About.Church

What to Look For in a Church

A Biblical guide to evaluating whether a church is faithful

Finding a church isn’t about finding one that “feels right” or has the best programs. It’s about finding a body of believers where God’s Word is faithfully preached, the gospel is clearly proclaimed, and the congregation is being built up in Christ.

Essential Marks

1

Faithful Preaching of God’s Word

The most important thing to evaluate. Is the sermon rooted in the text of Scripture? Is the pastor preaching what the Bible says, not just using it as a springboard for his own ideas?

Look for: Expositional preaching that works through books of the Bible, explains the text in context, and applies it faithfully. The gospel should be woven throughout.
⚠️ Red flags: Sermons that rarely open the Bible, focus primarily on self-help or motivation, avoid hard truths about sin and judgment, or treat Scripture as secondary to experience.
2

The Gospel Clearly Proclaimed

Does this church clearly teach the Biblical gospel? That all people are sinners (Rom 3:23), that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), that Christ died as a substitute for sinners (2 Cor 5:21), and that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Eph 2:8–9)?

3

Sound Doctrine & a Statement of Faith

Does the church have a clear, written statement of faith? Does it affirm essential Christian doctrines: the Trinity, the deity and humanity of Christ, the inerrancy of Scripture, justification by faith alone, the bodily resurrection, and the return of Christ?

Ask for: Their statement of faith or confessional standard. Many faithful churches subscribe to historic confessions like the Westminster Confession, the 1689 London Baptist Confession, or the Baptist Faith & Message.
4

Biblical Church Leadership

Does the church have qualified elders/pastors who meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1? Is there a plurality of elders (not a single pastor ruling alone)? Are deacons serving the body?

5

Practice of Baptism & the Lord’s Supper

Does the church faithfully administer the two ordinances Christ gave to the church? Are they practiced with reverence and according to Scripture?

6

Church Discipline

Does the church practice church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15–20? A church that never exercises discipline is a church that doesn’t take holiness, the purity of the body, or the good of its members seriously.

7

Genuine Love & Community

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Is there genuine care, hospitality, and accountability among the members?

8

Commitment to Evangelism & Missions

Is the church actively sharing the gospel with the lost? Does it support missions, both local and global? A church that is inward-focused only is not fulfilling the Great Commission.

Questions to Ask a Pastor

What do you believe the gospel is?

Listen for a clear articulation of sin, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, justification by faith alone, and the call to repentance.

What is your view of the Bible?

You want to hear: inspired, inerrant, infallible, sufficient, and authoritative. If there is hesitation or qualification, that’s a concern.

How do you approach preaching?

Ideally: expositional — preaching through books of the Bible, explaining what the text means, and applying it to the congregation.

Do you practice church membership and discipline?

A healthy church will have meaningful membership and will lovingly practice discipline when necessary for the good of the body and the wayward member.

What confessional standard do you hold to?

Confessional churches have stood the test of time. It’s a good sign when a church can point to a historic confession that grounds their beliefs.

Pray First

Before anything else, pray. Ask God to lead you to a faithful church where you can grow, serve, and be accountable. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).