i would really like to try church. what should i expect?

Question

i have never been to church. i'm not that into it but it wouldn't hurt to try. whats it like? will it be a positive experience?

Answer 1

I'm a Christian and I have been to many different churches in my time so I can give you some advice on what to look for.
Avoid churches that teach their own doctrine aside from the word of God.
Avoid churches that have their own book they study from instead of the Holy Bible KJV.
Some churches can be like an occult so be careful.
Don't commit yourself to any one church until your certain that it's the right one for you.

Look for churches that have loving and caring people who love you and accept you and have a genuine love for God.
They should make you feel like your part of one big happy family and God as the Father of your family.
Everything they teach and do should be for God,to glorify him and draw nearer to him and teach others about him as well.
A bad church will tell you that you have to give a certain amount of money for tidings or you will go to hell.
A good church will announce the tidings and pass the plate around without saying anything about how much you are expected to give.
God only wants you to give from your heart and not because your afraid or feeling pressured.
A good church will teach you about Gods love and being obedient to Him so you will live a rich and fruitful life.

God bless you my sister and may peace and joy be with you always.

Answer 2

Hey, I became a Christian when I was a teenager. I wasn't brought to church by my parents as a child, but decided to check it out on my own like you're considering doing.

Try to find a friend who likes her church, and go with her. It's much more likely to be a positive experience for you if you have a friend alongside and help you understand what's going on if you don't know.

I'm a little biased to what's usually called "low church" rather than "high church." "High church" churches are the older denominations such as Methodist, Episcopalian, or Lutheran. I became a Christian through a Lutheran church ministry, but for a new churchgoer, it can be really hard to understand what's happening and why. A non-denominational or independent Christian church may be easier for you to get used to because it's less formal. After twenty years at a pretty conservative Lutheran church, I finally found an independent Christian church that feels like home!

It's also a good idea to get together with the church's pastor or youth minister. They can help answer any questions you might have, and should support you in searching for God's role in your life.

Best wishes to you!

P.S. Re the suggestion to try a Unitarian "church," the Unitarian church is not a Christian denomination, so if you're specifically looking for a Christian church, try something else!

P.P.S. Ditto the Latter Day Saints, aka Mormons. ;-)

Answer 3

It all depends on where you go. Do you have any Christian friends that you could go with?

I go to an Assembly of God church that has great music and preaching, and everyone is really friendly. Honestly though, you have to be careful because some AG churches are *really* charismatic to the point of being uncomfortable. But on the flip side, other churches are so dry and boring, what's the point in going?

If I were you, I would think of it as a process. Don't just go one time. Find several churches in your area and go to one each Sunday to get a feel for how the different services are. Overall, I think your experience will be positive, but if you decide to go to church regularly, make sure you feel welcome and comfortable there.

Answer 4

I agree also that you should check out some bible followng churches. Try several to see if you find a fit. Some churches have snobby people like the one guy said. Others have genuinely nice people there who may make youi uncomftable with their extreme kindness. :) Even try sitting in different places and give each church a few tries. You can call the church ahead and see what Sunday School classes they have with people your age and you may make some good friends too. There's alot more to a church than alot of people know. It can definately be a positive expereince. If it's not, do try some more churches before you give up.

Answer 5

This is a most difficult question to answer without knowing which kind of church you plan to visit. A Catholic Mass is an entirely different experience from a charismatic church service, for example, and a Southern Baptist service would be different from both the above.

If you're allergic to getting up early on Sunday, I'd recommend checking for Saturday evening services, which are common in Catholic Churches (the official term is "anticipated Mass").

Answer 6

Everyone has a different experience with church. It really depends on the church what your experience will be like.
Salvation does not happen in groups. It is an individual reward that comes from our Heavenly Father by acquiring accurate knowledge of Truth from His word, the Bible, by applying this Truth to our daily life, and by helping spread the good news of His Kingdom. Keep that in mind.

Answer 7

It realy depends on the church you go to. Some churches are very old fashioned and you might not like them well. Others are more up-beat. Some have more of an interactive service while others are more of a spectator sport. Some Chrurches have a warm and enviteing atmosphere and others (unfortunatly) are stand-offish or condisending.

Try a few different ones so you can better feel of things.

Answer 8

You will MOST LIKELY (not definately, but most likely) experience the following:

You will go in, everyone will look at you sideways and judge you by what you're wearing, you will sit down, the preacher will start to talk, nobody will say anything to you until they preacher tells them to get up and shake eachother's hands, and then the preacher will give you 30 seconds of special attention after the sermon to make sure you feel special and come back next sunday to donate....once you're insinuated into the church's society, expect a lot of cliques, a lot of pretention, and a lot of politics and judgement...

Answer 9

That depends on what you want to get out of it, and what church you go to. I tried going to a Pentacostal church and was really bewildered when people were crying and yelling, dropping the the floor and shouting prayers in really loud voices (but alas, no speaking in tongues). So....find out what kind of church you'd like to go to first, and then investigate churches that suit your needs. Catholic churches have more rituals and recitations, Baptist churches are pretty subdued and conservative, Pentacostals...uh, are fervent (I'm sure this depends on the denomination). Pick a church that is ope to newcomers and treats you with respect. Unitarian Universalist churches might be a nice place to try.
Have fun and good luck!

Answer 10

it would really help to do some research on churches and religions before you go. Some churches like baptists are really serious and judgemental. One thing to keep in mind it is a fact that if you got religious friends and they invite you to church and if you go and then say it is not for you ... you will not see those friends again because they will take it personal