What to Look for in a Church
I’ve often said that LifeConnection is not going to be the church for everyone. Because of this I think it’s important and healthy for us to help people understand what to look for in choosing a church in which to plant their lives.
The reality is this: as a young church we have people coming and going quite a bit. And it seems wise for us to help those who are leaving understand how to discover a church in which to plant their lives. Let’s move beyond the idol of Consumerism to think biblically about this question. And this is why this short list from 9Marks is helpful.
From – Q&A: What should I look for in a church? (9Marks)
- Expositional preaching. Does the pastor preach God’s Word, or his own ideas? Does he allow Scripture to set his preaching agenda, or does he pick topics by some other criteria?
- Biblical theology. Does the church openly confess key biblical doctrines? Do the leaders consistently teach sound doctrine?
- A biblical understanding of the gospel. Does the church clearly proclaim the good news about what Jesus Christ accomplished for sinners in his death and resurrection? Consistently?
- A biblical understanding of conversion. Does the church teach that people must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:1-8)? Does the church teach that in order to become a Christian, a person must repent of sin and trust in Christ, both of which are ultimately gifts of God?
- A biblical understanding of evangelism. Does the church preach the gospel to non-Christians and encourage its members to do the same? Does it understand that it’s our responsibility to preach the message of salvation yet God is the only one who can do the saving?
- Biblical church membership. Does the church take membership seriously by seeking to ensure that its members faithfully attend? Does it encourage members to fulfill the biblical “one-anothers” with each other?
- Biblical church discipline. Does the church lovingly, patiently practice church discipline?
- Biblical discipleship and growth. Does the church expect and equip its members to grow spiritually? Does the church encourage its members to disciple one another? Growing as a Christian should be normal, not exceptional.
- Biblical church leadership. Is the church led by godly, qualified men? Does the church look to Scripture to determine its leadership structure?
So whether you are committed to LifeConnection, checking things out, or you’re on your way out, these are things you should look for in a church. When you see these present the real question is, “how can you contribute and invest your life in these people in this place?”
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