I recently read "Stop Dating the Church and fall in love with the family of God" by Josh Harris.
Here are some questions he listed in the book that a person or couple need to consider when selecting a church home.
Questions to Ask When Looking for a Church
1. Is this a church where God's Word is faithfully taught?
This must be our first and foremost question because if we as Christians believe the Bible is our only true absolute standard, then preachers and teachers who teach from experience and psychology and sociology, etc., apart from God's Word have nothing ultimately to offer us. Only God's Word can give us the words of life (John 6:68). Only God's Word can keep us from sin (Psalm 11:9-11), can give us the correct avenues to teach others (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and is a perfect testimony of God's grace in our lives (Psalm 19:7).
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?
Sound doctrine does matter!!! It matters because false teaching continually infiltrates the church (see Galatians 1). If we do not care for sound doctrine (and sound doctrine is only God's Word exposited faithfully), then we will only want those things which will sound good to our "itching ears," a dangerous event since our hearts are inclined to want things apart from Christ (2 Timothy 4:3-4). And without sound doctrine, we might end up believing a different Gospel, what Paul calls an anathema to Christ.
3. Is this a church in which the GOSPEL (justification by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone) is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
Paul tells the Corinthian church, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). A church that makes the core Gospel secondary does a disservice to the Scriptures, and really a church where the Gospel is not cherished is a church that has lost perhaps its greatest power.
4 Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the Gospel?
If the Gospel then is the central core of the church, then it makes sense that the local church would want others, especially those who do not know the Gospel, to know that Gospel. In this way, the church should be gracious to those who desperately need the Gospel, and therefore, people of all walks of life could enter that place to see God's grace exemplified.
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
If the leadership of the church is led by an agenda and even doctrine apart from grace and humility, one must wonder whether the church truly understands the fullness of the Gospel. Obviously, you are not looking for perfection in Christian leadership. To do so only propagates a proud attitude and such a person would never truly know humility to begin with. But if the church is Gospel-centered, you will find the leadership to be honest with the reality of their own sinfulness, and therefore gracious to others in spite of others' sinfulness.
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God's Word?
A church not only needs to hear the Word (Q1), but they need to be doers of the Word. What good is Bible study if there is no intent to apply God's Word, to hide it in our hearts so that we do not sin against God (Psalm 119:9-11)? People should be referring to God's Word regularly, interacting with others through the Scriptures not with boasting, but with a deep sense of brokenness before God's perfect standard.
7. Is this a church where I can find and cultivate godly relationships?
Notice that the idea is not to cultivate any relationships, it is not to find a good sports ministry, but rather the goal is to have God-centered relationships because ultimately, that will satisfy your soul and give you God's peace.
8. Is this a church where members are challenged to serve?
Serving the church is beautiful when it flows from a passion for the Gospel. In this way, people will serve sacrificially but joyfully. But beware when you see a church cluttered with programs and think that something is happening. The previous questions need to be dealt with first and then service will be a truly joyful matter.
9. Is this a church that is willing to kick me out?
If the church is more concerned with having large numbers than having large numbers of souls who are transformed by Christ, then this question would not make sense. However, 1 Corinthians 5 teaches us that there are times when the sin is so great that the church must be willing to kick a person out of the church SO THAT that person might be saved. The end goal is actually restoration and not punishment and therefore hopefully your church/my church would be willing to do this.
10. Is this a church I'm willing to join "as is" with enthusiasm and faith in God?
Too many people join a church thinking they are God's answer for the church. That is, they can 'fix' what is wrong. Others join a church and then think, "Uh oh, I have made a mistake," and then they are gone in a few months. What a terrible sin of pride and lack of commitment. The reality is that people assume that it's their way or no way. Instead, when you find a church, and you are excited about it, allow your faith in Christ to give you a burden of humility and grace for your church. Don't let your complaints and grumbling undermine the very reason you joined that church in the first place. By doing so, you, your family, and the church, along with the casualties of possibly many others, will do a grave disservice to the kingdom of God and will feel the full affect spiritually of having a heart of pride. Do not flag in your zeal for the church.
11. Is this a church that has a passion to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth?
It makes sense that you would want your church to reach all nations since Jesus' promise is that when the Gospel does this, He will return (Matthew 24:14). Can there be anything greater to look forward to than that?
Blessings
