Are you looking for a good church?

Do you want to know more about God? Are you not sure who Jesus is and want to find more about him? Do you want to know more about being a Christian? Do you want to experience God’s love and grace?
I’m glad you’re reading this! I want to help you find a good church. Church is a place to worship God, learn more about him and his love for you, and grow spiritually. It’s also a place where you find support and encouragement through the ups and downs of life. It’s like a hospital for the sick. You may find some grumpy people there, and churches are not perfect of course, but it can be a life-changing experience to become part of a church family. Ideally, it will not only help meet your spiritual needs, but other needs as well. For example, if you lose your job and need food, the church might be able to help. If you need free counseling, most churches will provide it. If you need a ride to the doctor, someone from your church should be able to take you, etc.

The first thing to do is to decide on a church to visit. I highly recommend finding a church that truly preaches the Bible (doesn’t add anything, doesn’t take things away) and follows what God says, not what man says. Of course this may be tricky to decide on which one to visit, if you’ve never been there. I am a member of the non-denominational Church of Christ, and have attended and worshipped with many Churches of Christ thorughout the years. I have found Churches of Christ to be scripturally-based. (This is not say that Churches of Christ are the only good churches by any means. Rather, I have found the Churches of Christ to be the most Bible-following, encouraging and friendly churches. Try to find one that is in your zip code, if possible. Of course, it doesn’t have to be.

The next step is to call the church office

A church secretary will more than likely answer. Tell her (or him) that you are looking for a church and would like to study the Bible. Request a one-on-one Bible study with a minister. He will either invite you to the church building at a convenient time, or possibly come to your home, or even meet you at a place such as Starbucks. You might also be invited to become part of a small group Bible study and fellowship group that meets in someone’s home. If you are a woman and think you might feel more comfortable studying with another woman, tell them so. If you have any questions about what church is like and what is expected, ask them.

If you would prefer not to study the Bible one on one right now (although I encourage it) and just want to visit the church, ask the minister or church office worker if someone can meet you on your first visit. Tell them you are nervous / feeling awkward about visiting and would like someone to meet you at the door. If you do not have reliable transportation, ask for a ride. Someone will meet you at the door, introduce you to people, and show you around. I highly encourage coming for Bible class (usually before services) as well.

If you follow these steps and have a negative experience, please, do not give up! Please, try another church. Choose another church and follow the steps again. Hopefully you will find a loving church family.

If you don’t feel comfortable with going to a church at the moment (though I think you should at least give it a try) you can also try a mail order Bible Study through World Bible School.

Thank-you for taking the time to read this! I hope you are able to find a church, get to know more about God. learn more about God’s grace and his love for you.