"But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him" (1 Cor. 12:18).

God has a specific place where He wants to set you in the body of Christ - a particular church He wants you to attend. When you are in the right church, you'll be blessed and you'll be a blessing.

Sadly though, many people are not in the right church. They're in a church where they are not spiritually fulfilled, but frustrated.

According to a recent survey, 80 percent of Christians attend a particular church because that's where most of their family and friends attend. That's a wrong reason to choose a church.

Some choose a church because of the music program, or because they've got a great nursery for their baby, or because the building is air-conditioned! There are endless reasons why people choose to attend a particular church that are all wrong.

Worse yet, there are those who faithfully go to church every Sunday...but it's a different church every week! They're called "floaters." Week after week, they float from church to church depending on whatever special meeting or event is being held that week. They never put down roots in one particular church. They never become involved in the "work" of the ministry.

When someone is in the wrong church, they often become a source of strife and division in that church. For whatever reason, they become discontent and start to complain and criticize. Many people get drawn into that trap and they're not even aware the enemy is using them as a divisive tool.

I've seen churches split wide open from that kind of strife. It's a deadly thing. Not only for the church but for the individual as well.

Choose a church that is doing something for God.

The first thing you need to consider when choosing a church is whether that church is doing something for God. Don't attend a church that is merely a social club - a place that is "encamped on the wilderness side of Jordan" and isn't moving to possess their land of promise.

Get involved in a church that is pressing. It says in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." A church that is not "pressing toward the mark," is a stagnant church...a dying church. Be a part of a church that is making an impact on their neighborhood and their city for Jesus.

Examine the fruit of that ministry. Are people getting saved? Are people being discipled and grown up on the Word of God? Are people's lives being changed?

Choose a church that teaches the uncompromised Word of God.

The next thing you need to consider in choosing a church is, make sure it teaches the uncompromised Word of God. Not some man's doctrine or religious tradition.

Do you agree with what is being taught? Can you hook up with the doctrine of that church? For instance, if you are baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, it would be unwise for you to attend a church that preaches against the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

If you believe in supernatural healing, would you want to attend a church that believes healing is no longer for today? If you believe God wants to prosper you, it would be contradictory for you to attend a church that believes poverty and lack are a state of holiness.

Incredibly, I've talked to many people who actually attend churches in which they are in direct contradiction with the doctrine of the church. They believe God has called them there to bring revelation to that pastor...to change his mind about tongues...to change his mind about healing...to change his mind about prosperity.

Though their intent might be for good, they are dreadfully deceived. They end up placing themselves in a position where they become a source of strife and division, or they experience rejection and persecution because of their doctrinal differences.

You don't join a church thinking you'll "straighten them out" doctrinally. You join a church where you agree with what is being taught so you can hook up with what they're trying to accomplish for the Lord.

What is the vision of that Church?

The next thing you need to consider when choosing a church is find out what is the long-range vision that God has given them to accomplish. Talk to the pastor and ask him about the vision of the church, or attend a Membership Class.

Every church is called to fulfill the Great Commission in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." But each church usually has been called to a certain kind of ministry. For instance, one church might focus mostly on ministering to the poor in the inner city while another church might have a strong missions calling.

Some people start attending a church and then get upset because they don't have a particular outreach, or because they aren't missions oriented, or because the music ministry doesn't have a choir. It doesn't mean that church is wrong in not having those ministries...and it doesn't mean that person is wrong for desiring to be involved in those ministries.

What it means is that person is not hooked up with the right church with whose vision he or she can flow.

For instance, if you know God has called you to missions and you join a church that does not have a vision for missions, it would be wrong for you to start pressing the pastor to create a missions department. If it's not a part of the vision God has given that church, you're wasting your time there. And, not only that, if you start criticizing and complaining about it, you'll become a divisive tool of the enemy.

When you're in the right place, you'll be able to flow with and be excited about the vision God has given that church.