This summary started out as a response to an Internet enquiry from a Christian brother in Qld asking for guidelines after some bad experiences with churches that embraced the Toronto Blessing. When looking for a place of fellowship that will be there for the long-haul…. we suggest some guidelines...
Look for a spread of real authority in the leadership, so there is no one "guru"-type figure (and I say this as the founding and senior minister of our church). I am not a "Doctor" (even though I am a graduate from a real university); I am "Brian"…. a brother in Christ with a particular grace-gift (Rom 12) of leadership, and a calling out of Eph 4:11. This takes me to Zimbabwe regularly where I insist on being called by my own first name…. Beware those who differentiate status on the basis of gifting - flying in the face of our Lord's specific injunctions regarding the brotherhood of believers (including of course generically the sisters too) that was to endure at a deeper level than merely a fraternity of like-gifted individuals doing a common task.
Look for transparent money handling practices (books open to members). What a church does with its money is the surest single sign of its real vision and ethos for ministry.. Something of our own church's system (and I am a financial accountant by training) is set out on our church's Intro document, which is our de facto constitution (under www.hnlc.org.au Intro to Holroyd NLC hyperlink). Watch for leaders with grand visions of what they plan to do with (other people's) money!
Look for serious commitment (in time, attention, prayer, and giving) to some kind of sustained, systematic "outside" missions’ ministry. I think this is one of the most valuable signs of an outward-focused group, committed to the Great Commission; ie. giving, ministering into situation(s) that are beyond the control of the local oversight. Far too many groups are now introverted, introspective, and worried about their building program or music ministry at the expense of greater needs "outside". In our church, this translates to serious involvement (with other like-minded churches and people) with local High School RE, and a long-term involvement in Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa (begun in 1982). I go to Zimbabwe every year for 5-6 weeks, and am returning again for a 2-week second 2003 visit in a month. Our church lovingly releases me (and others) to do this "outside". (click here for Lifeline's Aussie-based website).
Look for genuine koinonia. A church that doesn't value the NT command to fellowship is a goal-driven church / organisation / business enterprise - that will often achieve things, but leave the people relationally isolated and lost. Are the people so busy running with the vision that they haven't time to know the names of each other's kids…. Vic Hall the cult-type apostle of BCF, once said to me in 1972, "After you minded my church, I found people talking a lot about fellowship / friendship. That's what you do after everything has been done". I was in Latter Rain as a minister for 14 years (before an eventful anathematising in 1980, and look back in horror at the systematic destruction of inter-personal relationships that cult-spirit leaders/groups inflict on their followers.
Look for koinonia with like-minded churches in the same district, not just fellowship with other groups under the same denominational structure. The NT is clear on the need for "body vision", where we recognise other members nearby to us who also evidence fruits of the Spirit. It's called, "discerning the Body of Christ"….
Watch for the increasingly common unhealthy emphasis on "the prophetic", which is quite intensely introspective (for individuals and groups too), and not declaratory of the great truths of the gospel. We do believe in and practise prophetic ministry as and when it's appropriate (including personal stuff where it's appropriate). But we don't wander around consulting our journals of former prophecies encouraging us about our soon-coming great ministries! Too navel-gazing to be relevant to a lost and dying world…. The Montanists of the early church disappeared off the scene, prophesying their heads off, more and more irrelevant to the Great Commission.
Check out that people there have non-Christian friends as well as non-Christian "contacts"… Heathen friends have a way of keeping the Body members in touch with the real world - as in words like sane and humble…
And of course, check out the basic beliefs of the church - that they are built on the fundamentals of the gospel in such areas as The nature of God, Christology, atonement, Second Coming, Great Commission, etc.