177 | Thinking Biblically About Denominations

In this episode, we look at the 8,000+ Christian denominations and ask whether all that division is evidence of a broken church — or branches growing off one vine. We'll walk through where the major denominations came from, why gathering with a local body isn't optional for a Christian, and how to actually choose a church without waiting for a perfect one.

In this episode, we examine:

- what the word "church" has meant since the assembly of Israel, and why a cookout with Christian friends isn't it

- why John 15's vine and branches is spoken to a gathered community, not to you alone in your living room

- the grace evangelicals are cutting themselves off from when church becomes optional

- a fast tour of church history: the Jerusalem church, the 1054 schism, the Reformation, and the origins of Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anabaptist, Congregational, Baptist, Church of Christ, and Pentecostal traditions

- the difference between denominations that split over doctrinal orthodoxy, over practice, and over mere preference

- what each tradition does well, and what they need to learn from one another

- four things to look for when choosing a church: doctrinal truth, social change, maturing community, and holding your preferences loosely

If you've been church hunting for years without finding the right fit, or you've wondered whether denominations are a problem to be solved, this episode is for you.

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