Text: Colossians 2:1-5

Topic: What to look for in a church

Introduction:

• Where you attend church is an important choice; one that shouldn't be made without prayerful consideration.

• What does it take to make a church a great church?

• Big idea: If a church can offer people these five things, it will be dynamic, powerful, and effective.

• Colossians 2:2

• Illustration: May tells the story of a small group he was in that practiced criticism more than love to illustrate the opposite of a church that encourages your heart.

• Paul dedicated his ministry to encouraging Christians, and so should we.

• Ephesians 4:29

• Colossians 2:2

• Illustration: May uses the example of World War II allies Russia and the U.S. to illustrate how common enemies can make temporary allies, but only love can create true unity.

• Illustration: Again, may uses the example of marriages that divorce after 20 years, to illustrate that without love as a foundation, unity from common causes fades away.

Look for a church that lifts up Jesus.

• Illustration: May tells a story of author Frank Peretti's insistence on keeping Jesus the focus of his book to illustrate what it means to not compromise the place of Jesus.

• Acts 4:12

• John 14:6

• Only Jesus can bring you into a right relationship with God.

• Colossians 2:2-3

Look for a church with a commitment to truth.

• Colossians 2:4

• Illustration: May cites both historical examples and modern examples of how false teaching distorts a church.

• When we consider the validity of our beliefs, we must ask ourselves:

• Does it stand the test of Scripture?

• Does it stand the test of history?

• Does it stand the test of tradition?

• Does it stand the test of reason?

• Illustration: May tells of an entire denomination's (Worldwide Church of God) efforts to restore biblical theology as an example of commitment to truth.

Look for a church that is consistent.

• Colossians 2:5

• Illustration: May cites a negative example of a church that is inconsistent.

• Consistency is the difference between living by emotion and living by faith.

• Commitments are permanent because they are not based on convenience, they're based on conviction.

Conclusion:

• As a church there are some things we simply aren't yet able to do.

• But I'll tell you what we do have: we have the ability to encourage one another, to love one another, to lift up the name of Christ, to teach the simple truth of the Bible and to do it week after week after week.