What criteria would you use in evaluating and choosing a church?  The Bible is the
            standard and the rule by which to measure a church.  The Epistle to the Ephesians,
            Chapter 4:1-16, provides some excellent guidelines in what to look for in a church.
            In choosing a church you must consider three things:
                            What is it?  What does it do?  And How does it do it?
 

WHAT IS IT? (What is the Church's nature?)

            1. A church should be a group of followers of Jesus Christ unified together by the
                Holy Spirit and under God, the Father (Ephesians 4:1-6).

            2. A church should be centered in its teaching upon the death and resurrection of
                Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:9-19).

            3. A church should be made up of individuals who are aware of and use their
                spiritual gifts - that is, talents and skills (Ephesians 4:7-8,11).
 

WHAT DOES IT DO? (What is the Church's purpose?)

            1. The purpose of a church should be to equip God's people for work in His
                service (Ephesians 4:12).

            2. The purpose of a church should be to guide its members in growing together into
                the likeness of Christ (Ephesians 4:14).

            3. The purpose of a church should be to strengthen its members morally and
                intellectually against temptations which would detour them from God's path
                (Ephesians 4:14).
 

HOW DOES IT DO IT? (What is the Church's mode of operation?)

            1. A church should operate by means of its members' individual and personal
                commitments to Jesus Christ as the Lord of their separate lives (Ephesians 4:15).

            2. A church should operate by means of its members' corporate commitment
                to one another and to their church as a working part of Christ's Body
                (Ephesians 4:16).

            3. A church should operate because of the motivating power of an overflowing of
                God's love within the lives if its members (Ephesians 4:16).
 

        No church, just as no individual, lives up to God's standards perfectly.  King David at
        one time flagrantly sinned against God by commiting adultery and then conspiring to
        murder the lady's husband.  David slipped and made a tragic error of judgement which
        brought unchangeable consequences, but God looked upon David's heart - not his
        sinful actions in moments of weakness.  God forgave David, for he saw that David
        was a man after His own heart.

        In searching for a church, then, you must seek to discover the "heart" of a congregation
        as well as to measure the church against God's standard as revealed in Scripture.  The
        following are some practical steps to take in evaluating a church's heart as well as its
        nature, purpose, and mode of operation:

            1.  Ask God to direct you to the church of His choice!

            2.  Visit a church at least twice.

            3.  Don't rush out right after the service. Give the people an opportunity to greet you
                 and be friendly.

            4.  Listen to the sermon - is it based on Scripture, or merely the words of man?

            5.  Watch people - are they friendly toward each other?  Do you see a bond, a unity,
                 a love among them?

            6.  Talk to the pastor - ask him what the church believes in.

            7.  Do you come away from worship inspired, challenged, perhaps even convicted or
                 just bored?

            8.  Read the bulletin - does the church have programs which interest you?

            9.  If you are a Christian, ask yourself what kind of ministry could you have in the
                 church - is there opportunity to serve as well as receive?

          10.  Ask several people what they like about the church.

          11.  Do you feel comfortable around the people there - are they your kind of people?

          12.  Is the church located close enough to your home to make your regular
                 involvement in church activities practical?
 

 A CAUTION:  Don't become a "church hopper".
                         Set yourself a time limit for choosing a church home.
                         Then begin to attend regularly and get involved!
 

                        It is our concern at Greybull Alliance Church that you become regularly
                        involved in a church home.  We will do all we can to help you find the church
                        best suited both to meet your needs and to provide you opportunities for
                        Christian service.
 
 

        There probably has never been a time when people changed churches so frequently and
        so readily as they do now.

        A great many persons in North America these days choose to move or are forced to
        relocate because of their work.  Companies freely transfer employees from one part of
        the country to another.  Many move away when their employment is terminated by
        retirement.  Moving to a new area requires the selecting of a new church home.

        Sometimes intolerable situations develop in local churches that force good people to
        leave.  God may move an individual or family from one congregation to another because
        their ministry is needed in the new place.

        Unfortunately, however, there are today people who jump from one church to another at
        very little provocation and over really minor disappointments.  We need in our day a
        revival of old-fashioned loyalty that causes people not specifically led by God to another
        place to remain through thick and thin in the church with which they are associated.

        But because many Christians do in fact change churches these days, I am concerned
        about the basis upon which they choose the new group they join.  It seems to me that
        often the selection is made for selfish and carnal reasons.  I have frequently heard
        comments like " I like the preacher" or " I feel good when I attend the services" or " the
        people there were very friendly to me" or "I get a real blessing from their programs."
        The very subjective perspective reflected by such comments is evident in the repetition
        of first-person pronouns.

        May I respectfully suggest some other considerations that should affect our choice if we
        must move to a new church?

        We should ask ourselves, Is this the group to which the Lord has directed me?  It is the
        right of Christ as the sovereign Lord of the Church to determine which local body each of
        us is to be a part.  I believe if we wait on the Lord, He will reveal His will in this regard.

        As we test our impressions about God's directions, we should also evaluate the level of
        truth being communicated in the church we are considering.  Some of the gifts of fruit or
        cheese or candy that are popularly exchanged at Christmas time are very attractively
        packaged, but contain little real substance.  Similarly, shallow truth can be very
        attractively packaged, particularly if it is set in well-performed music and interestingly
        arranged programs.

        We should prefer a church associated with a parent organizaton that carries on a strong
        and effective ministry of evangelism and church planting all over the world.  If the church
        we are considering is entirely independent, we should investigate throughly the authority
        under which the church operates and what guarantees that the church's program will
        continue to be one we will want to support.

        Most of all we should ask, Through my association with this church will I learn to love
        God Himself more devoutly?  In some places personality of a leader is too much the
        focus of attention and admiration.  But the focus must be upon God, and we should be
        confronted with His majesty and authority.  In some churches, services and activities are
        designed primarily to bring joy and comfort to those who attend.  But it is far more
        important that praise and adoration and service should be flowing from our lives to Him.

        When we do make a change to a new church, we must do so with a willingness to serve
        the Lord in the new place to which He sends us, not just seek to escape responsibility.
        Thank God for retired people who are using time and energy to do more now for the
        local church.

        We must be prepared to accept some disappointments in a new congregation.  No
        church is yet perfect.  We will have to be patient concerning some things with which we
        are not entirely satisfied.  However, if we select a church for the right reasons, the new
        association can be profitable to our spiritual lives and to the Lord and His work.