Searching for a new church?

Christians should be faithful, invested members of a doctrinally sound local church.

Not convinced? Give this a listen:
Do Christians Have to Join a Local Church? by Pastor Nathaniel Jolly

Looking for a new, doctrinally sound church? It seems like so many Christians are, these days. But how can you find one? What constitutes a doctrinally sound church? Are you leaving your old church for biblical reasons? Are you looking for a church that will serve you or one where you can roll up your sleeves and help with the work of ministry? Here are some resources I hope will help:

Church Search Engines and Recommendations

I realize this is a long list of church search engines. I would recommend starting with three at the top of the list: Founders, G3, and The Master’s Seminary. If you’re unable to find churches in your town at one or more of those, I would encourage you to thoroughly scour all of the search engines, expanding your search to include neighboring towns. You may also need to consider churches of different denominations than your preferred denomination.

If you absolutely cannot find a solid church within achievable (though perhaps not desirable) driving distance of your home, scroll down to the Church Planting section below, and begin contacting the organizations there. Explain your situation and ask for help.

If church planting doesn’t work out, you will need to begin praying that God will help you move somewhere where there is a doctrinally sound church. I know that sounds radical to most people, but think about it: people move all the time for lesser reasons – for a job, to be near family, to retire, etc. – no sacrifice is too great to obey God’s commands. And one of His commands is that we gather with the body of Christ.

Happy hunting!

HeartCry Missionary Society (Paul Washer) Church Finder Page U.S. and International churches. This link includes:
Sermon Audio
Founders
and The Master’s Seminary church search engines

G3 Church Network U.S. and International churches

The Master’s Fellowship Church Finder U.S. and International churches

Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches (FIRE) U.S. and International churches

Reformed Baptist Churches U.S. and International churches

The Farese Directory of Reformed Baptist Churches U.S. and International churches

9Marks Church Search U.S. and International churches (Questions/concerns?)

Confessional Baptist Association church listing U.S. churches

Grace Advance Churches planted by the church planting arm of Grace Community Church (John MacArthur’s church)- U.S. and Canada

Reformed Baptist Network churches– U.S. and international churches

Expositors Seminary Alumni Churches– U.S. and international churches

The Praetorian Project Committed to planting churches in military communities- U.S. churches

Finding a Good Church (Bible Bulletin Board)– U.S. and international churches

Village Missions Churches Rural churches in the U.S. and Canada

I’ll Be Honest church finder U.S. and international churches

Vanguard Presbytery U.S. churches

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church search engine U.S. and Canada

Canadian & American Reformed Churches Canadian and U.S. churches

Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches United Kingdom churches

Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches in Australia

Sola 5 Member Churches in Africa

Churches my readers have recommended Mostly U.S. and international churches (includes a few country-specific church search engines) . (You can also recommend any doctrinally sound churches you have a personal connection to.)

DISCLAIMER:
I cannot personally vouch for the theology of any of the churches at these links nor those who recommended them. Please use this list only as a suggestion of churches to check out using biblical wisdom and discernment.

Additionally, this is not a comprehensive list of every doctrinally sound church on planet Earth. I’m sure there are thousands of others out there. If you have a personal connection to one, recommend it here.

Church Planting

Grace Advance Church planting arm of Grace Community Church (John MacArthur’s church)

G3 Church Network

The Master’s Academy International TMAI’s mission “is to train gifted and qualified indigenous church leaders, giving them the tools they need to plant and pastor Bible-centered, Christ-exalting churches.” (A ministry of Grace Community Church {John MacArthur’s church})

HeartCry Missionary Society (Paul Washer) “HeartCry is dedicated to working with and supporting pastors and missionaries across the globe who are laboring to establish biblical churches.”

1689 Seeds “This website exists to help organizations in their efforts of planting 1689 [London Baptist Confession, i.e. Reformed Baptist] confessing churches. We do this by providing a platform for people to list themselves as ‘Seeds’. Our platform then connects organizations with these individuals regarding Church Plating efforts in their area.” (Fill out the submission form to request church planting in your area.)

The Praetorian Project “We are renewing military communities through gospel-centered church planting.”

If a church planting network isn’t feasible, and you absolutely cannot find a doctrinally sound church within achievable driving distance of your home, find the closest one you can, contact the pastor, and start a discussion with him about his church planting a new church in your area. Most churches are planted, not by a church planting organization, but by individual local churches.

What to look for in a church

How Can I Find a Good Church?

Finding a New Church: Starting from Scratch

Six Questions for a Potential Church

Nine Reasons Discerning Women Are Leaving Your Church

Six Ways Not to Forsake the Assembly

7 Reasons Church is Not Optional and Non-Negotiable for Christians

What the Bible Says About Church Membership

A Word Fitly Spoken Podcast: Is This Church for You? with Michelle Lesley and Amy Spreeman

Church Shopping? 35 Key Questions to Ask the Church by Amy Spreeman

#008: Church Shopping? Factors To Consider When Choosing Which Church To Join at Cage Free Theology

Here’s a handy evaluation sheet created by Dr. Jack Hughes. Use it when you visit a potential church to determine whether or not it’s worth pursuing. (Save the photo and print it out, or type the questions into your own document.)

New to Church Culture?

Are you a new Christian who doesn’t have much of a church background, and all this “church stuff” is new to you? Feel like a stranger in a strange land? Here’s a crash course in church culture from my podcast, A Word Fitly Spoken:

That’s (Church) Life! – How to “Do Church” – Part 1 Part 2 Part 3