One of the roles of a good church is to fulfill God’s plan of saving and sanctifying the world. Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18 that he will build the church, and our goal should be to partake in the building process by worshipping in a good church.

However, Finding the right church can be a challenging, time-consuming experience. It takes patience and persistence, especially for believers who just moved to a new location.

This guide discusses practical steps to identify a good church and factors to consider during the process of finding the right church.

How to search for a good church

With the filth in today’s modern world, finding the right Christian church can be overwhelming and frustrating. But God can direct his beloved path according to his will (Romans 12:2). Ask for discernment and wisdom to identify a good church.

Pray to God to provide a good friend with a similar mindset of belief and encouragement. Believers should ask God to direct them to a church that’ll improve their knowledge of God and the savior Christ. God wants everyone to succeed in this valuable task, so pray for his guidance.

Be patient throughout the entire search period because the church plays a significant role in the decisions of individuals and families. The following preliminary steps can help in finding a good church.

Confirm your preference and convictions

When it comes to what to look for in a church, you must thoroughly consider if the potential church ( even its affiliations and denominations) aligns with Biblical standards.

Christian belief is rooted in the Bible, which teaches a lot of things about God, sin, humanity, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s work, and more.

Theology influences every aspect of human life and the church. Learning the scriptures and understanding Bible doctrines encourages growth, but defining these doctrinal convictions is essential. Because theology plays a critical role in our life, its doctrine, ideology, and convictions must be carefully examined.

Before joining a church, compare their activity with your preference and see if they match.

For example, examine the congregation size, meeting schedule, worship music, and kind of programs dedicated to kids and adults.

This will prevent you from getting continually irritated when some of their activities don’t go your way.

Search for churches nearby

If you’ve already been invited to some churches in your area, start your research from here.

Alternatively, ask a friend or family about the church they attend. Local newspaper directories, telephone, or looking online to find a Catholic church near me can also help.

Other options include using the help of online church directories.

If you discover that your area only has a few churches, broaden your search location to look for churches outside your community. On the other hand, revising your preferences and convictions can also help. That doesn’t mean going against the Bible doctrine or accepting a worldly doctrine, but choosing what to adapt to in a local church.

Find more information about Prospective Church

Most churches have an online presence, usually through social media, a website, or online directories.

Nevertheless, it’s best to visit the church directly or contact the church leader for more information.

Some critical questions to ask when gathering information include: 

• Does the church have a clear and Biblical statement of faith, and is it according to the Bible’s perspective? What important doctrine does it leave behind?
• Does the church belong to a part of a denomination or other church associations?
• Who leads the church, and for how long? What experience and training do they have?
• What is the church’s history? Are the members growing, established, or waning?
• What is the core commitment of the church that makes it unique from others?

Be sure to ask for a copy of their financial report, the latest budget, or both. What is their transparency level? What’s their priority when it comes to allocating money? What debt do they owe?

Filter, choose, and visit the deserved churches.

First off, choose the churches that align with your preferences and convictions.

Sort out the list based on the priority of the church you want to know more about. Schedule a visit to each church, and carefully examine the activities on the church meeting, take notes to highlight your experience.

Taking notes is more important if you visit many churches because they’ll help flashback to the key elements of the visited church.

Factors to consider in a good church

Although preference and convictions are significant, it’s essential to consider some factors that make a good church.

A good church should have distinctive features of these attributes.

Excellent Biblical teaching

A good church believes, obeys, teaches, and applies the world of the Bible.

The Bible’s role in a church should be one of the most important factors to consider because it’s the believer’s primary authority regarding praise and practice(Psalms 1-2; 2 Peter 1:3, Acts 2:42).

The most important part of a church is continuously preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The most influential preaching of the scripture is primarily via pulpit preaching and through Bible study, Sunday school classes, and Biblical conversations among members (Ephesians 4:15; Romans 15:14).

The primary voice of every lesson should be Biblical, not an allusion or an afterthought (2 Timothy 4:2).

Listen to the church sermons; it could be online or available copies of recording audio.

Consider the following questions:

• Does their sermon present the gospel? Is their teaching convincing enough for a sinner to be saved?
• Do they preach that God’s word is the Bible and contains no errors in its manuscripts?
• Does the church preach that the Bible is the final authority of our life’s decisions?
• How does the church handle scripture readings? (1 Timothy 4:13)
• Does the church play the music that communicates Jesus Christ’s Doctrine?
• Does the church consistently present a view of the history of the Bible, for example, the creation account in the book of Genesis?
• What curricula do teachers use in home Bible studies and Sunday School classes? What are the opinions of their Bible teaching? Are parents inspired to teach the Bible at home?

A Better View of God

The church gathering must prioritize God in every aspect of their service, including in their song of praises (Colossians 3:17).

According to the scriptures, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

The church should prioritize God’s attributes, such as love, holiness, and goodness. God is over everything (Psalm 47:22; 83:18) and different from the creation (Genesis 1:1; 1 Kings 8:27), yet he draws himself close to humans (Psalm 57:1, 100:3; Revelation 21:3–4).

Every Christian’s prayer should be centered on God, bringing thanksgivings and requests for their personal sake and others (Acts 2:42; Philippians 4:4–7).

Consider these questions: 

• Is the love for God evident among the congregation?
• Do the prayers in the church indicate God’s passion for his glory?
• In what way does that church trust God during trials
• What process does the church undergo for baptism and sharing the Lord’s table?
• Does the congregation respond to the music leadership during worship?

Love Among One Another

The growth and development of a church are evident in the love and service members share with each other. (1 Peter 4:10-11).

The church provides an avenue for Christians to serve and show love to one another, as Jesus commanded his disciples, “My new commandment to you, that you offer love to one another, just as I do for you, you also must love each other. This will prove to all people that ye are my disciples if there’s love among all of you (Matthew 22:39; John 13:34-35).

This love should not be purely abstract or emotional but a love that shows interest in one another (Philippians 2:3-4).

This love is proven through peace, patience, discipline, comfort, encouragement, devotion, and forbearance.

“Doing this, people will acknowledge that you’re my disciples if you love each other.”

• How did the people greet and welcome you during your first visit to the church?
• How does the congregation show affection for each other?
• Did you notice a unity based on self-sacrifice, self-denial, humility, and not factiousness or selfishness (Philippians 2:1-4)?
• What are the kind of conversations people have outside of church meetings?
• What excellent relationships do the congregations develop with one another?
• What is the stance of children in this church?
• In what way can you contribute to the church’s growth?
• How do you join the church membership
• What should you believe and do?

Caring and Godly Leadership

Jesus is the head of the church (1 peter 5:4) and has given qualified men the authority to lead and feed his congregation (Hebrew 13:7,17).

The Bible commanded that only men of integrity who exhibit and teach spiritual maturity should lead the church. These leaders must be passionate about the church and commit to the sanctification of its congregation. A good leader offers excellent teaching of solid doctrine and avoids doctrinal error.

What are the basics of Christian beliefs?

God: Understand that God is in the trinity:

God is the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. That’s called the trinity, but what’s a trinity?

It isn’t easy to understand. Many theologies compared it to ice, water, mist, or like every part of an egg: the yolk, egg white, and shell. They’re bonded by the same purpose but also have their individual purpose.

So the first point is God the Father, who is present in the first part of the Bible. He’s faithful, holy, knows all, and is a father to us. The good part is Jesus is also our heavenly father.

Jesus: Have the understanding to know him

In the second half of the Bible, God sent a man called Jesus. He’s the Savior, Messiah, and the One we look up to for redemption. Jesus was both a God and a man. He was eventually crucified for human sins, and due to this, God views us as holy and blameless.

The holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit signifies the presence of God on earth

When you follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into your life, and your lifestyle becomes a reflection of Jesus.

The Holy Bible. The Bible is the word of God

The Bible highlights the story of God’s love for us. The holy spirit inspired guide is authoritative, accurate, and relatable to our daily lives. We should study it every day.

Prayer. Prayer is the way to communicate with God

Every Christian has direct access to God through prayer. He wants everyone to be as open and transparent as possible.

Grace. Grace defines God’s undeserved favor upon human life

Grace is what saves us. When we pray to God to help us, he first forgives our sins and converts us into a new creation. Old things have passed away, and new things have come. Thanks

Other ways to look for the right church

Get a recommendation from friends

Ask for recommendations from friends and friends of friends. Then list out some of the churches to try.

Visit websites

Any church that does not have a website is a tip-off and likely old school. Assuming the church has one, don’t judge by pictures—research info beyond the typical service times. Check out the church’s vision or special occasions.

Listen to conversations among congregations

Some people slip into and out of a church without caution. But since the congregation’s attitude is crucial to you, examine their conversation and how they mingle with each other before and after the service. A good church will give off a good energy that you’ll feel.

Check out the bulletin.

Take the bulletin home. Write down the messages shared and the activities offered. This bulletin is like a mini-newspaper that’ll hint at what the church cares about.

Ask for numbers

Request for information about the parish size and survey their demographics. A decent mix of ages is fine. In addition, check if the church is affiliated with a school. If yes, the congregation will likely be younger, and more family-friendly.

Research about the workers

Examine staff beyond the leader. Is there a parish manager or deacon? One person cannot do it all! Having more staff members expands the church’s ability to do more than regular church service, funerals, and weddings.

Find out if a particular group runs the church.

For example, catholic churches are usually run by diocesans. The Jesuits are reputed for education and run several universities. The Paulists are known for evangelism. So, check the orders thoroughly before joining a church.

Ask about the activities of the young people

Instead of joining an already dynamic church, your calling might be to draw younger people into the church. It’s worth asking God for direction on this.

 How can Church.org help me?

Church.org can help you find a church within your community. With us, connecting with fellow Christians with similar needs and goals is easier to match you to your desired worship place.