have friends that attend COTH.... great Church. We attend the "Healing Place" off Deerfoot Pkwy in Trussville and it has served us well. Come see us !

Please dont take this the wrong way, but I don't know this church, and I attend a somewhat larger church in my area, but I often wonder at some of the places I have been and seen, would jesus actually be welcomed there, also would he want to be there. Just random thoughts I have from time to time. Finding a church home is much harder than finding a home to live in. One thing I use as a litmus test is what is the church doing outside the building. sorry didnt mean to highjack.

As a former southern baptist staff member I can tell you Jesus would be happy to have the money changers any day. I have had preachers tell people they needed to wear suits, deacons FORBID me from inviting black kids in our parking lot into Sunday School and deacons being elected due to their social status and not their love for Christ. Don't get me started. All if these churches just happen to be traditional ol' fashion churches. If they don't teach all of God's word, don't teach God as just, and don't teach how deep God's love is then you need to leave.

My wife and I love church of the highlands. It is a big church and sometimes that can be intimidating. We have not yet joined a small group but plan to. We go to the riverchase campus and have been for a few years. Highlands is very involved with the community of Birmingham, with the dream center as well as other things. That's one of the many reasons we are proud to call it home.

The one thing I have noticed in todays society is that churches and preachers are not preaching a bloody gospel anymore.They are preaching success in life and monetary prosperity.I dont know anything about the church that has been mentioned but if it is preaching Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and risen from the dead I'm all for it.The Bible says that in the last days that we would heap ear ticklers to ourselves .Thats what is making alot of the preacher-teachers famous today is that they are telling us what we WANT to hear not what we NEED to hear.Joel Osteen is a prime example.He is a great guy I'm sure but he is preaching-teaching in the wrong direction.Just my two cents FWIW

[quote=scoutmaster]Please dont take this the wrong way, but I don't know this church, and I attend a somewhat larger church in my area, but I often wonder at some of the places I have been and seen, would jesus actually be welcomed there, also would he want to be there. Just random thoughts I have from time to time. Finding a church home is much harder than finding a home to live in. One thing I use as a litmus test is what is the church doing outside the building. sorry didnt mean to highjack.[/
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You're right. The church I attend now is fairly large. Probably 800 in late service this morning. The whole reason I joined was not because of the preacher or the music or the facilities but it was because I could see the love and sense of caring that they had for each other. There are no financial cliques and the church is the cornerstone of our community. They provide many meals, clothes and much more, to the poor in our city. I'm thankful for God leading me there but just know that God will never put you somewhere that you can't find a good church to worship in. Be diligent and don't settle until you know you are where you are supposed to be.

This is all in part from the "everyone gets a blue ribbon and ice cream, and don't say bad things about anyone."

Some old fashioned hell, fire and brimstone likely would be "oh, too harsh!" in some of today's rock 'n roll services.

But at least folks are hearing something, and options still exist in our nation to attend where you wish.

X2. Joel Osteen , TD Jakes and Benny Hinn are preaching a prosperity gospel or name it and claim it. Very dangerous and they corrupt the Word Of God. Preaching that caters to the notion that everything is about us and that God wants to give us all kinds of worldly goods if we just submit and ask, is false and damning teaching. God doesn't promise us worldly comfort and material possessions if we follow him. In fact he says we will face persecution and hardships while we are in the world. I wouldn't want to be any of this false teachers come judgement day.

I bet more people come to know Christ in one service at COTH than the little hell fire and brimstone church does all year. If you enjoy monotone singing to an organ than good for you. I like concert quality music with hands in the air praising Jesus. I feel the presence of God more than i did in any other church i have visited.

Don't be so fast to condemn any minister lest you be the one judged. There is a reason that Jesus paid the awesome price that he did and it involves a lot more than living a broken life on this earth and enduring until you die. Yes, some have corrupted the prosperity message both in teaching and in hearing but that doesn't make it any less true.

You might be right and I haven't heard a bad thing about coth but true salvation comes from hearing the Gospel and heading the call of God to accept Christ and repent. There are hundreds that walk the aisle at Joel Osteens church every week but the message that brings them down the aisle is one that is false and damning. My sister goes to COTH in Montgomery so I'm sure the doctrine is sound, or at least I hope it is.