Church shopping? 35 Key Questions to Ask the Church
If you are looking for a new church, you need to ask some very important questions of church leadership before you become a member. Here are 35 to get you started:
FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS
1. Is the Bible the 100% true, accurate Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit?
2. Is Jesus the Son of God and the only way to eternal life with God? Is there any way to God or eternal life other than through Jesus?
3. What does the Bible say the world will look like when Jesus returns? Do we need to gaindominion of the earth before that happens?
4. Can man, through his actions, change or alter biblical prophecy?
THEOLOGY
5. What is the doctrinal statement of the church and may I have a copy?
6. Does a person have any responsibilities to God upon accepting salvation?
7. What books other than the bible have you used to develop sermons?
8. What are your views on “Replacement Theology”?
TEACHINGS AND SERVICES
9. Is your Bible Teaching solely based on the Five Sola’s ?
10. How important is popular culture in structuring your services?
11. How do you train and equip your people to carry out the Great Commission?
12. Does your worship service include people laughing or being slain in the spirit?
13. Do you preach sermons that talk about exposing false teachers and false doctrines, or do you preach that Christians should never question anointed teachers?
14. What curricula do your children and teen programs use?
15. Are you a Willow Creek Association church?
DEPTH OF SPIRITUALITY LEADERSHIP
16. Who are some of your favorite authors? What books other than the bible have influenced your theology or teachings?
17. To whom are church leaders accountable? Has your leadership ever been questioned by members? How was it addressed?
18. What growth is more important to our church—growth in numbers or in depth of spiritual commitment of our members? (Only let them pick one, not both !!)
19. What is the most crucial issue your church has faced and how was it resolved?
20. How do you determine the spiritual growth of your members?
SOCIAL ISSUES
21. What is meant by the word “Church,” and what is its purpose?
22. What is the role of the church in social issues or politics?
23. When do you believe that life begins?
24. What are the church’s views on marriage and sexuality? Please share scriptures that confirm your beliefs.
25. How does the church feel about/handle divorce among your members?
26. What are your views on “contextualization” of the gospel? How important is being “relevant” to the community?
27. Do you believe that Christians and Muslims pray to the same God; that Yahweh and Allah are the same?
MODERN MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH
28. What are your thoughts and the church’s stances on:
31. Contemplative Prayer and Biblical meditation
32. Word of Faith
33. The New Apostolic Reformation
Related articles
- Is the Emergent Church movement dead (or dying)? (standupforthetruth.com)
- Where Are the Christian Mentors? (standupforthetruth.com)
- John MacArthur Says Emerging Church in “Disarray and Decline” – Evidence Shows Differently (lighthousetrailsresearch.com)
- What is the Church? (defendingcontending.com)
- Spiritual Warfare Eschatology (herescope.blogspot.com)
- North American Pastors and the Church on Borrowed Time (lighthousetrailsresearch.com)
Some other questions that I feel are important as well -
ReplyDeleteWhat is your mixture of topical vs. expository preaching?
Topical preaching is fine, but if a pastor never or rarely preaches expositionally (verse by verse), then you are going to be learning from the pastor and not God’s Word.
Do you believe in a literal 6 day creation?
Jesus did (Matt.19:4).
Do you believe in a literal hell and eternal punishment?
Jesus did (Matt.25).
Does your church exercise church discipline?
Paul said we should (I Cor.5).
I extracted these from:
http://www.wretchedradio.com/pdf/HTFAGC.pdf
Thank you Ruth, those are indeed important questions and thank you for sharing Wretched Radio's link. That's a wonderful podcast!
ReplyDelete