Don’t Choose a Church Until You Hear This (4 Biblical Tests for Finding One)

Thinking of trying a new church—or your first one ever?

In this episode of Saved for Later, we cut through the noise of flashy stage lights, good coffee, and funny pastors to get at what really matters. Whether you’re a new believer, a returning prodigal, or someone trying to figure out why your church life feels hollow, this one’s for you.

You’ll learn:
• Why church attendance isn’t a fruit of the Spirit
• What Scripture actually says about the purpose of the local church
• How to test any church for four non-negotiable gospel criteria
• The dangers of easy-believism, doctrinal drift, and entertainment-based faith

If you're serious about following Jesus, you can’t afford to choose your church based on parking spots or coffee. You need to be taught. You need to be discipled. You need to be changed.

📖 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching...” —Acts 2:42

⏱️ Chapter Guide:
These timestamps let you jump to the exact part of the episode that matters most:
• 00:00 — Introduction to Church Shopping
• 01:07 — Why Discuss Church Shopping?
• 04:21 — Understanding the Church
• 05:28 — The Great Commission and Early Church
• 08:10 — Choosing the Right Church
• 13:26 — Primary Considerations for a Church
• 20:07 — Investigating Potential Churches
• 23:29 — Core Christian Doctrines
• 25:57 — Final Thoughts and Next Steps

🎧 Part 2 of this series: Interview with My Pastor (coming up next!)
🔗 Read the blog and explore deeper resources: https://savedforlater.org
📩 Share this with a friend who's searching for a church or struggling to stay in one.
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What do you look for in a church? And what’s let you down in the past?