Considering going to Baptist Church. What should we expect??

Question

The flyer seems to imply that the Sunday service is up to 9 hours, and there is a "night-meeting" on Wednesdays.

Is this mandatory in most Baptist Churches? Can we omit what we have to to deal with our schedules? If we do, will we be bombarded by others in the church to "Stay on track"?

My wife and I are a little hesitant about going at this point...

Answer 1

9 hours for a Sunday service?

Are you sure that there's not a service at 9 in the morning? Or perhaps a service at 9 and then another at 6 in the evening (spaced 9 hours apart)?

I think you're misreading that flyer...

Answer 2

Eucharist Miracle has nothing to do with Baptist doctrine, so I'm not sure why it's in here. I recommend a report. It's spam and a non-answer.

The Sunday service is almost definitely not 9 hours. As far as I know, almost all Christian churches had both a morning and evening Sunday service at one time. The Baptists seem to be the last remaining church to follow this practice.

So if the morning service is at 10 AM and the evening service is at 7 PM, you may have misread this as a Sunday service starting at 10 AM and ending at 7 PM, thus seeming to be a single, nine-hour service.

It is not "mandatory" to attend the evening service, and usually is for those ready to have an extra boost in their spiritual journey. Each service is usually *at the most* two hours.

Meetings on Wednesday nights appear to be traditionally for prayer or researching the Biblical histories, letters, and other books (known by some as Bible study), and are mainly for the very committed members who feel close enough to God to be willing to pray as part of a group and read the Bible. This may be a chance for everyone to pray or read aloud, pray or read silently as one person prays, or pray if you feel in your heart that you should.

Like all Baptist get-togethers, there is almost never any pressure, and the focus is on God and his Word, not on each other and who's doing what. If the ministerial and congregation are following the Bible (and the Baptist denomination is one of the last churches to do so, and they are known for following the Bible eagerly and carefully) you will not be judged on whether or not you attend the Wednesday meeting, or how much you participate.

There is nothing made mandatory by any Baptist Church. The only absolutes, such as the payment for sin and the way to escape that payment, are set by the spiritual leader of the church - God Himself - and not by any Baptist pastor or deacon. They want you to grow close to God, but also would rather you focus your attention on what God would have you to do to get their, rather than any formula or program anyone in their church may have. This includes Wednesday and Sunday evening services: you don't *have to* go.

If you can't attend church, according to Baptists, you don't lose any "points", you don't go to purgatory (in which they don't believe anyway), and God doesn't stop loving you for the next week.

Even if you don't feel like attending church, the Baptist position is it's between you and God. They'll continue to be a loving, welcoming congregation.

It seems, though it may be my experience, that Baptists have a particular soft spot for coffee. It's the main focus of hanging out. Among adults, this is known as the "coffee fellowship". I'm sure you'll feel included, and if the conversation permits you'll have a chance to explain to your new friends why you can't make it on Wednesdays. They'll understand, and while you won't get pressured, the welcome is always there if your schedule changes.

I've attended many different synagogues and churches - different sects, denominations, and religions. I am certain you will not find a better church unless you went back in time to the first churches of Bible times. This doesn't make them the "one true church". It simply means they're the friendliest I've came across, the most true to what the facts of what God has to say to us, most solid in what they believe and why they believe it, most interesting and fun to be around.

I encourage you to keep chatting with God and reading what He's got to say in the Bible as you check out this church, and maybe look for other options where God's word is actually taught and believed, and where you're encouraged and shown how to follow it.

Answer 3

Strange, I've never been in a service that lasted that long. Most of the time, you'll have about an hour for Sunday school, and about an hour or so for the morning services. I don't know how familiar you are with Baptist churches, so please bear with me being a little pedantic here. Sunday school is usually graded by ages for children, maybe a couple of different levels, for lack of a better term, for adults. Why not contact the pastor and see which class he would recommend? I'm sure he would be glad to speak with you. (I know I would be!!)

I mentioned the morning services. These usually follow the Sunday school rather quickly. Most churches have a time of singing--could be hymns, or contemporary choruses, etc., or both. Let me add that you won't have to sing if you don't feel like it. Nobody wants to be put on the spot and if you aren't comfortable, don't feel like you have to. Most churches make announcements during this time, just so people can be aware of the happenings during the week. The most important thing of any Sunday service is the message or sermon. I hope and pray the pastor preaches from and believes in the Bible as the Word of God. Woe to any preacher who doesn't. Finally, most churches will have another song, the invitation hymn, where people can, if they wish, come forward to speak to the pastor or someone else, if, say, they want to join the church, ask for prayer, or some other need. It's an exciting time, knowing that God is working in the hearts of people!

There is usually a long break during Sunday afternoon because, after all, you'll need to eat lunch and so forth after the services!

Now as for Sunday night/evening services, this depends of course on which church you go to. I've seen services on Sunday evening starting at 6 pm, 6:30 pm, 7 pm, 7:30--and on it goes. Most of the time the evening services last about an hour too. We can't forget we have to get up for work on Monday morning!

Wednesday evening services, again, last about an hour or so for the same reasons on Sunday nights: homework, etc. and I don't know of any church, personally, whose services last much longer than that. I served as a temporary pastor for three different Southern Baptist churches, plus attended many churches growing up and during my military career, and this was about standard for most churches. Now, again, I don't know for sure about the flyer you saw. Maybe there was a special, extended service of some kind--can't say for sure. But let me encourage you to go. Again, ask the pastor if you have any questions at all. Just say you want to speak to him, and take it one step at a time. I can say this, if you were living anywhere near me, I would welcome the chance to speak with you!

Answer 4

You are not required to go to all the services nor are you a prisoner at any time. Nothing is mandatory. If you're nervous about getting stuck there sit near an entrance and you can always quietly duck out if you feel uncomfortable at anytime.

I love baptist churches! The people are great and so is the music. The average service is about 90 minutes. Don't be nervous you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Answer 5

I've never known a Baptist church to have 9 hour services. They have Sunday school, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, and Wednesday evening service.

Sunday school: usually about an hour
Sun. morning: about the same, maybe 90 min.
Sun. night: an hour give or take
Wed. night: same as above

Answer 6

I go to a Baptist Church...and honestly...I love it...the service is only like an hour long...plus Sunday school...make sure it teaches and preaches the Bible...make it a fundamental Church...email if u have any questions

Answer 7

Call the Pastor and ask questions. Ask what their beliefs are.

Ask them if they believe in the Trinity. God the father, Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Spirit are one.

Ask them if the blood of Jesus saves you.

It doesn't matter what denomination you are, as long as you believe the above.

Answer 8

The true Church of Jesus Christ is Spiritual, not physical, it was made on the 3rd day after His death and is was made without hands.
Jesus called Moses and the prophet liars, thieves and robbers

The physical church is the church of Satan,
for Jesus said, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
--Ye worship ye know not what--: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. John 4:21-22

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ,... John 1:17

Moses gave you not that bread (word) from heaven,...John 6:32

All them that were before me are theives and robbers,... John 10:8

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,... John 3:14

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Rev 13:13-15

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num 21:8-9

The Mountain of Sin (Sinai)
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
Luke 4:5-7


The temple (church)
And he (devil) brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: Luke 4:9

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Rev 13:18

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
1 Kings 10:14

Answer 9

You better be carefull them folks like to worship the Lord in them kind of churchs. Peace!!!

Answer 10

If you're interested, this is a forum for Baptist Christians, you may find more answers here...

http://christianforums.com/f364-baptists.html