If you are a pastor you know that the summer months are transitional for a lot of folks. A lot of church shopping takes place during this time of the year and so, I find it interesting to observe what certain individuals are looking for in a local church. Some of the top questions visitors ask as they’re inquiring about the new church are:

1) Is the Sunday worship worth my time? Is it energetic, solid gathering, good teaching, good music?
2) Is there a good variety of programs?
3) How resourceful are you in case I need it for myself, my family, my friends?

I believe it’s fair to ask these questions but, they should not be the leading ones whether your looking for a church or whether you are a pastor trying to close your back door on people. Think of bigger and better questions instead.

I read this morning during my devotional Mark 11. Right at the place where it talks about Jesus’ second visit after his Triumphal entry to the Temple in Jerusalem. With just a little background research you’ll find that basically, the Temple in Jesus’ days had three things going for the people of Israel.

1) It generated a lot of foot traffic. A large influx of people from all over the world visited the Temple. On the surface there were massive gatherings (some say in the millions), energy and, tons of excitement. It was packed pretty regularly year around.
2) It generated a lot of financial resources. Historian Flavius Josephus reports that in one Yom Kippur alone 250 thousand animals were sold and slaughtered and that a huge percentage of the gross profit was brought in to the Temple’s treasury fund.
3) It was very very busy. From money exchangers to Temple workers there was a whole lot going on in terms of programs yet…

(as Jesus illustrates with with the Fig Tree incident) it was spiritually dead!

So much so that Jesus couldn’t help but to weep and whip, for it had departed from its original purpose.

Busyness, agglomeration and, a vast array of resources had replaced the true worship of God as well as Israel’s mission to the nations.

Israel was to be a light unto the nations and in the place where the gentiles should be praying and reflecting about the God of the Bible, there was total chaos. The Temple had become a circus. And, there’s no way one can be challenged spiritually in the middle of a freakin’ circus.

In the same way the church of Jesus represented locally cannot exist by emulating mega corporations and 21st century entertainment. It must exists by life in community and as Emil Bruner said it “by mission”. Both of course, fueled by the power of the Gospel within a rich understanding of what the Kingdom of God is.
Having said that, here are some good questions to ask when you step foot into a church.

1) How do these people love each other?
2) Do they exist for mission in their city?
3) Is the Gospel highly valued and is it fleshed out and lived out in the culture of this local body?

As you look to find a new church community or help to create a community where people can join, I pray that you will ask the bigger questions.