If I Were Looking for a Church
Choosing your church is one of life’s more important decisions.
Texts: Matthew 18:20, Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 14:40, Amos 3:3
Here’s a thought: The church is like Noah's Ark: you wouldn't be able to stand the stink inside if it weren't for the storm outside.
I enjoy the month of September! As a pastor, it represents a fresh start in the life of the church, with people returning from holidays, well rested and ready to renew their commitments. It is a time when we decide again what is most important in our lives. What will we dedicate our time and money to this fall and winter? How will our weekly schedule look?
Fall is also the time of year when many individuals and families are settling into a community - including a community of believers in Jesus Christ. You might be faced with the question, "What church should I call home?" I have stepped into your shoes and asked myself that same question.
If I were looking for a church I would:
Pray Prioritize Pursue
If I were looking for a church I would:
Pray
I would ask the Lord to guide me. What a promise the Lord makes in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." NIV
Jesus Christ must be the central focus of the church - not a pastor, gripping sermons, good music and worship, strong missionary emphasis, exciting youth and children's programs, compatible fellow members or even agreeable doctrines, important as all these are. A fervent love for Christ and a heartfelt corporate worship of His Person must be the primary mark of a healthy Christian and a healthy church. It isn't primarily a matter of my need, my edification, my enjoyment, or my spiritual satisfaction but of His worth in my eyes and the eyes of the church.
A husband and his wife arose one weekend and the wife dressed for church. It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn't moved a finger toward getting dressed. Perplexed, she asked, "Why aren't you getting dressed for church?"
He replied, "Because I don't want to go.” She asked, "Do you have any reasons?"
He explained, "Yes, I have three good reasons. First, the congregation is cold. Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don't want to go.”
The wife concluded, wisely, "Well, honey, I have three reasons why you should go. First, the congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you. And third, you're the pastor! So, get dressed!"
In any relationship between two or more persons a paradoxical principle occurs: the more committed you are to giving the more you end up receiving.
Unfortunately, too many people look for a church that will serve them rather than a church that they will serve. Ask the Lord to lead you to a church where you can love and serve Him. When you dedicate yourself in this way the benefits of health and strength in your relationships with God and with people will outweigh any sacrifices you make.
If I were looking for a church I would:
Pray
Prioritize
I would decide what is most important. There are three ingredients that I would look for in a church:
Cause
There is clearly a clash of agendas occurring in churches all across North America and Rick Warren (The Purpose-Driven Church, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, page 82) identifies it this way:
If you ask typical church members why their church exists, you’ll get a wide variety of answers. Most churches do not have a clear consensus on this issue. Win Arn, a consultant to churches, once told me about a survey he took. He surveyed members of nearly a thousand churches asking the question, “Why does the church exist?” The results? Of the church members surveyed, 89 percent said, “The church’s purpose is to take care of my family’s and my needs.” For many, the role of the pastor is simply to keep the sheep who are already in the “pen” happy and not lose too many of them. Only 11 percent said, “The purpose of the church is to win the world for Jesus Christ.”
Then, the pastors of the same churches were asked why the church exists. Amazingly, the results were exactly opposite. Of the pastors surveyed, 90 percent said the purpose of the church was to win the world and 10 percent said it was to care for the needs of the members. Is it any wonder why we have conflict, confusion, and stagnation in many churches today? If the pastor and congregation can’t even agree on why the church exists, conflict and disagreement on everything else is inevitable.
Churches have largely overlooked the importance of trans-local relationships, or the input of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers beyond themselves. The result is people under-challenged, under-equipped and under-utilized sitting in the pews of churches that have become ingrown and consumeristic. I never realized how vital this was until 2003 when I and the church I pastored desperately needed such trans-local input. I would look for a church that partners with an apostolic team who calls us to an outward focus.
In Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus left His people with a mission to fulfill:
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV
One Life Church in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa explains, “Saved people serve people so that served people can save people.”
How committed is this group of people to making disciples locally, nationally and internationally? Is there evidence of this focus in the way the congregation lives when they are gathered and when they are scattered? Will my desire to share the good news about Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him be fed or squelched here.
I would look for:
Cause
Community
Here is how the early church behaved in Acts 2:42-47:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. NIV
Do loving relationships between people take precedence over the property and the programs? A church loses its focus when capital assets and fine "management" take precedence over the people. Remember: the Bible defines "church" as "a collection of called out people". Will my commitment to build strong friendships be encouraged here?
Billy Graham observed, “Church-goers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together, they keep the flame aglow; when they separate, they die out.”
I would look for:
Cause Community Corporation
The church is not a business, but did you know the word “corporation” comes from the Latin word “corpus”, which means “body”? Our bodies are amazing examples of how the different parts work together in unity. Likewise, the church is the Body of Christ made up of diverse people who respond to the Head - Jesus.
The Apostle Paul instructs the church in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” NIV
Priorities are reflected in the way time, energy and money are spent. What priorities does the church budget reflect? Is there enough competent organization present to facilitate the moving of the Holy Spirit and the responsible, efficient use of people skills and financial resources? Do I trust these people with my contributions of time and money?
I like what Charles Colson (1931-2012) concluded:
Biblically the church is an organism not an organization - a movement, not a monument. It is not a part of the community; it is a whole new community. It is not an orderly gathering; it is a new order with new values, often in sharp conflict with the values of the surrounding society.
If I were looking for a church I would:
Pray Prioritize Pursue
I would begin looking. People typically start by visiting weekly worship services. I would hang around for a month and look for these qualities in a church service:
Is the preaching Biblical and relevant?
Do I appreciate the music and worship?
What efforts are made to help newcomers feel welcome?
Is this a place where I would invite friends and family?
We need to ask ourselves what Amos 3:3 asks, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” NIV
It would be a big mistake to stop with the weekly worship service! A church is much more than a gathering of people once a week. I would talk with the church leaders and find out what their dreams are for this congregation. I would check out some home groups within the church and look for these qualities:
What values and priorities are being expressed and lived out?
Will there be a place for me to use my spiritual gifts here?
Is this group open or closed to newcomers?
A pastor saw Robert Schuller's TV program "Hour of Power." One of the things that impressed him most was the practice of everyone turning around and shaking hands with and greeting the other worshipers seated nearby. The pastor felt that their church was slightly stuffy and could use a bit of friendliness. So, one Sunday he announced that the following Sunday they were going to initiate this custom. At the close of this same service a man turned around to the lady behind and said, "Good morning."
She looked at him with shock at his boldness and said, "I beg your pardon! That friendliness business doesn't start until next Sunday.
You will not find a perfect church. The church is like Noah's Ark: you wouldn't be able to stand the stink inside if it weren't for the storm outside. Strong churches are made of people who commit to:
Worshipping in a weekly celebration service
Participating in a home group
Serving in at least one area of ministry
Supporting the work financially through tithes and offerings.
The Apostle Paul expresses thanks for people’s partnership in Philippians 1:5, so if I could add one more “P” to our discussion it would be “partnership”. Once you find your church home, jump in with both feet and partner with the leadership in the gospel. If you cannot jump in with both feet, I would recommend that you find a church where you can and you will.
Several years ago, in England, Sir John Barbirolli was conducting a great symphony orchestra before a "standing room only" audience. The concert hall was unusual in that it was used for cultural events on weekdays and for religious services on Sundays. On this particular Saturday evening, one of the patrons of the orchestra noticed that the clergyman who was to preach there the next day was in the audience. He leaned over and said to him, cynically, "When are you going to fill this hall on Sunday the way Sir John Barbirolli has tonight?"
The clergyman looked his antagonist straight in the eye and replied with a steady voice, "I will fill this hall on Sunday morning when you give to me, as you gave to Sir John tonight, eighty-five disciplined men and women to be with him and to work with him."
If I were looking for a church I would:
Pray
Prioritize
Pursue
Choosing your church is one of life’s more important decisions.