60 Seconds – Church Etiquette

Note: the author of the following list is unknown.

1. A prayerful attitude should be maintained (Matt. 21:13).
2. A cheerful countenance is an essential (Phil. 4:4).
3. The center of attention must be Christ (Col. 3:17).
4. Love must be shown without respect of persons (Jas.2:9).
5. Dress at church should be discreet and modest (1 Tim. 2:9).
6. Our conversation should be centered around God (Phil. 3:20).
7. Our church properties must be respected (Lev. 19:30).
8. Music should exalt the soul (Eph. 5:19).
9. Lyrics must be scriptural and meaningful (Col. 3:16).
10.Accompaniment music must be in the background (I Cor. 14:17).
11. Participants on the platform must be born-again, dressed appropriately and prayed up (Jas. 3:1).
12. Those exercising the gifts of the Spirit, or in prayer in the audience, must be blameless (1 Cor. 13:1).
13. Special honor should always be given to older people (1 Tim. 5:1,2).
14.Younger people must be in subjection and obedient (Eph. 6:1).
15.We must be subject to one another (1 Pet. 5:5).
16.We must make visitors feel welcome (Heb. 13:2).
17. We must emphasize the positive and minimize the negative (Phil. 4:8).
18.We should emphasize what the Bible emphasizes (Rev. 22:18,19).
19. The Word of God must be the focal point (2 Tim. 4:2).
20.Idle conversation and loitering has no place on church property (Lev. 26:2).
21.A strict “hands-off” policy must be maintained for the opposite sex (1 Cor.7:1.
22.Crying babies should be taken to the nursery (Prov. 19:18).
23.No one should leave while a service is in progress, except in case of emergency (1 Cor. 14:40)
24. We should be on time (Acts 3:1).
25. No one should move in a service, except at the conclusion of a prayer, a song, a sermon, etc. (1 Cor.14:33).
26. Those having to leave the building for any reason should sit toward the back when returning (1 Pet. 3:8).
27. The ends of the pews/chairs should be left empty for late comers when a large crowd is expected (Mark 2:2).
28. Back pews/chairs are for parents with active small children, visitors, and a few of the personal workers (Mark 6:39).
29. Young people, and others who need to obtain the very most from the services, should sit, when possible, towards the front of the church (Luke 5:1).
30. Families should often sit together (Ex. 20:12).
31. Youth without parents should befriend older people of the church and sit with them (1 Tim. 5:1).
32. Older people should take special interest in “lonely” young people (Matt. 18:5).
33. Homes should be open to allow young people to fellowship after church (1 Peter 4:9).
34. Older people should not force traditions and customs on younger people (Matt. 15:9).
35. Younger people should respect older people’s traditions and customs (Romans 14:15).
36. Older people must give basic principles to younger people (Matt.23:24).
37. Younger people should listen with respect to those who have had experience (Prov.22:17).
38. Any church-sponsored outing must be well-chaperoned, wholesome, and always concluded with a brief devotional time (Mk. 6:31).
39. Dress on outings should be modest and sensible (Phil 4:5).
40. People with no children, or who have severe problems at home with their children, should speak rather softly in teaching others how to raise children (Jas. 1:19).
41. People with small children should not have an unusually critical attitude towards parents with teenagers (1 Tim. 1:7).
42. People who have apparently succeeded in raising their children in the right way should wait until their children’s lives are finished before mentioning their success too much (Prov. 22:6).
43. We must not prohibit their attendance, or show anything but love, to people who may be dressed inappropriately, or who may be of another race or social status (Jas. 2:1).
44. Members of the church, anyone in leadership, or those in singing or other platform groups, should definitely have higher standards of moral and dress codes, and have a good report in their church and community (Matt. 15:14).
45. Elite groups that feel they are better than others because of special talents, gifts, cliques, or groups that feel they are more spiritual than others, have no place in church life (1 Cor.3:3).
46. Griping is never tolerated. Constructive and loving suggestions are appreciated (Jas. 3:9).
47. Pastors should feed the flock of God with the Word of God, in love, and be an example of helping in every way, including having control of their homes (1 Pet. 5:2).
48. Obedience to the Word they preach, and high esteem because of their calling and works, should be given to the Pastor and church staff (1Thess. 5:12,13).