During this time of your life, you may have decided to look for a new church.
However, when you look in the phone book or even the listing of churches in the Recorder, it seems they are as plentiful as the stars in the sky.
With hundreds (perhaps thousands) of churches in the area, where can the search begin?
Should someone consider superficial factors such as the pastor’s style of preaching, the church’s size or the quality of its praise music?
Does the church have to be part of an organization, or should it be non-denominational? Should it have a proud history in its community, or be relatively new and contemporary?
“The question of what kind of church to attend is a very important question that many people don’t give enough consideration to,” said Nathaniel Hankerson, a professor at Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis and pastor of Crossroads Bible Church.
He noted that some individuals can accept a new job and move to another city without even considering where they will worship.
“Choosing the right church is important, because it plays such a prominent role in the life of a practicing Christian,” he said. “It is not only where you will worship and interact with other believers, it will also be the place where significant life milestones could take place. It might be where you will get married or where your children will be baptized.”
Hankerson noted that the early Christian church provided clear examples of what today’s congregations should have in chapter two of Acts. According to one verse, early believers were “involved in Scripture and they continued steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine.”
Hankerson said, “That tells us that the most important question we can ask about a church is ‘How do they handle the truth? Is the Bible their only source of truth? Is it explained in a practical way so that you can apply it to your life once you leave the service?”
Potential church members are also advised to request a copy of a congregation’s doctrinal statement, or statement of faith so that they can see what the church actually believes.
Bill Kincaid, a professor at Christian Theological Seminary, said people are sometimes attracted to a congregation based on factors such as appearance, size or prominence, and overlook attributes that have more of an impact on their spiritual health.
“The first thing we should consider about a church is whether or not it provides an actual opportunity to encounter God and have a relationship with him,” Kincaid said. “Also, does the church offer you a chance to be a part of a community of faith, and not just sit on the sidelines or the fringe of the congregation?”
Hankerson agrees that meaningful opportunities for church involvement and fellowship are essential. However, he said, it is important to remember that fellowship is not merely a social activity.
“Fellowship is sharing with other believers what God is doing in your life and hearing what he is doing in their life,” Hankerson said. “If you and I are talking about the word of God, and how something in it blessed us, that’s an example of fellowship.”
As a minister, Hankerson also encourages people to seek a church where communion, the ceremony that reenacts the Disciples’ last supper with Jesus Christ, is practiced on a regular basis.
“Christ instituted it and commanded it,” he said. “When you see that communion table up front, it’s a message unto itself. It’s not just an add-on to the service.”
Hankerson and Kincaid agreed that the most successful congregations also emphasize evangelism, prayer – both individual and corporate – and the use of a person’s spiritual gifts to serve both the church and the community.
“It is important to know how a church will help you be helpful to others, especially to the broader community,” Kincaid said. “Far too many churches today have become focused on their inner workings, and that has become a turn-off for some people.”
The bottom line, Hankerson said, is that a church should be more than just a place that is visited for Sunday service, where members can ease in and out without fellowship or contributions to the church and community.
“Jesus said he came to serve, not to be served,” Hankerson stated. “That is a great standard for members of every church to follow.”
