Joining a church question?

Question

Ok this might sound like a stupid question but growing up my family never had an established religion and it was never part of my life. I'm 18 now and I really want to join a church, specifically a Christian church and I'm wondering how I join one? Do I just go to a church and start going there or do I have to go through some kind of process?

Answer 1

Depends on the church.

Be careful, and know what you're doing.

Know it's not necessary and adds nothing to salvation.

Answer 2

I'd suggest you start by visiting several Bible believing churches in your area.



Find a church which is growing and where most adults carry Bible to the service.



After you have visited several don't consider joining the one you like and makes you feel good, consider the one which makes you think, where the sermons make you want to grab a Bible and dig into it. Where you've been asked to join a small group.



I visited several different Bible believing churches for more than year before I decided on one.



I wasn't raised as a Christian either.



Here are a list of what I call the good denominations, where I would suggest you start.



http://www.nae.net/membership/current-members



Keep in mind many of the best churches have no denominational affiliation.



Once you find a church, and I would expect you should look and visit many churches for several months BEFORE you make a decision, then talk to the Pastor about the, "How to Join?" question.



Some of the better growing churches will regularly have membership classes. Sign up and go.



Make sure the church you plan to join regularly asks if people want to become a Christian and want to start following Jesus.



If you are not sure if you are a Christian yet, see the links below:



http://www.godlovestheworld.com/



http://www.wayofthemaster.com/



http://www.allaboutgod.com/



Take an Alpha Class if you can. Churches which offer Alpha Classes are usually good.



http://www.alphausa.org/



There are lots of bad churches you need to avoid, these questions will help you avoid them:



Avoid churches which deny the Trinity.



Avoid churches which don't believe Jesus is God.



Jesus is fully God and fully human at the same time.



Make sure they agree with the Nicene Creed.



Avoid churches which baptize infants and small children.



Avoid churches with statues inside.



Avoid churches with crosses where Jesus is still on the cross.



Jesus is no longer on the cross, He has Risen!



Here is link which describes the major false cults which you should avoid:



http://www.allaboutcults.org/



This link is one of the best on the Internet giving correct and factual information about the God, Jesus and the Bible.



http://www.allaboutgod.com/

Answer 3

You heard incorrect. or possibly you heard in basic terms area of the tale. first of all, the "Anglican Church" worldwide is a completely fragmented entity to start with. The Anglican Church in each and every u . s . a . is its very own enterprise, without formal bureaucratic situations to different Anglican church homes in different worldwide places. So, in thought, one Church, like the Anglican Church Of Canada or the Episcopal Church interior the u . s . ought to connect the Roman Catholic Church. yet it isn't any longer happening. what's happening is that there are hundreds of man or woman Anglican Church individuals - even many clergymen and a few Bishops - who're starting to be a member of the RC Church. There have additionally been dissimilar parish church homes that have joined Rome. and that i think of there have actual been an entire Diocese or 2 that have left the Anglican Church and extremely seen Rome. the main motives for this chop up is an ever increasing liberal theology, ordination of ladies human beings, and the marriage gay persons besides because of fact the ordination of brazenly gay persons. The Pope has additionally devised some form of formal association wherein an Anglican man or woman or an Anglican team can connect the RC Church and shop many components of their Anglican historical past. i do no longer comprehend how a lot of human beings have long previous this way, yet i may be curious to properly known.

Answer 4

First spend a little time reading scriptures from the Holy Bible,as a suggestion,start in the fourth

gospel of John. As you visit a church,listen to be sure their preaching "Gods" word from the pulpit.

I attend the Nazarene Church (a Holiness) church,which does not stray from the scriptures.However,there are other churches you may wish to visit before you commit to one certain

church.Just try different ones without committing at first.I would hope that you would stay away from

the ELCA Lutheran church and the Episcopal churches as they have broken from the Holy Scripture

to appease a secular world.Also be aware that neither the Jehovah Witnesses or the LDS are Christian

churches as they do not accept Jesus as the Son of God and The only way to the Father.

Note;John 14:6 and John 14:15-17.This of course is my opinion.Bible teacher,30 yrs,

Answer 5

Many churches will provide studies you can go through before you join so that you know and understand what the beliefs are before you do.



Also, many churches believe that baptism is an important introduction into their church, so you may be baptized to signify your acceptance of God or Jesus Christ and your acceptance of the church and its teachings.



Its actually a good thing to study things out a bit and make sure you know what the church you join teaches so there are no surprises later.

Answer 6

1. Pray for guidance to the Lord to which church to attend.

2. Visit the christian churchs in the area where you live and be open to the Holy Spirit to talk to you if this is the right one for you. Verify what the church believes / teaches.

3. Talk to the pastors / leaders, present yourself and tell them you want to join the congregation.



Pastor Art answer is excellent.

Answer 7

Some churches acknowledge their visitors and ask them to stand. The minister/pastor might ask what brought you there that day.



With the Catholic Church you could speak to the Priest after mass and express your interest in finding a church home.



With the Catholic Church you will be able to go to classes to learn about the religion. And then take the Sacraments which begin with Baptism.



With most churches you will begin with classes and Baptism.



You might want to visit the different churches in your neighborhood to see which one finds it's way into your heart the strongest.



All the best to you.

Answer 8

How can a person know which religion is right?

(1) On what are its teachings based? Are they from God, or are they largely from men? (2 Tim. 3:16; Mark 7:7) Ask, for example: Where does the Bible teach that God is a Trinity? Where does it say that the human soul is immortal?

(2) Consider whether it is making known the name of God. Jesus said in prayer to God: “I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world.” (John 17:6) He declared: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Matt. 4:10) Has your religion taught you that ‘it is Jehovah you must worship’? Have you come to know the Person identified by that name—his purposes, his activities, his qualities—so that you feel you can confidently draw close to him?

(3) Is true faith in Jesus Christ being demonstrated? This involves appreciation of the value of the sacrifice of Jesus’ human life and of his position today as heavenly King. (John 3:36; Ps. 2:6-8) Such appreciation is shown by obeying Jesus—sharing personally and zealously in the work that he assigned to his followers. True religion has such faith that is accompanied by works.—Jas. 2:26.

(4) Is it largely ritualistic, a formality, or is it a way of life? God strongly disapproves of religion that is merely a formalism. (Isa. 1:15-17) True religion upholds the Bible’s standard of morality and clean speech instead of weakly going along with popular trends. (1 Cor. 5:9-13; Eph. 5:3-5) Its members reflect the fruits of God’s spirit in their lives. (Gal. 5:22, 23) So, those who adhere to true worship can be identified because they sincerely endeavor to apply Bible standards in their lives not only at their places of meeting but in their family life, at their secular work, in school, and in recreation.

(5) Do its members truly love one another? Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) Such love reaches across racial, social, and national boundaries, drawing people together in genuine brotherhood. So strong is this love that it sets them apart as being truly different. When the nations go to war, who have enough love for their Christian brothers in other lands that they refuse to take up arms and kill them? That is what early Christians did.

(6) Is it truly separate from the world? Jesus said that his true followers would be “no part of the world.” (John 15:19) To worship God in a manner that he approves requires that we keep ourselves “without spot from the world.” (Jas. 1:27) Can that be said of those whose clergy and other members are involved in politics, or whose lives are largely built around materialistic and fleshly desires?—1 John 2:15-17.

(7) Are its members active witnesses concerning God’s Kingdom? Jesus foretold: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) What religion is really proclaiming God’s Kingdom as the hope of mankind instead of encouraging people to look to human rulership to solve their problems? Has your religion equipped you to share in this activity, and to do it from house to house as Jesus taught his apostles to do?—Matt. 10:7, 11-13; Acts 5:42; 20:20.



How to Find the True Religion : http://www.watchtower.org/e/200803/article_03.htm

Answer 9

Great question. All you have to do is find out when their service is and look for a local church and go see if you like it. There are probably many churches in your area. Pick one in your town or near your town in order to have some community fellowship and know the people in your town. If you are young, join their youth group or singles ministry if you are in your 20's and not married. Ask your Christian friends where they go and go with them. The ones I hope you will stay away from are Unity Universalist churches, Mormon or Jehovah's witness because they are not all there when it comes to being biblically correct. God bless you, I will pray you get led to a wonderful church, keep trying it the first ones dont fit you.

Answer 10

Find a church that teaches from the Bible then once you are sure they are teaching the truth then just ask someone how to become a member. Joining a church is easy finding the one that teaches the truth is the hard part

Answer 11

you should try some different churches and then choose according to the Bible and according to where you feel God is telling you to go through prayer to Him. i agree you might try a baptist church, a methodist church, mine is nazarene, and even try some nondenominational churches if you like. it's important to know what the Bible says so you will not be led astray. start with John in the new testament to learn more about Jesus and what He actually taught. this will greatly help you decide. i know God will bless your efforts in leading you to the best church for you.

Answer 12

You could do a little research on the different sects of Christianity to find the one that fits your beliefs closest. Then find a nearby church and show up and ask how to be a member.

Answer 13

With everything thing else in life, you have to go through a process.

Why not church?

Answer 14

Yes just start going, and listen to the preacher, asked him any questions and he will lead you through the process. Pick a Bible believing church, such as Baptist, or one similar to it.



Even in Christian churches there are bad churches. I am not going to list any but go with an open mind and if they sould like nuts then go to another one.

Answer 15

Depends on the church.



Find one you like, and they'll beat your door down explaining to you how to join (as Xian haters will no doubt tell you in the posts before and after this one.)

Answer 16

Find a church that teaches the Bible, and just show up!

Answer 17

you just show up! :)

make sure you find a good church that is spirtually strong so that you can grow in your faith and make good relationships with other Christians

Answer 18

You can just start going to any church you want. If you want to start receiving communion you might at some point need to be baptised.



One word of caution I would give is that "Bible believing church" tends to be a coded way of saying fundamentalist/creationist.

Answer 19

Just and and at the end of the service there is an invitation hymn and that is when you go up and place memebership and be baptized. No process in the independent Christian churches.

Answer 20

Have to get baptized, go through a few indoctrination classes and take a few oaths. Nothing to it really.



Be careful though. Joining a church is like joining the mafia. You can't just walk away from it without there being consequences.

Answer 21

check out some mainstream trinity churches by visiting them. Mine is Methodist and we do simple classes before joining..

Answer 22

Please get a KING JAMES bible; read 2 THESSALONIANS 2, verses 3 and 4, and then read 1 Peter 4:17; then read the entire book of Jeremiah; then pray God let's you understand. The church age ended in 1988; do not go to any church. Just read your Bible for nurishment.

Answer 23

Take a nap and you will be over it. I suggest that you make some friends. You sound lonely.

Answer 24

Catholics have rituals. Just drop in and they're supposed to welcome you

Answer 25

Don't do it! Run for your sanity.