What To Look For In A Local Church
By Dr. Harley Howard, Pastor-Teacher
www.fotbc.org

The issue of finding a local church has been the problem of many people throughout the ages. This guideline, I pray, will be helpful to those who are in the midst of searching for a local church to fellowship in.
Well, what is a church anyway?
We need to ask ourselves the question: What qualifies a church? What is a church, anyway? If you were to ask 100 people that question, I am sure that you would receive many answers. 
But what does God say in His word that a church is?
In 1st Timothy 3:15, God calls the church body "the house of God." It is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. When I say church house, I am not referring to the building at all! The church is not a building, but the people are the dwelling place of God’s Holy Spirit. This is made clear in Ephesians 2:19-22. It is also the church of the living God, meaning that it belongs to God. No man nor men or group of men or women or any boards, committees, denominations, covenants, rules, by-laws have any authority at all to dictate the control of God’s church without God’s word. In spite of that fact, many are doing just that. The church is also called the pillar and the ground of the truth. The foundation of the church is the scriptures, the truth. Without the truth, i.e. the scriptures, then the church does not exist. If the place that you call church does not have at its very foundation the scriptures, it is not a church no matter what anyone says to the contrary. The church is to uphold the truth in doctrine and living. This is but a short explanation of what the church is and probably different from what many are calling a church. More than likely, it is probably because they never taken the time to see from God’s word what a church is and, frankly speaking, others do not care what God says a church is. 
Well, what do I look for in a local church?
1) Pray. The very first thing that you should do in your church search. If you are not praying, then you are not getting God’s direction on this issue. If you are not getting God’s direction on this issue of looking for a local church fellowship, you are looking incorrectly. Now prayer is not a substitute for action. Where God has spoken on the issue of what a church is and the place that you attend is not meeting God’s standards, then you need to leave. The issue then becomes, where do you go next? That is the time to pray. If it comes to the place that you cannot stay where you are, then you need to do some serious praying about this.
2) Study the scriptures that teach the structure, life and organization of the local church. Most people have no biblical idea at all about what a church is because they never bothered to find out. You want to find a church that operates biblically. In all my years in the ministry I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that most people I have spoken to about this issue could care less what God says in His word about the church. That, my friends, is the tragic truth.
3) If there is a problem(s) that is causing you to make this potential move, then see if the problem can be resolved. Don’t just sit there and fume about an issue that is on your heart—do something about it! Much of what you think may be a problem may be that which comes from your own mind! See if a problem can be resolved before you consider leaving any church. If the issue(s) cannot be resolved and the leadership refuses to take biblical action, then I recommend that you leave without delay. A lack of biblical direction and leadership in a church will cause you nothing but heartache and grief. If the Pastor or Pastors refuse to seek the mind and will of God and the scriptures about a matter, then it’s time to leave.
4) Are you leaving because of some unresolved hurts caused by others? Everyone who leaves a church bitter usually brings that bitterness with them to the next church and to the next. Resolve these first or your life will be manifested by church hopping and instability.
5) Why are you looking for a local church? Motives play a very important part in any church search. This leads to point 6.
6) What are you looking for in a local church? Probably the most important (and ignored) question on this entire list. Most people: 
•	Never ask that simple question 

•	Already think they know based on other churches they attended, but not according to God’s word. 

•	Be for real about these next series of questions: Are you looking for a church that will cater to your physical needs? Your emotional needs? Your carnal needs? 
Are you looking for a church that is big, small, whatever? What are you looking for in a local church? Are you looking for a church body which you can grow spiritually and participate according to what the scriptures say? Are you looking to grow spiritually in the church, is that your primary motive? Do you even know how?
2nd Timohy 3:16-17. If the word of God makes you grow spiritually, then the primary consideration in choosing to fellowship in a local church body is the systematic, expositional teaching of God’s word. If this is not primary in the church then just pass it by. It is not a church according to scripture. 
It is imperative that we look for churches that are involved in the preaching and teaching of God’s word. If this is not at the top of your list, then you are looking incorrectly for a church, you are not interested in growth.
7) Are you a servant or a spectator? Do you plan to work in a church or watch in a church? To participate or to vegetate? Most people who attend churches today act as if they are paying spectators. Churches don’t need that. Most people in the church do absolutely nothing to help further the cause of Christ. It’s 20% of the people doing 100% of the work. The church needs faithful people to get the job done. Consider your role in this matter when looking for a local church.
8) Look for strong, Godly, loving leaders and congregations. There are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people, including you, my friend.
9) Here are some last things to consider in a church search:
a) The size of the congregation. I believe many people stumble at this point more than any other. Professing believers have a built in rejection of a smaller congregation, which shows nothing but a carnal, wicked spirit. To imply that God is not, nor cannot, be working through and in a smaller congregation is nothing but pride, stupidity and sin. Your attitude toward a smaller congregation reveals much about your own heart and misconception of what a church is. 
To reject fellowshipping with a smaller congregation simply because it is small shows that you have no genuine intent of properly looking for a church.
Many people join larger congregations, not because they plan to do any work in the church, but to identify with the preacher or the church’s size and ministry, or to boast that you attend Rev., Dr., brother, Pastor so and so’s church. That attitude is sin. It is the new Corinthianism all over again! (1st Corinthians 1:11-13) Smaller congregations are often the places of greatest spiritual growth because the people and the Pastor(s) can minister to more people more effectively.
b) Music. It surprises me that many, many professing believers place more emphasis on their music, their choirs, their soloist than on the word of God. There is no model for that in all of the Bible. This is contrary to what the scriptures teach is the true emphasis of the church—the teaching and preaching of the word of God. The church is not a place of entertainment, but of learning and service! It is sinful that many a good church will be judged on their music, choirs and soloist, or lack of them, rather than on the teaching of the word of God.
c) Facilities. It never ceases to amaze me how people can be so foolish as to rate a church on the size and trappings of a facility, as if that were the real church. A building is a building, the church is the believing people. If you allow yourself to be hindered by the facility, that speaks more of you, than of the people that you never even bothered to meet.
d) Denominations and traditions. Again, for many a tremendous stumbling block (Mark 7:1-13).
10) Finally, the last question that needs to be asked in a church search is this: What do I plan to do after God brings me into a local church body? The answer? Support it with your all!
There are many people who haven’t taken the time to study the scriptures on this most important subject of looking for a local church fellowship. I am including a list of scripture references that you must study carefully during this time of searching for a local church. It is not an exhaustive list, but these passages are more than enough to explain the priorities of the function of the church body, both leadership and followship. 
It is extremely important that you read all these verses carefully. The bible is clear of what characteristics are seen in the local church that is God’s church. 
The primary emphasis of any true church is the person of Jesus Christ. If the central focus is the Pastor, music, size of the congregation, money, etc., it is not, I repeat, not a New Testament church. The central focus will always, and forever be, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:9-19, 2:6-10, 18-19, Ephesians 1:15-22). 
It is important that the church have sound, biblical leadership (1st Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9). 
The church has gifted leaders whose primary function is to edify (build up spiritually) the church body (Ephesians 4:11-13). The result of being built up spiritually will be protection against being led into false teaching. (Ephesians 4:14) 
The church will be continually ministering to each other. (Ephesians 4:15-16) 
Sound teaching produces proper relationships with other people, both in the church body and out. (Ephesians 4:17-32) 
Not only is it essential that the church has sound biblical leadership, but must have sound biblical followship as well. The focus of participating in a fellowship is not to take up space, not to have your name on some church roll, but to grow spiritually and become a functioning member of that church body. (Titus 2:1-8, Ephesians 4:15-16, Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35) 
It is my prayer that this information will be helpful in a proper church search and that at the end of your search God will bless you and that you will glorify Him!