How to Choose a Church

 

by Coty Pinckney; the outline and much of the content comes from
chapter 13 of Don Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church (Moody, 1996).
See http://www.spiritualdisciplines.org/

 

1.      Researching the church will help you to avoid an unfaithful church

Characteristics of an unfaithful church:

§         It has activities and reputation without life

§         Its work is incomplete before God

§         It has forgotten the Scriptures and faithful preaching

§         It is indifferent to the things of God

 

 

2.       Researching the church will help you to avoid an unfaithful minister

§         The New Testament warns about the presence of false teachers/prophets

 

 

3.      How should you research the church you consider joining?

 

First, discover what the church (and especially the pastor) believes. Ask him and/or other key leaders in the church:

§        How is a person made right with God?

§        What is your position on the inerrancy of Scripture? 

§        Do you believe Adam and Eve were historical individuals?

§        Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life?

§        What is your position on the Lordship Salvation issue?  Can a person take Jesus as Savior without taking Him as Lord?

§        Do you believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin?

§        Do you believe in the bodily return of Jesus Christ?

§        Do you believe in a literal hell?

§        How do you understand the role of preaching within the church?

§        What sermon series have you preached in the last year? What series do you plan to preach in the next six months?

§        What is your position on the ordination of women for positions of church leadership?

§        What are your views regarding divorce and remarriage?

§        What do you believe about spiritual gifts?

§        What is your position on church debt?  Is your church in debt?

§        Have there been splits in the church or have any pastors been asked to leave?

§        What have been the high points (or the best things) in this church in the last five years? The last six months?

§        What are the greatest strengths of this church? Greatest weaknesses?

§        What do you think is your greatest ministry strength? Weakness?

§        How do you foster the spiritual growth of individuals in your church?

§        What are your goals for the church?

§        Would you mind telling me about your devotional life?

§        Who are your favorite authors?

§        What is the doctrinal statement of the church, and may I have a copy?

§        Does the church follow its constitution and by-laws, and may I have a copy?

§        How central is missions to this church?

§        How many new, long-term missionaries have been sent from this church in the last five years?

§        How does this church communicate with and honor its supported missionaries?

§        What percentage of the budget of the church is devoted to missions? What percentage of the missions budget is directed to unreached people groups?

§        What do you do to welcome and encourage a diverse congregation?

§        What is the primary goal of the Sunday morning service? How is that goal obvious from the service?

§        How important is prayer in the life of the church? What opportunities are there to pray with the church leadership?

§        Are children welcome in the Sunday morning service?

§        What is your philosophy of children’s ministry? What are children able to learn and understand about the Bible? About God?

§        What is your philosophy of youth ministry? What is the role of the parents of youth in the youth ministry? Is the church one more place where youth are separated from their parents, or does the church bring youth and parents together?

§        Does a large percentage of the church differ with your position on any of these issues?

 

Second, discover what the church does.

 

Third, discover who the people are.

 

 

Bottom Line:

1) Don’t spend years trying to find the perfect church. Find a good one and invest yourself, your time, your prayers, and your money to make it more and more a place where God is honored.

 

 

2) A good church is worth . . . driving a long distance; changing houses; changing jobs; turning down a good job; relocating, if necessary.

 

 

3) If there are no good churches where you relocate . . . work to start a good church or don’t relocate there. Find a church before you buy a house, and buy a house based on the location of the church.