What Should You Look for in a Church?

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who spent years in a church but were still starving spiritually. They attended churches that were friendly, vibey, full of entertainment, fun, and programs for the kids, but even after years of a generally enjoyable “Sunday experience,” they struggled to explain the gospel, navigate Scripture, regularly go to war against their sin, and confidently live the Christian life. Their homes were happy on the outside, but not thriving on the inside. 

That kind of experience should concern us. The church you join shapes your view of God, your family’s convictions, and your habits of obedience. There are many churches that can give you what you want, but not all churches give you what you need. 

Jesus loves His church and has told us how it should function and what to look for in a faithful place to entrust your soul care to. Here are five marks to look for (and cultivate): 

1. God’s Word Sets the Agenda

You need a church that doesn’t just say they are “Bible-teaching” but one that actually teaches the Bible and puts into action what the Bible teaches! Scripture is God’s inspired, inerrant, sufficient Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Paul’s charge to Timothy was to “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2) because that is what feeds the flock. Faithful preaching explains what a passage means in its context and applies that meaning to our lives. In response to God’s Word, the church gladly submits its preferences and traditions to that authority.

That conviction must also reach beyond the pulpit. Scripture should shape financial practices, counseling, children’s ministry, leadership decisions, and the church’s teaching on marriage, sexuality, and money. Listen for whether the pastor actually explains the text. Can you trace his point to the passage? Are difficult truths handled honestly? Are you growing in your ability to read the Bible? Does the church actually expect that you bring and use your Bible? 

Everything in the church should be tied to God’s Word. 

2. The Gospel Is Clear and Central

A faithful church clearly explains why we need salvation and how God saves sinners. We have sinned against a holy God and deserve His judgment, and Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived without sin, died in the place of sinners, and rose bodily from the grave. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).

That message calls people to repent and trust Him. It also supplies the foundation for Christian growth. We forgive because Christ forgave us. We pursue holiness because we belong to Him. The cross gives struggling believers real hope as they confess sin and pursue obedience.

If you attend a church that doesn’t preach the gospel clearly or doesn’t teach its members what the gospel actually is, you are in the wrong church! 

And don’t forget your children. Are they learning who Jesus is, what He accomplished, and why they must personally believe in Him? Or are they playing video games and being entertained? 

3. Qualified Elders Shepherd the Flock

In order to be a healthy Christian, you need to be in a church led by healthy leaders. The New Testament calls for qualified men to lead the church (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Their character, households, doctrine, and ability to teach matter. A plurality of qualified elders provides shared oversight and accountability. Their authority always remains subject to Scripture.

Faithful elders know the people entrusted to their care and pursue their spiritual best. They pray, teach the truth, counsel, and protect the flock from false doctrine. They also welcome accountability and lead by example (1 Peter 5:1–3), and they minister to hurting souls. Elders also exercise church discipline, even when it’s hard to do so. When someone persists in sin, loving shepherds follow Christ’s instructions with patience, courage, and the goal of repentance and restoration (Matthew 18:15–17).

A faithful church will have elders who are accessible, approachable, and spiritually mature. 

4. Worship is Filled with Reverence for God

The early church devoted itself to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). Those priorities remain essential. Many churches today treat worship and prayer too casually, acting as though just because Jesus is a Friend to sinners, that He can be approached casually. He is a holy God, and worship in a faithful church should reflect that. 

A faithful congregation sings truth that helps people know and adore God. It hears Scripture, confesses sin, and depends upon the Lord in prayer. Believers are baptized, and the church observes the Lord’s Supper with reverence and self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:23–29).

Pay attention to what fills the gathering. Is it silly and casual or focused and worshipful? Do the songs accurately describe God? Does prayer express dependence on Him? Is Christ’s death remembered with gratitude?

5. Members Love, Serve, and Make Disciples

Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). Faithful churches take that mission seriously at home and around the world.

At Shepherd’s House where I pastor, we describe our life together as “driven by Scripture, fueled by love, and mobilized for ministry.” We don’t want to be spectators or passive consumers, we want to be participators and active contributors! 

Practicing meaningful membership makes that commitment concrete as well, as people meet pastors, become known in the congregation, and are not treated like a herd of cattle being ushered in and out for a one-and-done Sunday show! Faithful churches do life together, practicing the “one-anothers” that the New Testament describes. 

We are called to treat the church as a body that we are committed to love, serve, and walk alongside, including when life becomes difficult. Mature believers invest in younger Christians. Parents receive help discipling their children. Members meet needs, share meals, study the Bible, encourage the hurting, confront sin graciously, and bear each other’s burdens. The church equips its people to live out their faith and share the gospel (Ephesians 4:11–16).

People choose churches for a variety of reasons, but only a handful truly matter. You may have preferences or opinions on many things, but make sure you’re choosing a church based on the most biblical things. 

I remember Paul Washer once saying, “Don’t look for the church closest to your house, look for a church that’s closest to the Bible.” What a great reminder that convenience must always take a backseat when it comes to being a part of the body of Christ.