Criteria

In order for a church or ministry to be recommended on this website, it must meet ALL the criteria listed below. The goal is for you to be reasonably sure that the sermon and online instruction you are searching for is based on Sound Doctrine. We review the statement of faith or beliefs on each church’s website. Churches are included only if those statements include all of the following criteria, and/or we are familiar with the teachings of that church. We also listen to a minimum of four sermons from each church.

Note, that a church’s statement of beliefs should match their teachings, but that is not necessarily the case. While we endeavor to only link to churches with sound doctrine, you should always personally evaluate each church against the truth of Scripture.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11, KJV)

The Bible

The Bible, in its original documents, is the inspired Word of God, absolute in its authority., and without error.

2 Timothy 2:15-16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Exodus 24:12, Exodus 34:27, Proverbs 30: 5-6, Psalm 89:34, Hebrews 6:18, Jeremiah 30: 1-2, Matthew 5:18, Luke 1:68-70, John 10:35, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16

The Trinity

There is one God manifested in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 7:14, Genesis 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Timothy 3:16, Genesis 1:26, Hebrews 9:14, John 14:9, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 John 5:7

The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God who took on flesh and dwelt on earth.

John 1:1-4, John 1:10-14, 1 Timothy 4:10

Man

Each member of the human race is fallen, sinful, and lost.

Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:22-23, Romans 5:12, John 3:7, Ephesians 5:18, Titus 3:5

Salvation

1. Salvation is by Grace Alone
   1. Man is saved by the undeserved, unmerited mercy of God.  Man’s good works, or lack thereof have no bearing on salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 1:7)
2. Salvation is by Faith in Christ Alone
   1. Man is saved only by trusting on the sinless Jesus Christ; that he died on the cross as the payment for our sins, rose on the third day, and offers man eternal life. (John 3:16, John 14:6)
3. Salvation is by Christ Alone
   1. Jesus Christ paid the complete payment for all of our sins past and future.  The work is finished.  Man cannot add anything to it. (Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Colossians 2:13, Titus 3:5)

Secure Forever

The moment man trusts in Jesus Christ, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit, and can never lose his salvation.

John 3:16, John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:36-39, John 6:47, John 5:24, John 10:28, 1 Peter 1:4-5, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:38-39, 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

Christian Life

Once saved, man should strive to live a godly life in fellowship with God.  However, even if he does not, his salvation is secure.

1 Corinthians 3:11-17, 1 Corinthians 11:30-32, Romans 6:13, Galatians 5:16-25, 1 Peter 1:14-16

Other Considerations

We have found that the following criteria are sometimes NOT listed in church statement of beliefs by churches that follow the doctrines below. Therefore, churches that don’t list the following sound doctrine will not necessarily be excluded from this site.

1. God’s will is that ALL would be saved. However, He gives man free will to accept or reject salvation. Any church listed on this site should reject the Calvinistic definition of predestination. (Please contact us if any church on this site is teaching Calvinistic principles.) (1 Timothy 2:4, Titus 2:11, John 12:32, 2 Peter 3:9, John 6:64-65, 1 Corinthians 1:21)
2. Once saved a believer should be baptized, but it is a public statement and not a condition for salvation. (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-13, Ephesians 1:13-14)
3. The Church has NOT replaced the Jewish people.  God will fulfill all his promises to the Jewish people. (Genesis 17:7, Genesis 13:15, Jeremiah 31:35-36, Psalm 105:8-10, Ezekiel 37:26)
4. The gift of Tongues fulfilled its purpose in the early Church. (Acts: 2:16-18, 1 Corinthians 14:22, Hebrews 2:4, Ephesians 4:7-12)
5. The scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined rules of life (Dispensations) which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages.  Three examples including the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the millennial kingdom – are subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (John 1:17, 1 Corinthians 9:17, 2 Corinthians 3:9-18, Galatians 3:13-25, Ephesians 1:10, Colossians 1:24-25, Hebrews 7:19, Revelation 20:2-6)