Questions to Ask When Looking for a Church Home

JOSHUA ALEXANDER

Are you moving to a new area, have moved but have not gotten plugged into a church yet, or are you thinking of moving congregations? Whatever the case may be, one main concern for religious-minded people is “Where will we worship?” What an excellent question! Getting involved in a local congregation is vital to your spiritual life and that of your family. In some areas, the options are limited, and you work and serve where you can. In other areas (such as Searcy, Arkansas), there is a congregation of the Lord’s church on every corner. That can be a very daunting task! Where should we go? Here are some questions that may be beneficial to ask the elders or preacher of a congregation when deciding where you and your family will worship.

What Does this Church Teach/Practice Concerning...

The scriptural standing of a congregation is the most important thing to consider. You must have confidence that the Bible is what will be preached and stood upon. There are some hot-button issues that one should know what is taught and believed by the leadership of a congregation. The essentiality of baptism, the oneness of the church, practices in worship, instrumental music in the worship service, the role of women/men in the church, their view of the Bible and authority, the role of Elders, Deacons, and Preachers in the congregation just to name a few. If a congregation is not willing to stand up for the truth of God’s word, I do not care how active the youth group is or how many programs they have for you and your family if they are practicing sin or not preaching the whole truth, you cannot worship there. Balance is also a contributing factor. Does this congregation lean more to the right or the left, or are they in the middle? Sometimes, this can be ascertained by looking at the kind of sermons being preached, the emphasis on their website, and things of that nature.

How Many Baptisms Does this Congregation Have a Year?

Is this congregation committed to being active in evangelism? Our mission is to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). If a congregation has no baptisms and no form of outreach, that does not rule them out. That may be exactly where you need to be; just understand that you have a job on your hands to get the members excited about evangelism.

Is there a curriculum for your Bible classes?

Is there a plan to teach the whole congregation in a balanced and intentional way? This is essential to ensure that you and your family are growing spiritually. Again, if no such program exists, that does not rule them out. It means you must be prepared to serve where you can and ensure that your children are taught at home and in the congregation. It is ultimately the parent’s responsibility to raise and teach their children, but also, “it takes a village,” so this is something to keep in mind.

How Can We Get Involved?

Oftentimes, we view this question solely as consumers. “Which church has the most to offer me and my family?” Is that really the mindset we should have? Yes, the congregation should be working towards having programs to help us grow and connect, but the church is not about programs, fun, and games! The church has one mission, to be lights in a world of darkness. Instead of asking simply, “What do you have to offer me” one could ask, “How will my talents be utilized in the work of this congregation?” We are workers in the vineyard, not spectators at a show. 

President John F. Kennedy is famous for saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” What if we look at working with a congregation in the same way? Instead of focusing on what they have to offer, we should focus on what we have to offer. Looking for a church home is always a challenge. I want to encourage us to look for a congregation that stands firmly on the word of God without wavering and is a place where we can serve, work, and make a difference.