What Does a Good Church Look Like?

How do I know if I am attending a Bible-based church?

One question that I get often is, “How do I know if I am attending a Bible-based church?” In order to answer that question, I have put together the following quick guide. I hope this will help you, whether you are searching for a new church or looking to evaluate the church you are now attending.

1. Do they preach and adhere to the basic, fundamental truths of the faith?

a. God is eternally present in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

b. God the Son (Jesus Christ) came to earth being born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, taught those who He called, was betrayed by one of His disciples, condemned to die by the religious leaders, turned over to the Roman leaders, crucified and died, was buried, raised from the dead three days later by the power of the Holy Spirit, and forty days later ascended back into Heaven.

c. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

d. The Bible is breathed out by God and, in the original languages, is inerrant and our translations, as long as they are from the original languages, can be trusted.

e. The Bible alone, not tradition or history, is the source of doctrine.

2. Do they adhere to the sacraments as ordained by Jesus?

a. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

b. The Lord’s Supper

3. Do they adhere to church membership and discipline?

a. Members are those who make up the church body.

b. Jesus laid out church discipline in Matthew 18:15-17.