Search The Scriptures: July 1, 2001
SELECTING A CHURCH
INTRODUCTION:
A. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Danville church of Christ I’m
delighted that you have joined us for today’s broadcast of the bible study program Search the
Scriptures. My friends, let me briefly explain to you the purpose of Search the Scriptures. This
program is one of several ways that the Danville church of Christ is attempting to make known
the saving gospel of Christ in this community. Also, Search the Scriptures is dedicated to
upholding the truth and integrity of that gospel. Furthermore, when you study the bible with us,
you will find a refreshing change from many religious programs. You will find that we support
what we teach with bible verses. This is because we take seriously the admonition of 1 Pet. 4:11
that says, if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
B. Also, my good friends, if you hear a sermon or a topic discussed on Search the Scriptures
you would like to have, either on cassette tape or CD we will be happy to give it to you
absolutely free of charge. There will not even be any postage for you to pay. Just write to us or
call us and let us know which sermon you would like. The only thing we ask is that you place
your order by the date the program aired. And I make you this promise, if you request a tape or
CD, we will not use the occasion to send you any unsolicited material nor will anyone call on
you without your specific invitation. Also, if you have any questions or comments, or if you
would just like to browse our web site, you can do so at www.danvillechurchofchrist.org.
C. Now let’s get into our study for today. My friends, decisions are significant ingredients of
life. That is, all our lives we must make decisions about a variety of things. Perhaps we are not

aware of this need while we are children, but as we grow older we realize that we must make
many choices each day we are alive. As we reach young adulthood, we begin to think about
gaining the right to vote. And, when it’s time for us finally to register to vote, we must then
decide which political party best reflects our values. Then, exercising this right we must
determine which of several candidates we believe will best represent us. Upon graduating from
high school we must choose which, if any, college we will attend. Then what major to pursue,
and what electives we will take, and so on and so forth. After our schooling is completed, we are
then forced to decide where we will work, and where we will live. During this time, we are also
faced with the monumental task of selecting a life long mate - someone to marry and share our
lives with. After this we still must make decisions as they pertain to having a family. Will we
have children? And how many? With each of these decisions we are forced to make - we use
certain guidelines that will help us in choosing wisely Often it is the training and instruction we
received at home as we were growing up that helps us in making these decisions. Perhaps friends
have assisted us in making specific choices, and without doubt, personal likes and dislikes have a
tremendous bearing upon what we choose. Seldom do we make life altering decisions without
using some standard. That is, we rarely make any decision without some criteria to help us make
an intelligent selection. Which brings us to decisions we must make about God. What about
religion? That is, when you are beginning to consider religion, what goes in to helping you to
make an intelligent determination? That is, when you finally reach the point in life that you are
ready to, let us say (for lack of a better term) select a church, how do you decide? What
guidelines are to be used, if any, when it comes to selecting a church? The church we select
should be important to us, after all Jesus built the church about which we read in the New

Testament. In Matt. 16:18, Jesus, speaking to Peter and the rest of the apostles said this, and I
also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hades shall not prevail against it. Jesus is the sole builder of the church. Furthermore, it cost the
life of Jesus to build the church. The bible reminds us of this in Acts 20:28, when it says that the
church [was] purchased with his [Christ’s] own blood. Good people, since Jesus built only one
church, and he died to build it, then we should never take it lightly. Also my friends, since there
are many human denominations existing which are in competition with the Lord for our
devotion, we must be very careful when we are selecting a church. This morning I would like to
offer some help in making this most important decision.
I. Before doing that, however, I will present to you some ways that SHOULD NOT be used in
selecting a church. And in doing this I believe you will see, some of the ways that should NOT
be used are often the most popular means of deciding which church one chooses. First, do not
select a church, just because it happens to be the closest one to your home. Sure, it might be "just
around the corner,” and it might be so convenient that you can walk to services, but closeness is
not a reason to select a church. Often when one is interested in purchasing a house, he is
attracted by the notice that it is "close to schools and churches.” But as you know with the help
of some foolish court rulings - we have, for the most part, lost the concept of neighborhood
schools, yet we maintain the notion of just attending the closest church in the neighborhood,
regardless of what kind it is, and despite its doctrine. Closeness equals convenience and
convenience equals conviction in the matter of selecting a church for far too many people. But,
just because there is a church meeting on your block - or in your neighborhood, does not mean
it’s the one you should choose. We don’t always decide on other things based solely upon which

is closest. For example, we might drive a considerable distance to find a good doctor. Many
people will drive to the other side of the city in order to shop for clothes or bargains. When we
are ready to purchase an automobile, we may drive to another county, or state even, if we can get
what we are looking for. Also, we might think nothing of driving some distance to work, if we
can live in the neighborhood that we desire. So, when you are beginning to consider matters of
religion, and when you have the thought of selecting a church - closeness is not a reason to make
your selection. Remember, just because there is one close to where you are living, is not reason
enough to select it. And, in the second place, do not select a church just because it has an
impressive building. Elaborate and costly buildings do attract many people. To deny that - is to
deny reality. Many people desire to be associated with a church just because the members are
meeting in some awe-inspiring edifice. But, my friends, we must never lose sight of one very
important fact, and that is what is said by the apostle Paul in Acts 17:24, God, who made the
world and everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples
made with hands. You see, ladies and gentlemen, the church is not the building, the church is
the people who meet in that building. In Acts 5:11 we can read that great fear came upon all the
church. We know that a building is incapable of sensing fear, therefore it was the people (who
are the church) who experienced fear at that time. Please do not make this important selection
just because you are impressed with the splendor of some structure, because the building that
impresses you so may not be housing the people of God. That elegant structure may not be used
for preaching the truth of God. Additionally, when you are selecting a church, do not make your
decision because friends or relatives happen to attend there. Neither friendship nor kinship
determines truth. Just because someone we happen to love and respect attends a certain church

does not mean that God approves of that church. Their presence at that church is certainly not
evidence that it is the church Jesus died to establish. Perhaps you attend a certain church because
it would break the heart of a friend or a loved one if you decided to attend elsewhere. I wish to
caution you to please remember the sobering words of Christ when he said in Matt. 10:37, he
who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who loves son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. When you are considering the selection of a
church, do not choose one just because your friends and family go there. And don’t make this
selection because it happens to be a large and influential church. Numbers like buildings tend to
impress us. We may think if we become part of a large church, then the contacts we make will
help us in our business. Or, since it is so large there must be some important, and even famous
people who are members there. And this might be a way of gaining friends whom we might not
otherwise have. Large numbers have a way of soothing any doubts and allaying any fears we
might have about the church. For example, we might decide that "this many people cannot be
wrong.” But the size of a church does not make it right. God is not swayed by numbers, instead,
he is impressed only by truth and righteousness. Remember, in the days of Noah, there were only
eight people saved out of - perhaps - millions. Numbers counted for little at that time.
Furthermore, Jesus cautioned in Matt. 7:13-14, enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate
and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Just because many people, perhaps even the majority, believe a certain thing does not make it
true. Prov. 14:12 says, there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of
death. The reason this Proverb is true, is because of what is stated by God in Isa. 55:8-9. There

he says, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. Remember, my friends, the majority does not rule in the arena of
truth - God does! His word is truth even if everyone rejects it. And now, the final guideline that
I will discuss that you should not be using in selecting a church, is social activity. Frankly, many
people chose a particular church because of its activities. We might see that the members are
always involved in social and fun things. And this - then - becomes the basis for choosing to
become involved with a church. But, don’t do this. That is, do not choose a church because it
provides answers for your recreation and entertainment needs. Churches are trying to compete
with recreation centers and clubs in an effort to attract members. And as a result, many people
are being influenced to attend a certain church because of all the activities planned and provided
by that church. Many will select a church because of its day-care facilities, or because of its
gymnasiums or softball diamonds. Some have picked a church because it offers aerobics, some
churches even have Judo or Karate classes for its members. It is not at all uncommon for people
to choose a church because it provides them with food or clothing - or money to pay for heating
and cooling bills. However, my friends, these are not the functions of the church of Jesus Christ.
To the contrary, Paul wrote in Rom. 14:17, for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is blasphemous to think that Jesus shed
his blood so that we could have a church to provide day-care for our children. It is profane to
think that Jesus hung on the cross as his life’s blood ebbed from his body so that you and I could
sweat in an aerobics’ class, or so the church could buy us an air conditioner. It is sacrilegious
even to think that Christ gave his life to purchase a church for the purpose of playing softball or

basketball. If you are interested in selecting a church for this - or any of the reasons that we have
mentioned this morning, then you are using an improper gauge, you are using a selection
standard that is not pleasing to God. You are using a pattern that is geared toward the flesh and
not the spirit. And following the will of the flesh has never satisfied the needs of the soul.
II. God, on the other hand, has left us a divine standard to be used in making this important
selection. So, let’s get serious - bible serious - in selecting a church, because when you begin
seeking a church you must use only the bible as your pattern. The Word of God must be the only
standard used in matters pertaining to religion. After all, the apostle Paul has assured us in
writing that the bible is all that is necessary in these matters. He said in 2 Tim. 3:16-17, all
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work. Therefore, when you are selecting a church, open your bible and
let it be your guide, and not the nearness of the building or the size of its membership. Look
within the bible and make your decisions based on what is written upon its pages. The bible will
reveal to you that the church belongs to - and is called - in honor of Christ. Jesus promised us in
Matt. 16:18 that on this rock I will build my church. It belongs to Jesus, it is his - and the local
congregations were designated in honor of Christ. Paul said to the Christians in Rome in Rom.
16:16, the churches of Christ greet you. When selecting a church, you must never select one
that has been named in honor of - or after someone - other than Christ. The church belongs to
Christ and it wears that identification. It does not belong to John the Baptist, and it, therefore,
does not wear the name of John the Baptist. It does not belong to Martin Luther and it does not
wear his name. In your search for a church, begin with this scriptural identification. Begin with

what the church is called. Is it named to honor the one who built it? And, then notice what the
members are called. What name do they wear? Many people do not feel this to be very
important. However, these people fail to realize that God promised to name his people with a
new name. Therefore, it must be important to God. He said in Isa. 62:2, you shall be called by a
new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. This promise was repeated in Isa. 65:15,
when he said, you shall leave your name as a curse to my chosen; for the Lord God will slay
you, and call his servants by another name. And, my friends, in the New Testament book of
Acts, after the nation of Israel was replaced by the disciples of Jesus as the chosen of God, we
discover the new name given by God for his people. Acts 11:26 says, the disciples were first
called Christians in Antioch. The church that you have been attending, or the one that you are
interested in, What are the members called? Are they called Christians? Now, I don’t mean some
tangled, hybrid, so-called hyphenated kind of Christian. But are they only called Christians?
When consulting the book of God, the bible, you will never find where disciples were ever
designated anything to honor anything or anyone other than Christ. That is, they were not called
Lutherans, they were not called Mormons, they were not called Baptists, they were called
Christians. Also, they were not called Catholics, they were not called Presbyterians, they were
not called Episcopalians, they were called Christians. This might not sound like such a big deal
to you, but it is with God, after all, he named us. When you selected the name for your son or
daughter who was born to you, what do you expect him or her to be called? If your parents gave
you the name of Michael or Jennifer, are you happy when someone calls you Daffy or Dumpy?
What makes us believe that God is satisfied when someone seeks to change the name he has
given his people? There is absolutely no authority within the bible for wearing human names. So

when you become interested in selecting a church, what name do those people wear? Also, when
you consult the bible in making this choice you will discover how the church is to worship.
Therefore, you should become concerned with selecting a church that worships exactly like the
New Testament authorizes. There are certain things God desires that we do in worship, and we
must be concerned with finding a group who respects God’s wishes. Does the church you are
considering - worship in the way God demands? God requires that Christians remember the
death of Christ by observing the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. The bible says in Lk. 22:19-20,
and he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body
which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise he also took the cup after
supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you. Notice that
Christ said, this do! Under the guidance of the apostles of Christ the early church did this each
first day of the week, that is, each Sunday. Acts 20:7 says, now on the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread. The church belonging to Christ respects this,
and partakes of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday as Christ requested. His church also engages in
singing unto him without using any artificial mechanical accompaniment. Col. 3:16 says, let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. God has
not authorized, nor is he pleased with, using instruments of music in worship unto him. Also on
Sunday God desires that the church take up a free will offering in order to carry out his work. 1
Cor. 16:2 reads, on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing
up as he may prosper. Churches have no right to raise money any other way than this. Churches
do not have authority to revive the Jewish tithe; churches do not have the right to take up

collections on any day other than Sunday. If the churches of men would adopt this practice,
many of their preachers would take up another line of work, because those men’s livelihoods
depend upon many contributions being taken several days of the week. During revivals the love
offering may be taken up several times nightly. This is not in harmony with the teaching of the
bible. Also the Lord’s church will engage in worshiping God in a study of the bible and in
talking to him in prayer. Acts 2:42 says, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. This is the means by which Christians
worship God in spirit and in truth as Jesus said that we must in Jn. 4:24. When you become
serious in selecting a church, consider the worship of that church. Is it consistent with the
teaching of the bible? As with the many so-called love offerings - and the disrespect for the once
a week contribution, the churches of men have disregarded the Lord’s will in the other areas of
worship as well. These churches established by men completely ignore the Sunday observance of
the Lord's Supper. Or if they do provide the Lord’s Supper, it’s only one Sunday a month or a
quarter. This is not according to scripture. When you visit with a church and they do not observe
the Lord’s Supper each Sunday, then you are with a church not authorized by the bible. If you
are planning to select a church that has added instruments of music to its worship, then you are
considering a church that does not respect the authority of Christ. Be concerned with the church
being called after Christ. Also, be mindful as to what the members are called. In selecting a
church focus on whether it worships as directed by the bible. Then be concerned that the
teaching emanating from that church is the truth. Is it teaching what the bible says is necessary in
order for one to be saved? Paul said in 1 Tim. 3:15, I write so that you may know how you
ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar

and ground of the truth. The church is said to be the support of the truth of God. And, any local
congregation seeking to be modeled after the doctrine of Christ will be teaching what Christ says
man must do to be saved. There are five absolutes that must be met in order to be saved. One: a
person must hear the gospel of Christ. Rom. 10:17 reveals so then faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God. One must hear of how Jesus came and lived as a man and died to
save lost mankind. One must hear the old story of the cross. Then two: a person must believe
that message heard. One must believe that Jesus is God’s anointed. The Lord said in Jn. 8:24,
therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am he, you
will die in your sins. However, belief is not all that is necessary to being saved. It is essential -
but it is not all one must do. There is, in the third place, the need to turn away from sins, this is
done by repentance. Jesus taught in, Lk. 13:3, unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
One cannot be saved unless he or she is willing to turn from the old life of sin, and this is what
the bible calls repentance. The forth thing required before one can be saved is to confess with
the mouth the Lord, and your faith in him. Paul wrote in Rom. 10:10, for with the heart one
believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. You cannot
secretly become a Christian, because it is necessary to confess your belief in Christ with your
mouth. Then finally: there is water baptism; one cannot be saved without being baptized in
water. Jesus said, he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe
will be condemned in Mk. 16:16. Now when you are selecting a church, you need to become
concerned that it is teaching the truth about salvation. If these five essentials are not being
taught, then you better look elsewhere, because you have not found a church belonging to Christ.
CONCLUSION

A. If you have been thinking about getting involved in religion, and if you have been moving
toward selecting a church. Then you are to be commended. Do not, however, become negligent
in this search. Do not begin to use some phoney standards to make this selection. Do not become
unduly concerned about the size of the church. Don’t look at the fancy building or its social
programs, these are unimportant and often unscriptural. Look within the bible and then make
your decision. Select a church that is designed after the teaching of the bible. If, and when you
do, you cannot go wrong.
B. Ladies and gentlemen, because of the constraints of time we must close for this morning.
Thanks, for being with us, and tune in next week at 7:00 A.M. for another period of bible study
on the Search the Scriptures program. Take a moment and listen to our closing announcements,
and, for the Danville church of Christ, this is J.R. Bronger saying goodbye until next time.