From time to time people will ask me what to look for in a good church. In order to answer this I have created two lists: 10 Things to Look for in a Church you attend and 10 Things to Look for in a Church: where you work. If you are in transition for whatever reason here are 10 things to look for in a local church.
Honesty: Make sure that the leadership of the church is leading with integrity. If there are gaps between what is said and what is done consider it a warning sign.
Mission: What is driving your church? Is it driven by great programs? Is it an impressive Sunday show? Are they developing community? Are they seeking to fulfill the great commission? Great churches see themselves as part of a greater story. They are driven by the need to reach more people for Jesus Christ and to make a difference in their local communities. How is your church seeking to do this?
Care: The church is not a corporation. The church exists to bring people into a relationship with their Creator. This requires relationships between people. If you cannot connect with the staff of your local church because they are too busy working on their weekend program, you may want to consider that a warning sign. One of the greatest pieces of advice that I ever received from another church leader was to always place greater value on people than on program. I recommend making sure that relationships are a key value of your church.
Generosity: The church should be a blessing. Too many churches handle their finances in ways that would bankrupt a family or an individual. I once worked at a church that spent 45% of their intake on debt service of their worship building. This “house poor” situation kept them from focusing on the needs of others around them. Make sure that the church you are attending or considering is structured to be above reproach with the use of their finances and generous to the needs of your local community.
Commitment to Scripture: The Bible is the source of authority for all local churches. Is your church teaching from Scripture? Does your pastor explain the background of the text? Does he share the context of the original writings or does he use token texts to support his ideas? Make sure that your church is committed to teaching from Scripture. It is source of all good teaching and nothing should contradict the Bible.
Theology: What are the core theological beliefs of your local church. Does your church differentiate between core and secondary theological issues? Are the majors, majors and the minors the minors? Are you in agreement with them?
Leadership Development: Is your church developing leaders? Both staff and lay leadership? Is there a dividing line between staff and volunteers? Is there a culture of developing people and deploying them for kingdom?
Shared Leadership: Do you only hear from one voice? Is leadership shared or is the church driven by one personality?
Vision: Where is your church going? Vision always looks ahead especially when times are difficult. Are you in agreement with the future vision? Are you excited about it? Are you willing to jump on board?
Service: Does your church challenge you to give your life away? Following Jesus is both challenging and comforting. Is there a place for you to plug in and use your gifts for the church? How can you make a difference?