Visiting a new church is a bit like a first date — you are trying to figure out if this is a good fit without making it awkward. The problem is that most people evaluate churches on surface-level impressions: the music was good, the building was nice, the people seemed friendly. While those things matter, they do not tell the full story. Here are 10 deeper questions to ask (yourself and the church) that will help you make a truly informed decision.

1. What Does This Church Believe?

This sounds basic, but many visitors never actually check. Every church has a statement of faith, doctrinal position, or set of core beliefs. Before or after your visit, find it on their website and read it carefully.

Pay attention to their positions on: the authority of Scripture, the nature of God and Jesus, salvation (how a person is saved), baptism, communion, the role of the Holy Spirit, and any distinctive beliefs that set them apart.

If you cannot find a clear statement of beliefs, that itself is worth noting. Theological clarity is a sign of a healthy church. For help understanding different theological traditions, check our guides on Baptist vs Methodist or non-denominational vs denominational.

2. Is the Teaching Biblical and Substantive?

Listen carefully to the sermon. Ask yourself:

Is the teaching grounded in Scripture, or does it feel like motivational speaking with a Bible verse sprinkled in?
Does the pastor engage with the actual text of the Bible, or does the text feel like a jumping-off point for personal opinions?
Is the teaching challenging and growth-oriented, or does it just tell you what you want to hear?
Does the sermon apply to real life, or does it stay theoretical?

One sermon is not enough to judge — listen to 2-3 sermons (visit twice, and listen to one online). Look for consistency in quality and biblical faithfulness.

3. How Does This Church Handle Community?

A Sunday service is a gathering, not a community. Real community happens in smaller settings. Ask:

Does the church have small groups, life groups, or community groups? How are they organized (by geography, life stage, interest)?
How do new people get connected? Is there a clear on-ramp?
Do people seem to genuinely know each other, or does everyone scatter after the service?
Is there a system for pastoral care when people go through crises?

A church with a strong small group system will serve you far better long-term than one with a great Sunday show but no infrastructure for deeper connection.

4. Who Are the Leaders, and Are They Accountable?

Leadership matters more than almost any other factor in a church's health. Investigate:

Who is the senior pastor? What is their background and training?
Is there an elder board, deacon board, or governance team that provides accountability?
Does the church publish financial reports or have financial transparency?
How long has the senior pastor been there? (Very long tenures and very short tenures both warrant questions.)
Has the church had any leadership controversies? (A quick Google search can reveal a lot.)

Healthy churches have accountable leaders. If the church feels like a one-man show with no checks and balances, proceed with caution.

5. How Does This Church Serve Its Neighborhood?

A church that is only focused inward — on its own members and programs — is missing a key part of its purpose. Ask:

What community outreach does this church do?
Are there local service partnerships (food banks, homeless shelters, schools)?
Does the church engage with its neighborhood, or does it exist in a bubble?
Is there a missions program (local and/or global)?

A church that serves its community is usually a church that takes its faith seriously beyond Sunday morning.

6. What Is the Church's Culture Around Visitors?

Pay attention to how you are treated as a visitor, because it reveals the church's culture:

Were you greeted warmly but without being overwhelmed?
Did anyone engage you in genuine conversation, or did people avoid eye contact?
Was the service accessible to someone unfamiliar with church culture?
Were announcements and inside jokes kept to a minimum, or did you feel like an outsider?
Was there a clear path for visitors to take a next step if interested?

A church's treatment of visitors reflects its overall health. Warmth without pushiness is the sweet spot. For more on the visitor experience, see our guide on what to expect at your first church visit.

7. What Programs Exist for My Life Stage?

Different life stages have different needs. Evaluate what is relevant to you:

Young adults/singles: Is there a young adult ministry, singles group, or community for people in their 20s-30s? Read our guide on finding a church as a single person.
Married couples: Are there couples' groups, marriage enrichment, or date-night events?
Parents: How is the children's ministry? Is it safe, well-staffed, and engaging? What about youth ministry for teens?
Empty nesters/retirees: Are there groups for people in the second half of life?

A church does not need to have every program, but it should have something that serves your current season of life.

8. How Does This Church Handle Disagreement and Conflict?

This one is harder to evaluate on a first visit but incredibly important:

Does the church have a stated process for resolving conflict?
Is there room for theological diversity on non-essential issues, or is conformity expected on everything?
How has the church navigated controversial topics in the past? (Denominational splits, pastoral transitions, cultural issues)
Do leaders model humility and openness, or do they project infallibility?

A church that handles disagreement maturely is a church that is safe to invest in long-term.

9. Is This Church Growing, Plateaued, or Declining?

Growth is not the only measure of health, but it is a data point:

Is the church gaining new members and visitors, or is attendance declining?
Are there young people and families, or is the congregation aging without replacement?
Is the church planting new campuses or ministries, or contracting?

A plateaued or declining church is not automatically unhealthy — it may be in transition, in a shrinking community, or faithfully serving a niche population. But if a church has been declining for years with no plan to address it, that is worth understanding before you commit.

10. Can I See Myself Here in One Year?

After your visit, sit with this final question. Not "Was this the best church service I have ever attended?" but "Can I see myself here in a year?"

Can you imagine building friendships here? Serving on a team? Growing spiritually through the teaching? Bringing a friend? Raising your kids in this community?

If the answer is yes — even a tentative yes — that is a church worth a second visit and serious consideration.

How to Actually Ask These Questions

You do not need to interrogate a greeter at the door. Here is how to gather this information naturally:

Check the website for beliefs, leadership bios, programs, and financials.
Read FaithScout reviews from real visitors who have already done the evaluation.
Attend a newcomer event where these questions are expected and welcomed.
Have a casual conversation with a regular attendee after the service.
Listen to the sermon for teaching quality and theological orientation.
Observe the lobby for community dynamics, diversity, and culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important thing to look for in a church?

Biblical, substantive teaching and a genuine sense of community are the two most important factors. A church can have excellent music, a beautiful building, and great programs, but if the teaching is shallow or the community is superficial, it will not serve you well long-term.

Is it rude to ask a church about their finances?

No. Healthy churches practice financial transparency. Many publish annual financial reports or make them available upon request. If a church is evasive or defensive about finances, that is a red flag. It is perfectly appropriate to ask how the church manages its resources.

Should I evaluate the church on my first visit or wait until the second?

Start evaluating from your first visit, but hold your conclusions loosely. First impressions matter but can be misleading. The first visit gives you initial data; the second visit confirms or challenges those impressions. Make final evaluations after two visits.

What are red flags to watch for when visiting a church?

Watch for: heavy pressure to give money immediately, a pastor with no accountability structure, unwillingness to answer questions about beliefs or finances, manipulation or guilt-tripping from the pulpit, an insular culture that discourages outside friendships, and any form of spiritual abuse or control.

How do I compare churches I have visited?

Take notes after each visit using consistent criteria (teaching, community, worship, practical fit, gut feeling). FaithScout's comparison tool at faithscout.com/compare lets you evaluate churches side by side based on visitor ratings and detailed metrics.

Start Evaluating Churches Today

Great church shopping is not about finding the perfect church — it is about asking the right questions to find the church where you can grow. Use these 10 questions as your framework, and you will make a decision you feel confident about.

Take the FaithScout quiz to get matched with churches in your area, browse and read reviews, or compare your top options side by side. Your church home is waiting.