How do I find a church?

[DMan]

How does one pick a church to go to, if he has never been a religious person. How do I know if I should become a Baptist, or a Methodist or Pentecost or Lutheran or whatever?

Is there something I should look for? Is there something I should ask about? Do you have to be accepted into the church?

[edjones]

Welcome DMan, Good questions.

Pray and ask God to led you to a good church.

Have you already trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour?
You don't need to go to a church for that.
But after Salvation worship, preaching, fellowship with God and Bible study with others is the way to grow.

ed

[Blynn]

Hi DMan,

Welcome. :)


This is a very good question. I would agree with edjones. Pray and ask God to lead you to a good church. He will do it for you.



God Bless,
Roberta

[Terry]

You read your Bible (New Testament) and choose the one you know to be most like the Church that Christ founded.

Good Luck

[Blackhawk]

I agree with the others above. However I do think that there is practical things we can do and that God would want us to do.

1. First like the others said pray. And also study your Bible. Stay close to God and He will lead you. Daniel trusted God when he was sent away from his homeland and he was blessed mightily.

2. Ask. Ask friends you know that are Christians. Go to their churches. Ask whatever group helped you get saved. Also I know the Christian REsearch Institute can help you find a good church in your area. Their webpage is equip.org But you might have to call them for the information. But all that should be on the web page.

3. study up on the different denominations and their differences. Find out what makes Baptists different than Catholics or Methodists from Lutherans. You can get a lot of information from the web. Just make sure it is reliable information.

4. When you go to a church ask for a statement of beliefs. Take it to a Christian you trust if there is one. They can help you see if it is good or not. But wherever you visit get this paperwork. Because some churhces might be Lutheran or Baptist but do not hold to their denominations beliefs. And sometimes that can be very bad. In my city there is a baptist church where the pastor does not believe in a real hell. So this step is very important.

5. Visit with the pastor/priest. Ask to speak one day with the minister and ask the minister questions. I would advise to do this with ones you like. Not all.

6. Also visit more than 1 church and 1 type of church.

7. Take your time. Do not be in too much of a rush. Really if you do the things above (big one is prayer and staying close to God) then God will lead you to one quickly. Once you get into one learn the basics of the faith and get involved.

I hope this helps. Whatever church you choose will affect your views greatly. Do not worry about it too much But do make sure that the church you choose represents true Christianity.

blackhaw6

[TRUTH]

It's a proccess of elimination. The Bible says "Prove all things" 1 Thes 5:21. You need to look at a church's teachings and make sure they check out with the bible.

Reread Forum Rules ;)

[Mandy]

I agree with the above posts. It is important to pray and to visit a few different churches where the word of God is taught and preached.

[StogusMaximus]

God's Word admonishes us not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:25). Several logs burn brightly together; but put one aside on the cold hearth and the fire goes out.

Do not wait to be invited to a church, take the initiative. Visit many churches, talk with the people and the pastors. When you find the right place, you will know it.

[RayNay714]

Pray, seek God, and just go to a few different churches. When I was younger my parents decided they wanted to raise me in church but they weren't going to church at the time so they went to a new church every week until one Sunday they went to a church, and they stayed there until my dad became a youth pastor, and now we attend an Assemblies of God church, but I don't think that you should be so concerned with what Denomination it is as long as they believe that Jesus died for their sins, and know that he is the only way to heaven. Trust in God and he will give you direction.

[Hishandmaiden]

I suppose, being the houses of the lord, all churches will have welcomed you, so just go to a church that is nearest to your house!

[LouisBooth]

Personally I would say it doesn't matter as much which church you go to BUT you need to find one you like and feel comfortable with and make sure you know their docterine statements and believe in a like-minded way. There is room for diversity in any group of believers, but remember, they might have different beliefs as you, better to find out sooner then later.

[solo66 man]

Be sure the teaching includes the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All the Gifts of the Spirit are allowed. Some exclude tongues and/or healing; legitimate gifts of the Spirit. Also, be sure it is not a prosperity based church. They tend to forget what we owe God in return for His salvation. And some even teach equal footing with God. Walk out.
Read the whole Bible and discard nothing. God means every word He says. Then, you will spot what is and is not real.

[DMan]

Thanks Everybody.

[Mandy]

Your welcome and one last thing, when you find a church and wonder about what is being taught, check your Bible and make sure it lines up with it.
May God bless you with a wonderful church!

[LouisBooth]

Mandy, you do that regardless if you have been in the same church 5 min or 50 years ;) You always check your preacher against the bible..if you don't..you're not doing your job as one of the flock ;)

[Mandy]

I agree LouisBooth, my point was that if something is being preached that doesn't sound quite right to check the Bible. Like the Bereans. Not everyone does this and I just thought I would bring it up. :)

[Vijaykyu]

Dear DMan,
I would also agree, pray, ask others, and find somewhere you feel comfortable. But I would add, look at how many cars are out front, not only on Sunday, But throughout the week. Worship is a verb, it implies action. see what else the church does, my church has mens groups, womens groups, a school of adult courses, out of the cold, childrens programmes, AA, scouts, guides, and on and on. We don't just get together on Sunday, we have a community.
In a time of shrinking churches, we grow.
Now go find somewhere to be.
Good luck and God Bless.
Vincent

[solo66 man]

No luck. It is either your will or God's will.

[LouisBooth]

" But I would add, look at how many cars are out front, not only on Sunday, But throughout the week. "

Ahh..this can be deceptive though...good, in my opinion, churches meet in homes of people in "small" close knit groups of likeminded beleivers.

[Your Neighbor]

Originally posted by DMan
How does one pick a church to go to, if he has never been a religious person. How do I know if I should become a Baptist, or a Methodist or Pentecost or Lutheran or whatever?

Is there something I should look for? Is there something I should ask about? Do you have to be accepted into the church? Do NOT pick a church group based upon PROGRAMS that they offer. Neither pick one because its location is close. Don't pick one because there are pretty girls (handsome guys).

I would recommend a church that fits this description:

Rev 14.12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rev 12.17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

What is "the testimony of Jesus?" Who has it?

Rev 19.10
...I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Who are the brethren that have "the testimony of Jesus?"

Rev 22.9
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

[LouisBooth]

"Neither pick one because its location is close. "

Really? I think you should be involved with a LOCAL body of believers......aren't you supposed to impact your community?

[Your Neighbor]

Most of the population live in or near cities where there are multitudes of church buildings nearby.

I am willing to drive past many of them to find a church group that believes what I believe :). It is still "local."

[LouisBooth]

Well community means to me...neighbors..do your next door neighbors or anyone on your block or your sub-divsion go to your church?

[JohnR7]

>>just go to a church that is nearest to your house!

I would not say "nearest" there is a church right next door to me. But I believe that God will provide a church for us in the community we live in. I do not think we have to drive to another city or anything like that.

In the Church I attend, we have had people move here from all over the world. From China, Japan, Canada, Brazil and so forth. They are all helping with the translation work and they do other work for the ministry.

For me, I choose a church where I get answers to prayer and where I see the power of God demonstrated. If I go to the pastor for prayer and I do not see any results from that prayer, then I will go to another church.

2 Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The word here for "power" is the same word used in the Bible for Miracles. If you go to a church and you do not see any healings or miracles, than God is not with them. It would be better to leave and go to a church where there is the power of God to live a life of victory in Jesus.

[JohnR7]

>>aren't you supposed to impact your community?

We are suppose to impact the world. Before I joined the church I am a part of now, I was a part of the charismatic renewel in the Episcopal church. It was not as powerful as the church I am a part of now, but they did have a world wide impact at the time.

Of course we have a impact on our community also. My wife talked about moving to Orlando, and I said I am not so sure I want to be a part to the Benny Hinn ministry. That maybe where I would end up, if I moved there.

I like small neighborhood churchs as much as the next person. But I am really drawn to the power of God, and a church where the strength of God is demonstrated. Then when we go to the small neighbor hood church to visit, we are better able to help them, because we take the annointing or the power with us. Thanks, JohnR7

[wildflower71]

Yes that is my question as well how do you find a church and will it feed you with the words of god. I am have a hard time finding a church i like here in my community I live in a very small ruaul area so the options of a church aew limited. everyone has very good suggestions and i find them all very helpful Thanks.

[edjones]

Pray and ask God to led you to a good church.

Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour?
You don't need to go to a church for that.
But after Salvation worship, preaching, fellowship with God, prayer and Bible study with others is the way to grow.

Feed your spiritual man
and starve the carnal.



Don't go to the church of your choice. Go to the church of Gods choice.



(If you find the perfect church don't go their, you'll ruin it) (a joke)(with truth) ;)

[Redeemed1]

I would say, go to as many Christian churches as are available in your area. Go more than once to each church. Pray before go, and ask God to lead you to the place He wants you to be. He has a place for you within the Body...a place where He wants you to grow, be encouraged, and to learn, and then evenutally to begin to minister to others. I believe that if you pray, and have a desire to be where He wants you to be, He will let you know when you've come to the church of His choice. It is not His desire that we flounder and try to figure out where He wants us. It is His will that we allow ourselves to be led by Him.

[good_news]

seek first your own light and examine (or re-examine) YOUR own beliefs. Then try to find a church. The first step is crucial if we are to live a truly fulfilled life.

[pete]

Which day did God say to remember.Read God's commandments and find Gods answer for those who love him John 14;15.Its amazing.Jesus came in human flesh as an example for us.Kept the Sabbath day through out his time here.But when was it changed to Sunday.People say it was changed at the cross.But his disiples still kept the Sabbath even after his death.If you read Daniel 7;25 you will see that Daniel prophisied it to be changed.Pretty amazing.Find out for yourself.