How to Decide Where to Attend Church

Deciding where to attend church is a complicated decision especially for people who have just moved into a new community, couples who do not share the same church background, or people who have little or no experience attending a church but want to start now. In addition to the huge selection of denominational choices there is also a wide spectrum of doctrinal options, as well as cultural, stylistic, programming and geographical considerations that need to go into the decision-making process. Besides all that, you have to feel comfortable wherever you end up. It is a little bit like choosing where to go to college or which new house to buy. Read on to learn how to decide where to attend church.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Discuss the non-negotiables. Do you already have a denominational preference? Are you uncomfortable with churches that use a liturgy so that each week the service will proceed using the same format and language? Do you have children whom you would like to place in Sunday school classes? Do you have teenagers who would be interested in participating in a youth group? How far are you willing to travel for church? Is it important that you attend an established church or would you be interested in joining a brand new congregation? How do you feel about attending a church that meets in a school or community center? Do you want to attend a church that is inclusive of people from various lifestyles or do you prefer to go to a church where people adhere to a certain moral or cultural standard? Do you anticipate attending more than one service each week? Are you looking for small group activities in addition to the weekly worship service like prayer meetings, study groups and community outreach opportunities? Do you like or dislike a particular kind of music?
2. Make a list based on the specific things that you are looking for in a church. The list will help you to evaluate each church that you visit during your search. There should be room on your list for how you feel there? Were the people friendly, polite or too intrusive? Did you respect the way the service was led? Did you find the sermon clear to understand and relevant to your life? Were you comfortable there and do you think that you would fit in if you went back?
3. Find several churches that could match what you are looking for. You can do this by reading the local newspaper to see which churches advertise. Ask your neighbors and friends where they go to church or whether they have heard about churches that seem to be good. Drive around your area and read the church announcement boards. You can get a real feel for the attitude of the congregation to outsiders from the tone of the message on the announcement boards. Is it funny, hospitable, smug, forbidding or inviting? Google the church name to find out if it has a website. Then browse through the website.
4. Visit three or more churches armed with your list. Is there one or more that you liked enough to go back to? If not, continue looking. You may need to adjust one or more of the non-negotiables on your list. For instance, you may not find the exact denomination that you have always attended in a new community. This means you might either need to decide to travel a longer distance to church or embrace a denomination that is similar in doctrine and practice to your first choice.
5. Even if you immediately feel comfortable and embraced at a church, don’t commit to it until you have visited for at least three weeks in a row. Meet the pastor. Find out what the church requires of its members. Attend some small group meetings.
6. Don’t give up until you find a church that fits your family’s needs.