The 7 Criteria of a Biblical Church

As a church planter, I’ve learned that what you win people with you win people to. As Christians, we should be won only to three things: The Gospel, the Bible, and the Body of Christ. With that said, Christians around the world are still struggling to find a local church that meets their spiritual needs. But how should we be evaluating a church? What makes one church community more fruitful than another? In this episode, Dale and Veronica look at seven scripturally-centered criteria that can help you determine if your church is a fruitful church.

The Seven Criteria For Finding A Good Church

1. Expository Teaching over Topical Teaching
2. Biblical Authority over Cultural Celebrity
3. Small and Strong Community over Big and Loud Community
4. Biblical Elders over Financial Donors
5. Discipleship Focus over Evangelism Focus
6. Family Integrated over Age Segregated
7. Spiritual Fruitfulness over Physical Productiveness

Scriptures Referenced

• Acts 20:26-27 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
• James 5:16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
• Hebrews 13:17 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
• Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
• 1 Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”
• Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Resources Mentioned

• The National Center for Family Integrated Churches.
• Is Youth Ministry Biblical? Or, Is It An Experiment That’s Hurting The Church?

Ultimately, we each have to take the responsibility and time for finding the church that God has for us. After watching or listening to this episode, what is your opinion? Do you have any questions or comments? Maybe you have something to add to the discussion? If so, let us know in the comments below.