Choosing a Good Church

Are you looking for a church? This page is designed to help you find the best church for you and your family.

As you look, remember, go in prayer that God would lead you to the church that is best for you. Visit the same church a few times if you can. If your only visit is after a natural disaster, or while the staff is away on a retreat, or on a just plain bad day (those even happen to good churches), then your impression may not be entirely accurate. Here are some traits to think about as you visit different churches.

• Does the Church Teach from the Bible?
• Can You Understand What is Being Said?
• What Does the Church Say about Jesus Christ?
• Is the Church Open to Others?
• Is the Worship Time "Alive"?
• Are Children Welcome?
• Does the Church Offer Opportunities to Serve?
• Are there Opportunities to Connect with Others?
• Is the Church On a Mission?
• Does the Church Encourage Service and Sacrifice?
• Are You Challenged to Live the Christian life?

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 good church believes that the Bible is the ultimate source for knowing God and understanding His will for our lives. As a result, a good church will be one that teaches from the Bible because it believes that the Bible is true and that it is God's Word to us. Every church needs a foundation — a basis for what it teaches and for how it does ministry — and a good church will look to the Bible for guidance and instruction for every area.

Can You Understand What is Being Said?

A good church will teach the Bible in a way that you will be able to understand. Remember that Jesus was a great teacher and yet He taught in ways that allowed even the simplest people to comprehend what he was saying. Jesus taught in a way that connected God's truth to people's lives and He used very down—to—earth stories and language. Good teaching is not supposed to be complex; it should be simple, understandable and applicable to life.

What Does the Church Say about Jesus Christ?

What does the church say about Jesus Christ? Jesus was certainly a great teacher and an exemplary role model of kindness and compassion, but a good church will understand that Jesus was much more than a remarkable person. A good church, based on the Bible's teaching, will believe that Jesus was not only a wonderful human being but that He was also the divine Son of God. It is through Jesus that we can be cleansed of sin and know God as our Father. As a result, a good church will help you to understand Jesus and how the Gospel (good news) can change a person's life.

Is the Church Open to Others?

Does the church encourage relationships and involvement? 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 good church, however, will seek to provide a welcoming environment to everyone. A good church will strive to include you rather than send messages of exclusion. A good church will encourage you to develop relationships with others and provide ways for you to become involved.

Is the Worship Time "Alive"?

While some might think this is a question of being traditional or contemporary, the question is much deeper than the style of the music. You may want to ask, "Does the worship draw me toward God?", "Does the worship challenge my mind to think about God's truth?", "Does the worship engage my heart and inner spirit?", "Does the worship inspire me and at the same time bring a sense of humility in God's presence?". The value of worship is not based on how you feel; it is based on offering yourself to God in response to knowing His grace and goodness.

Are Children Welcome?

Were your children the only children there? This could be bad, it could also be good. Check with the pastor; see what the plan is for children's ministries, you might be surprised. Maybe there is a plan awaiting children. Maybe someone was away; maybe many were. Maybe you visited on the family retreat weekend, or maybe you missed the Christian Education wing! Who knows? You might even get a chance to serve.

Does the Church Offer Opportunities to Serve?

Does the church offer clear ways for you to connect God's truth to your life? Are there clearly defined ministry opportunities? Serving can help you to identify your gifts.

Are there Opportunities to Connect with Others?

Sunday morning worship is a great place to come together and be with others but it's not the best time or place to actually get to know others. Good churches realize that few relationships begin in the church lobby in the five minutes before or after services. Therefore as you visit churches, be sure to see if they have some sort of small groups program or smaller group activities. You may be hesitant to join such a group at first — that's natural. However, it's groups likes these that help people deepen their relationships with God, and with others, and ultimately serve to strengthen a church.

Is the Church On a Mission?

You may get the impression that some churches aren't sure why they exist. Some good questions to ask of any church might be, "Are these people passionate?", "Do they know why they are here?", "Do they believe in what they are doing?", "Is this church unified in where they are headed?". A good church will give you a clear "yes" to all of these questions. You will want to be part of a church that knows why it exists and is clearly passionate about fulfilling its mission.

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 sacrifice or serve for fear of being offensive or driving people away. A good church, however, will encourage people to serve and sacrifice in a way that is motivated by God's grace and love. 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.

Are You Challenged to Live the Christian Life?

Churches are sometimes satisfied very easily — if people come to a service once a week they are happy. You will want to find a church that emphasizes what it means to live the Christian life seven days a week. While the commitment to attending church is important, the church should encourage people to be followers of Jesus Christ in every aspect of their lives — at work, home, school, recreation — every day of the week.