Are you looking for a church? Whether you are a seasoned believer, a new believer, or someone just curious, this page is designed to help you find the best church for you and your family. As you look, be prayerful that God would lead you to a church that glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ as supreme and that fits your preferences as well. It is important to visit the same church a few times if you can. If you only visit one time you may encounter a special service that is not typical, or you may come when the pastor is away, then your impression may not be entirely accurate. Also, it is important to sit down with the pastor and ask questions about the church’s doctrine and his personal convictions. Use some of the advice below as a guide in your discussion. Remember, the church is about Jesus Christ not about us so don’t go to a church looking for what you can get out of it, rather go to a church looking for how you can serve Jesus. With that in mind, here is some helpful advice to consider as you visit different churches.
Does the Church Teach from the Bible?
What does the church believe about the Bible? While almost every church makes reference to the Bible, a healthy church believes that the Bible is the ultimate authority for knowing God and understanding His will for our lives. As a result, a healthy church will be one that teaches from the Bible not just talks around the Bible. This is best done through an expository method of preaching. That is to say that the preacher expounds the text of Scripture and tells you what it means, how it is related to the context in which it was written, and how it affects your life. This gives God the glory and puts the attention on Him rather than on the preacher. Beware of pastors that present themselves as entertainers and superstars. Avoid churches that water down the Word of God and spend their time trying to “tickle the ears” of the congregation as opposed to preaching the clear Word of God (2 Tim. 4:1-5). Also, beware of churches that are legalistic and who focus on convincing everyone to hold to their particular preferences, which have no explicit biblical support. So the most important thing to look for and evaluate in a church is how they handle the Bible. Is it proclaimed as authoritative, inspired, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient for guidance and instruction in every area of life? If it is, you have discovered the foundation of a “healthy” church.
What Does the Church Say about Jesus Christ?
Who is Jesus? While Jesus was certainly a great teacher and an exemplary role model of kindness and compassion, a healthy church will go much further than that. Based on the Bible's teaching, a healthy church will believe and promote that Jesus is the Christ, the divine Son of God, the second member of the Holy Trinity. They will uphold His Virgin Birth, His perfect life, His miracles, His death on the cross as the full payment for sin, His bodily Resurrection, His Ascension and current position as Mediator and High priest, and His physical Second Coming as Judge and King. A healthy church will teach and advance that Jesus Christ is the only way that people can be cleansed and forgiven of sin and know God as their Father. As a result, these truths will be proclaimed to help people understand how Jesus can radically change their life.
Does the Church Hold to Sound Doctrine?
There is a growing trend in many churches to devalue doctrine and make the teachings of Scripture irrelevant or unimportant. We have all heard statements from preachers like, “Doctrine is not important in Christianity we all just need to get along”. If you ever hear a statement like that in a church you visit you should run to the exit door! Sound doctrine is absolutely critical to the health of a church because it reveals to us the foundation of Christianity. The Apostle Paul charged Titus to "teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). Titus was Paul's representative to train pastors in the churches of Crete and so by application this command goes to every pastor in every generation. In fact, over thirty times the importance of doctrine is stressed in the Bible. The word "doctrine" simply means the "teachings" of the Bible. We are not talking about complicated philosophical concepts that professors argue over in ivory towers; rather we are talking about simple concepts like: Who is God? What is He like? Who is Jesus? How we can be related to Him? What has Jesus accomplished for us on the cross? How can we live holy lives? What does the future hold? These are essential teachings to know and understand as a Christian. If you take doctrine out of Christianity, you have no Christianity! If your goal is to hear an inspirational message that makes you feel good and gets you through until next Sunday, any church will do. However, if you want to understand the plan of God, grow in your faith and experience the awesome glory of God, sound doctrine is crucial.
Does the Church Have a Biblical Philosophy of Ministry?
A healthy church will spend its energy on implementing a biblical philosophy of ministry. What that means is that the church will operate according to clear biblical principles. Does the church have a vision in accordance with the core values of the Bible? Is God truly glorified in everything that is done in the church? Is there a passion for Christ and the Bible? Is there a strong emphasis on following Jesus and surendering to His Lordship? Is the church invloved in evangelism? Is the church wise and careful with God's money? Does the church promote qualified biblical leadership, such as Elders and Deacons? Does the church institute biblical church discipline? What does the church believe about the ordinances? Do they line up with the Bible? Many churches today are not concerned with these things but rather they are concerned with “success" as the world views it. Beware of personality driven churches where the whole ministry stands or falls on the pastor. Avoid churches that are faddish, man-centered and politically correct. Some churches are going to extremes in their desire to fit in with the culture. These churches are propagating foul speech in the pulpit, graphic “sex” talks, secular music, and even an outright denial of the authority and clarity of the Bible. You want to be able to recognize those kinds of churches and stay clear from them. In stark contrast to these unbiblical trends, a healthy church will be God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible focused, reverential and creative without ever compromising the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 says that the purpose of the church is to be “the pillar and support of the truth.” The biblical standard of success is not how many people are in attendance, but rather the accurate proclamation and implementation of God’s truth. So when you are looking for a church make sure you are discerning and cautious. Beware of both legalism and liscence and let the Word of God be your evaluating tool. Ask yourself this question: “What would Jesus think of this church?”
Is the Church Passionate About Missions and Evangelism?
One of the first questions to ask a church is what is their vision for missions and evangelism. Find out what the heart beat of the church is. What is the church's missions budget in proportion to their overall budget? Are missionaries currently being supported by the church? Does the church have a clear theology of missions? Does the church send adults or youths on short term mission trips? What does the church believe about Evangelism? Are there training classes on Evangelism? Is the congregation exhorted to share their faith in Jesus Christ? These are some important questions to ask a church. A healthy church will be passionate in answering these questions in the affirmative. Look for a church that will equip every attendee with the knowledge of the Word of God so they can go out and witness for Christ.
Does the Church Welcome Newcomers?
Is the church friendly to newcomers? Sometimes you can get the sense that a church is there for those who are already members. Rather than being welcomed, you can feel that the church would prefer that "outsiders" would stay on the outside. A healthy church, however, will seek to provide a welcoming environment to everyone. If you visit a church several times and no one goes out of their way to greet you that is a red flag that something is not right. If it is a large church there should be an area to meet staff or get information. If it is a small church, a personal greeting from the pastor is always a good sign. But don’t be like many people who visit a church once and are turned off because no one said “hello.” Perhaps that will be the case if you run out the back door as soon as the service is over! Visit several times and make yourself available to the people; if there is still no interest in you or your family you will know to move on.
Does the Church Offer Opportunities to Learn Outside of Sunday Morning?
Sunday morning worship is a great place to come together and learn the Word of God but the opportunities to learn should not end there. Healthy churches realize that one sermon a week is not enough spiritual food to sustain a good diet. Therefore when you look at a church, be sure to see if they offer other avenues for you to grow in the Word of God. Look for Adult Sunday School, look for a mid-week Bible study, look for a small group ministry that meets in homes or other "discipleship" type ministries. These ministries are designed to help you in your desire to be a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. A church that is serious about your spiritual growth and wants you to connect with other people on a spiritual level will offer several of these opportunities.
Does the Church Encourage Service and Sacrifice?
We live in a world that is increasingly "consumer driven." As a result, many churches never challenge people to serve or sacrifice for fear of being offensive or driving them away. A healthy church, however, will encourage people to serve in a way that is motivated by God's grace and love. Look for a church that encourages you to develop relationships with others and provides ways for you to use your spiritual gifts. Does the church offer opportunities for you to get involved? Are there clearly defined ministry needs that you could plug into? Serving can help you to identify your gifts. Without the ingredients of service and sacrifice it is easy for a church to be self-serving rather than really focusing on serving others as Jesus said we should do.
Does the Church Challenge You to Live the Christian Life?
Some churches are satisfied if people come to a service once a week and throw a few bucks in the plate. You will want to find a church that emphasizes what it means to live the Christian life seven days a week, 365 days a year. While the commitment to attending church and supporting that church is important, a healthy church will also exhort people to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. One of the key elements to look for when searching for a church is the degree of stress they put on discipleship. Is discipleship an option or is it a mandate from the lips of Christ? A healthy church will advocate following Jesus in every aspect of our lives — at home, at work, at school, on vacation or wherever we are. This challenge should begin in the pulpit. Does the pastor challenge people to live for Christ or does he just give a pep talk? A healthy church will have a strong emphasis on challenging people to live godly and surrender all to the Lordship of Christ.
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