By Ricky Alcantar @http://newattitude.org
We’ve spent much of the last two months talking about the local church and for many of us the application is laying our lives down and serving the body of believers we’re already part of. But for some, it’s not this easy. For those who need to start at square one and find a good church Mark Dever provides helpful and concise direction in this excerpted material from his book “What Is A Healthy Church?”
(Better yet, you can download a free .pdf of this material right here.)
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How To Find A Good Church
1. Pray.
2. Seek counsel from a godly pastor (or from elders).
3. Keep your priorities straight.
• The gospel must be truly affirmed, clearly preached, and faithfully lived out. A serious lack in any of these expressions of the gospel
is very dangerous.
• The preaching must be faithful to Scripture, personally challenging, and central to the congregation’s life. You will only grow spiritually
where Scripture is treated as the highest authority.
• Also very important is to consider how the church regulates baptism, the Lord’s Supper, church membership, church discipline, and
who has the final say in decision making.
• In short, read chapters 5 to 13 in this book!
4. Ask yourself diagnostic questions such as:
• Would I want to find a spouse who has been brought up under this church’s teaching?
• What picture of Christianity will my children see in this church—something distinct or something a lot like the world?
• Would I be happy to invite non-Christians to this church? That is, would they clearly hear the gospel and see lives consistent with
it? Does the church have a heart for welcoming and reaching non-Christians?
• Is this church a place where I can minister and serve?
5. Consider geography. Would the church’s physical proximity to your home encourage or discourage frequent involvement and service? If
you’re moving to a new area, try to locate a good church home before you buy a house.
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Get the whole book here.
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