Finding a new home church can sometimes be more confusing than finding a place to live or work. To begin with, avoid looking for a twin to your former church, since this almost inevitably ends in frustration and spiritual setback. Instead, take time to think about what you (and your family) have to offer in serving others as well as what your family needs to help each of you to take your next spiritual step. Then keep those things in mind as look you for these common components for spiritual health.

Warm family relationships

God intends for the church to be a healthy living organism, not a cold, spiritually lifeless organization. So, if you want to be alive and growing in your faith in God, look for signs of harmony, unity and excitement of life. In the midst of that, taking longer than 2-3 months to identify with a new church family will have negative consequences in your spiritual life.

An awareness of God's presence

The Bible says in John 4:24 … “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” God’s definition of spirit refers to our intuition, our ‘gut feeling’, not what we think or know or even how we feel in our emotions. If you truly want to experience God, find a place where you almost always intuitively sense that God is present, and where you are encouraged to stretch spiritually and respond to whatever God may be saying to you.

Biblically balanced doctrine and lifestyle

Any extreme is unhealthy, as pleasant as it may seem to some people. God’s Word may appear extreme to some, but when closely examined in its entirety, it is very balanced in what it teaches. If you want to grow spiritually, and as quickly as possible, find a church that teaches balanced essential Bible doctrines as well as a balanced lifestyle of Bible study, devotion, ministry involvement, fellowship and pleasure. If you are not sure what balance doctrine is, ask an experienced Christian.

Clear Godly purpose and vision

Look for evidence that the church knows their Biblical purpose for existence, as well as their unique and specific God-given assignment. Then inquire as to how they are working to accomplish it. You want to invest yourself to be a part of a living organism that is making an eternal difference. In doing so, the process will change you as well.

A well thought out path that leads to spiritual maturity

Just as you need a map to know how to drive to New York City, you need some sort of a map to know what to do in order to become spiritually mature. Ask the pastor to describe what he understands a spiritual person to be and do, and, what map or plan does the church offer to help a person become like Jesus and do what He did. Since youth and children think and learn differently than adults, inquire about the age-sensitive learning and ministry opportunities they offer that encourage and support a person in their unique spiritual journey

Final cautions

Since a church is made of up of imperfect humans seeking to be perfected, no church will be perfect. So, choose a church that will best help you in your spiritual journey and commit yourself to that family of believers. A long-term ‘church-shopper’ or ‘church-hopper’ is like a couple living together without the commitment of marriage, or continually getting new parents. Not only is that kind of arrangement contrary to God’s Word, it is a serious deterrent to developing godly character in you.