What To Look For In A Church

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. --Acts 2:42-47


One common question people often ask is, "What do I look for in a church?"And while there are many reputable, Bible-based churches today, I want to show you what to look for in a church, according to what the Scripture says.

The first and obvious sign of a good church is one that it is filled with people who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ. In today's passage, we're reminded that the "Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Those who accepted Jesus as their Savior, believed the Word of God, and were then baptized in obedience to Christ, were added to the early church.

What this teaches us is that every follower of Christ should either be in a church or looking for a church that is...
• filled with growing believers in Jesus,
• has a high priority upon the study of God's Word,
• has a corporate worship of Jesus Christ,
• bathes everything they do in prayer, and
• stays on mission by sharing Jesus Christ with the lost and hurting.

If you follow these simple guidelines, I'm confident you will find a dynamic, growing church where God is adding people every day to the family, faith, and fellowship of other believers!

THE FIRST AND OBVIOUS SIGN OF A GOOD CHURCH IS ONE THAT IT IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW AND LOVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

--by Jack Graham