People don't live godly lives because some guy got up and gave a pep talk about the fact that they ought to live godly lives.

People don't live godly lives because somebody got up and told them there are lots of negative consequences and you might not be successful if you don't behave this way.

People are motivated to live godly lives primarily from their view of god.

Welcome to Grace to You with John MacArthur. I'm your host Phil Johnson. If friends told you they were looking for a church, what would you tell them to prioritize and what would you tell them to look out for?

What does a healthy church even look like? Well John MacArthur helps you sort out that critical question today in the study he's launching here on Grace to You titled What to Look for in a church.

John I have two questions as you start this series. First, what motivated you to teach these sermons in the first place and second why is this such a relevant subject for Christians today?

Many of whom already attend a local church. Well just on the general side of answering both of those questions you know very well Phil that probably the most consistent request we get from people writing and calling the ministry is can you recommend a church?

That is the most common request we get. Yeah. And it isn't that there aren't churches. There are churches just in the general sense.

And it isn't that people aren't attending a church. It is the fact that there's churches that they're going to fall short of what they expect and what they feel is right and what they feel is necessary for their own spiritual development.

And that becomes a very urgent thing. It's one thing to hear the scripture say for sake not the assembling of yourselves together as a matter of some is much more as you see the day approaching and stimulate one another 11 good works.

But that doesn't happen in a lot of churches. There's not a stimulation to 11 good works.

This is what is frustrating. I think it back many years ago when I was just a young guy there was a certain sameness in the churches before the pragmatic movement came before the charismatic movement came and churches were similar we sang similar hymns.

Churches conducted life in a similar way and now there are such a there is such a massive range of what churches can be that it's rare to find one that is faithful to the word of God that is faithful to the standards the word of God established for a church.

And that's why this study is so very important it's called what to look for in a church. I originally preached these messages during chapel services at the masters university for the very purpose of helping the kids understand what the criteria should be.

And it's a series every young person needs to hear but not just for young people whatever time of life you're in and however long you've been in your church it's good to be reminded of what God expects the local church to be like.

This study is going to answer following questions what is the purpose of the local church how is it to function what beliefs should a church refuse to waver on.

And is the Bible's blueprint for the church as relevant today as when it was written I think you're going to find the series affirming I hope that's the case I hope it's affirming of the church you're in or it may help you identify a weak spot that needs improvement and maybe you can be a part of that improvement or maybe it's time for you to find a place that's more faithful vital teaching right from the campus of the masters university that's right friend this teaching is vital you might not have ever understood.

Just how important the local church is to your growth in Christ and to your ability to glorify God to the fullest so let's dive into this series here is John MacArthur to show you what to look for in a church.

Those of you who know me know that I am addicted to the church I am a fanatic for the church I love the church it is my life and breath is the source of my highest joy and my most overwhelming anguish.

It is on my mind all the time I sort of live in the aura of the church all that it is and all that it calls for and requires and provides.

It's a real adventure to be a pastor I could not be a president and I could deal with that I could not be a radio preacher or an author that would be all right.

But if I were not a pastor that would be the greatest loss of my entire life.

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