Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Choosing a church is a big decision. Here are some things you will want to consider.
Key Points:
- The single most important thing when choosing a church is to find out what the church believes. Is the Bible rightly taught and seen as the authoritative word of God? But the church must not only teach the word of God, they need to do what it says. (James 1:22.)
- It’s important to look at the pastor, but it should not be the sole reason for choosing a church. Some are drawn too much to the pastor who is charismatic, funny, or holds their attention. Before committing to a church, ask yourself if the leaders are committed to equipping people to use their gifts to build up the church and then ask yourself if you can submit to their leadership. (James 4:12.)
- Evaluate how the church measures success. Are the people in the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, becoming more fully devoted to Christ? Are they discipling others and reaching out to those who don’t know God? The answers to those questions are the marks of a faithful church.
Quote This:
James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- List some qualities that you think are important in a church.
- Do you think that you can find a perfect church? Why or why not?
- What do you think are some essentials of the Christian faith and what would you consider to be non-essential? If you are not sure, how do you think you might find out?
- Read Ephesians 4:11-16. How would you rate yourself as a church member? Do you know what your gifts are and are you currently using them in your local church?
- Make a list of some questions you would like to ask the leadership of a church before deciding to make it your home church.
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
