How do you find a church? At first I was attending Church A (nondenominational), then started looking for a different church because I felt a lack of community at Church A. I started attending Church B (Baptist), seemed eventually I had no community there either. I attended Church C (Nazarene) off and on not sure that's where I was supposed to be. There's a church or two I would like to give a chance....I guess partly I am afraid of not finding community. I also oversleep and was struggling with anxiety about being in a new place. The anxiety seems to have resolved for the most part. I'm not sure if I'm asking for advice, prayer or both. I added the denominations but the Baptist church and the Nazarene church didn't seem that different.
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- Thread starter Christismyhope
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Albion
Facilitator
Hi! It's always hard for us to be sure we're addressing the heart of the problem when people have problems like you've outlined. I mean, there are 30,000 or more denominations! But here's my thinking. We all seek many different qualities in a local church congregation and a denomination. Sometimes we find one that seems perfect but it fails on part of the program, so we look around and we find a different congregation that remedies that weakness only to fall down on what was right with the first one! That's frustrating, and it looks like it is part of the problem you've encountered.
I would recommend first defining your own beliefs, then studying (online or at the library) the differences in practices and beliefs that exist between the churches, THEN try out a few of those that you have narrowed the list to and see which have that sense of community you've told us is important to you.
Within any given denomination, there are going to be wonderfully open, welcoming, and cooperative congregations but also some that fall down on all those qualities. It's sad, but it's so. Therefore, I'd say to try following the sequence I've outlined. I think it will help you "zero" in on the best one for you with fewer disappointments along the way.
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graceandpeace
Episcopalian
I agree with Albion.
Take time to research Christianity - history, tradition, etc, & then try to learn about the different churches out there. Once you've narrowed your list down, you can visit the opition(s) as available.
Personally, I am former Nazarene. After researching the faith more & looking into churches more, I switched to the Episcopal Church.
Good luck & let us know if we can be of any more help.
Take time to research Christianity - history, tradition, etc, & then try to learn about the different churches out there. Once you've narrowed your list down, you can visit the opition(s) as available.
Personally, I am former Nazarene. After researching the faith more & looking into churches more, I switched to the Episcopal Church.
Good luck & let us know if we can be of any more help.
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Just be sure the assembly you associate with is a truly Bible-only fellowship, or you could get indoctrinated into a sectarian religion with various innovations of men. God's way is what we need.
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Soyeong
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- Mar 10, 2015
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The easiest way to find churches in your area is just to do a google search for "church + your location". Many will have websites that have their statement of faith, talk about what the church is like, or even have some worship services posted. Now would also be a perfect time to learn about other denominations. For instance, do you know the commonalities and differences between Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Messianics? Even within a denomination, there can be a variety personalities and a variety of what is taught depending on the leadership. Sometimes you just have to knock on the door to see what they're like.
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I find the best way to feel community with a body of believers is to serve with them in some capacity whether it is helping with children or something else. Just attending a few services doesn't help me to feel a part of what is happening
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Albion
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That seems like a good point to make. I don't think we could reasonably expect a seeker to go to these lengths when there are (as often is the case) a whole lot of churches under consideration, but after the fields has been narrowed to only a few, and if the seeker wanted to do the most careful examination possible, what you suggest here would be good to add to the list.
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With all due respect, a church is for worshiping God. Going to a Church to find community seems misdirected. Community will come to you in the course of worshiping.
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