What Should I Look for in a Church?

So, I’m sitting in the airport unwinding from a busy weekend back in the Toronto area.  We hosted our first official “Open House” and I preached at Harvest Bible Chapel York Region.  The “open house” was a great experience and it especially impacted me for a number of reasons.

It was amazing to see the involvement of those who are already committed to the core group. I was so blessed by the participation of everyone and their desire to be there.  People were making it happen and were stepping up to own it.  There was no question in my mind that this core group believes that this is their home.  The energy was palpable and the passion was evident.  People stepped up in big ways to provide everything that was needed and make the night a huge success.  God was glorified and He is certainly starting something unique and much needed in the Durham Region.

As I watched the night unfold (particularly at the beginning), it was neat to see the dynamics of the group that were forming.  I watched old friends laughing and having a good time and new friends forming bonds that will last for years to come.  It was fun and exciting. There is something unique and special about being a part of Christ’s Church and there is something unique about being part of building something from the ground up.  It really is an awesome privilege to see where God is at work and join Him in it. 

As the night unfolded, there were a number of new faces that joined us.  Some expressed that they had been praying for a Harvest Church to be planted in Durham for years!  Strong connections were made as a mutual love for Christ and His church were expressed.  I was so blessed by the conversations with everyone who visited and was amazed by their desire to be part of a church that honored Christ.  One of the key components they where looking for was a place were they could grow in their walk with Christ, the very thing we are looking to provide.

Obviously, my hope would be that those who hold the same convictions and love for our Savior, who love what Harvest is offering and doing, would seriously pray and consider joining our core group.  Nothing would excite me more than watching the Lord add to our numbers, those whom He is calling to be a part of this exciting work.  However, I am well aware that many who come to our open houses will not team up with us, and that’s fine!  My hope is that they (and every other believer) finds a church that they can grow and mature in, worship Christ in, walk with Christ and others in, and work for Christ in.  The question is, what should we look for in a church?  How do we choose a church when there are so many out there to choose from?

I cannot go to a chapter and verse in the Bible that says, “Thus says the Lord… You must find a church that is __________, and does __________!  It must have ___________, and __________.”  There just isn’t a passage like that in Scripture.  But that doesn’t mean that God’s Word doesn’t have a lot to say about the type of church that we should be looking for, it does!  In the last couple of posts I’ve discussed some of the key elements of the church, the things that must be present to actually be considered a local church.  Here I want to provide you with some key components to help you find the church that God would consider biblical.

1.    You must find a church that preaches and believes the true gospel.  There are many churches out there that claim to be preaching the gospel but under closer scrutiny, they are preaching a distorted version of the gospel.  Know and understand the gospel so that you don’t end up being deceived (Gal. 1:6-7; Rom. 1:16).

2.    You must find a church that preaches the Word.  No church is going to claim that they aren’t preaching the word.  Often times you wont know until you’ve been there a while, sometimes you know the minute you walk in the door.  Take a look around, do the majority of people carry a Bible?  Does the preacher unpack God’s Word or does he use it as a springboard to give you a pep talk?  Does the preacher take you deep into the truths of God’s Word or consistently scratch the surface? Does the preacher preach the whole counsel of God or does he only preach on certain topics (Acts 20:27).  The charge to Timothy was clear, preach the Word (1 Tim. 4:2).  That’s what we need, that’s what the church you go to must provide.

3.    You must find a church that incorporates the components mentioned in the previous post. 

4.    You must find a church that helps you walk with Christ in community.  The church is a place where believers are called to mutual ministry.  That means that we minister to one another by exercising the spiritual gifts the Lord has given us (Rom. 12:6).  We also minister to one another by coming alongside one another in accountability.  We help one another deal with sin (Matt. 18), grow in Christ likeness (Col. 1:28-29), and encourage, admonish and help one another (1 Thess. 5:14). At Harvest, we accomplish this task through our small group ministry.

5.    You must find a church that takes sin seriously.  The Church is Christ’s bride and His desire is that She is holy and pure (Eph. 25-27).  Please don’t misunderstand me, Christ is not looking for the perfect church!  But he is looking for a church that is striving to be holy by purging the sin from within.  Does the church you’re looking at take sin seriously?  Do they practice church discipline out of love for Christ and for those who refuse to repent?  People grow when they are in a church that deals with sin biblically… that’s what you need. 

6.    You must find a church that upholds the biblical standard of leadership.  God is not looking for perfect men, but he is looking for qualified men.  Men who are called to the ministry.  The qualifications are 3 fold: They must have the desire, they must be above reproach, and they must be have the affirmation of church leaders (1 Tim. 3, Titus 1).  The primary role of the pastor is to Shepherd the flock of God (1 Pet 5) and to give instruction in sound doctrine and to protect from those who contradict it (Titus 1:9).

My hope is that you find a church that provides this.  Harvest Bible Chapel Durham takes these things very seriously and we're praying that we will be a church where people know that God's word is the ultimate standard of Truth.