The Checklist
When I grew up, the church we attended was my parents’ choice. But when I moved to Chicago, the decision became mine. And I am grateful that I had a strong foundation in the Word, because it gave me something to stand on when it was time to choose for myself.
I had a checklist. I still do.
Some people find that strange. I find it necessary.
I would give each church a month. Some did not make it a week. And I want to be clear, the checklist was never built on personal preference or what felt comfortable. It was built on the principles of God’s Word. There is a difference. One is about what you like. The other is about what He established.
Ephesians 4:12 is one of the best places to start when you are looking for a church home. It tells us that the gifted leaders Jesus appointed were given for a specific purpose. To fully equip and perfect the saints for the work of ministry. To build up the body of Christ.
And perfecting here does not mean being perfect. It means maturing. It means being brought into wholeness. It means being cultivated.
So the question becomes, is this a house where that actually happens?
We cannot choose a church based on hype. Numbers do not tell the whole story. Production value does not tell the whole story. A crowd does not confirm that cultivation is taking place.
Is it biblical? Are the saints being equipped? Are the people under that leadership actually growing, maturing, and being built up? Is there evidence that the gifted leaders are doing what verses 11 and 12 say they were appointed to do, which is to cultivate the individuals and the corporate ministries of those in their care?
Those are the questions worth asking.
If I visited a place and the things on my list were not present, I did not feel guilty about not going back. We research colleges before we enroll. We research doctors before we trust them with our health. Why would we approach something as significant as our spiritual home with less intentionality than that?
This is not the only scripture to build a checklist from. But if you have never had one, it is a powerful place to start.
Your spiritual growth is too important to leave to chance. Be intentional about where you plant yourself. Because where you are planted will determine what you are able to produce.
He’s speaking.
I’m writing and listening.
The Golden Scribe | MaShani Allen
