Are you new to the idea of church? Do you wonder how to go to church at all? Where do you get started, and how can you meet Christians there who truly care about you? Maybe you do not have a church near you or know where to find a church online! The answers are here!!
Get ready to read all about what a church is, why you should go to church, and everything you need to know about how to go to church! For example, how do you find a church near you or online to go to regularly?
Learn how to decide on a church home and how to join a church. Once you find a church or as you are deciding, you will need to know how to get involved at a church. Included are the top tips for going to church with bonus resources that will help you go to church!
What are you waiting for? Let’s dive right in and discover exactly how to go to church today so that you can see a difference in your life! I’m excited; are you?
For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them. – Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
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What is a Church?
According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head, and Christians make up the rest of that body. God has given believers church congregations so that they can praise and worship Him and fellowship with one another.
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself. – Ephesians 1:22-23 (NLT)
It’s important to understand that there are local church congregations, which we will be referring to in this article, and there is the church body, which is defined above. When you become a believer, you usually become a member of both churches.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. – 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)
A local church is a place for you to grow spiritually, building your relationship with God at the same time. It’s also a place for fellowship and honesty if you need edification from others. Make and build spiritual friendships that will last a lifetime at church.
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. – Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
Why Go to Church?
You might wonder why you should even go to church. Maybe you are looking for answers to many church questions. What is the purpose of church? Why go to church? What is the benefit of attending a church service? Should you join a particular church congregation?
Many of the answers to questions about finding the right church are totally up to you! What is your preference? Where do you feel most comfortable praising and worshiping God? You might also want to consider the church where you can have the biggest impact.
After all, we were put on Earth partly to bring others to Jesus Christ. You can use your spiritual talents or what you are called to do spiritually (your spiritual purpose) to serve God at church! It’s worth a consideration; how can you best spend your time in serving our Lord?
Also, ask yourself a few questions. What are your spiritual goals? How do you best learn about the Bible? Do you enjoy personal Bible study, or would you prefer to go to a group Bible study? What does this particular church offer in terms of Bible studies?
There are hundreds of benefits of going to church that you can explore. The main purpose and benefit of going to church is to praise and worship God. After all, He is our Creator! He deserves all the glory in the world, even if many people do not see it that way. You can glorify Him!
Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim His praise in the islands. – Isaiah 42:12 (NIV)
What Does It Mean to Go to Church?
If you want to “go to church,” it typically means that you will attend a local church congregation that meets, usually on a Sunday or Wednesday night. It could also mean that you watch an online church service from the convenience of your home.
To go to church regularly, you will probably want to attend church on at least a weekly basis. This will help you maintain relationships with friends and family and the most important person of all – our Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, the Almighty God.
There might be other definitions of what it means to go to church, but generally, Christian Americans attend at least once a week. Some churches offer at least three services per week (or more)! If you feel inspired, as we will discuss later, be sure to attend church more often!
As a side note, if possible, I would encourage you to attend church services in person. You are better able to fellowship with other Christians if you are there! Also, you’ll be more inspired if you hear the choir or church sing live! You are just more likely to get something out of it in person!
I don’t like the phrase “get something out of” when applying it to going to church, as it can imply a selfish motivation for going to church. Instead, we should focus on how we can give back at church – to other Christians, non-believers, and, most importantly, to God!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2 (NIV)
How to Go to Church Regularly
To experience the many benefits of going to church, you need to make an effort to go on a regular basis. Maybe you have an unusual schedule or other time constraints that make going to church difficult. Make every effort to rearrange these things!! God should be your top priority!
What if you’ve never attended church or don’t have a church home? You can find a church home online. Do a little research to discover everything about the church you are interested in, or email them! They will likely be more than happy to answer any questions about their church!
How can you start going to church, and what will it take to become a member? In the following sections, we will discuss further how to go to church so that you will know exactly what to do in order to become a member of the body of Christ, along with some tips for success!
We hope you find this encouraging and helpful!
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
How to Find a Church
Learn exactly how to find a church near you or online. There are thousands (if not more) of churches out there to choose from!
How to Find a Church Near You
Finding a church that you can attend in person is imperative!
#1. Go to a recommended church near you.
If you already know of a church through a friend, family member, or acquaintance, why not check it out? If there is a church close to where you live or in your neighborhood, you ought to see if it is a place where you can belong! Go visit a church to determine if it’s right for you!
#2. Find a church near you through a search engine.
If you use Google, for example, you can find a church near you easily with the search engine. Just add “churches near me” to the search bar to locate all of the churches that are near you. If you wish to go to a particular denomination, be sure to filter the results to suit you best.
#3. Use a church finder website to find a church near you.
There is at least one Church Finder website that helps individuals locate churches near them. If you find this website or another website to be useful, be sure to leave a comment and let us know! If you check the search engine, you might find even more church finder websites!
How to Find a Church Online
Using the methods mentioned above, you can learn how to find a church online easily. You might wish to go to a bigger church that has more opportunities to connect! Many of the larger groups have hundreds of opportunities to get involved, so don’t discount one too quickly!
Here are a few suggestions to get you started in locating a church online:
Smaller churches are great because you can really get to know people on a one-to-one level. However, they often do not have the budget to advertise or publicize their media as the larger ones do. Check out one of the bigger churches above to find the right fit for you!
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. – Acts 2:42 (NLT)
How to Decide on a Church Home
Deciding on a church home is a critical choice as it will be the place where you get your spiritual food each week and give back and love the other members of the church congregation!
How to Attend Church for the First Time
When you attend a new church for the first time, it’s a good idea to dress up a little bit and/or take a friend or family member with you. Also, keep an open mind. Not every church will be your cup of tea, but you should give them a fair chance without too much judgment!
You may want to follow the lead of the members of the church to see how things are done. If they stand when praying, consider joining, but do what you feel led to do by the Holy Spirit. Be careful when walking outside of your comfort zone.
How to Meet New People at Church
As you attend a new church, it’s smart to socialize and meet new people. This is the best way to make Christian friends – people you can bond with and have friendships with – friendships that last a lifetime!
How to Ensure You are Getting Food for the Soul at Church
Also, see how you can apply the sermon to your life. Do you understand the preacher or pastor? Does he or she preach in a way that reaches you? To determine if this church is the best fit for you, it’s a good idea to answer those questions to the best of your ability.
What Kind of Ways Can You Get Involved at This Church?
Attend a few services, and then join the church. Once you are a member of the church, you should get involved in the various ministries that the church participates in. This is the best way to stay motivated to go to church on a regular basis.
Some ways you can get involved in a new church include helping with the nursery, childcare, or youth group, joining in a group Bible study, going to special events the church offers like Celebrate Recovery, and volunteering to help the church thrive in the community.
Let us seek friends that will stir up our prayers, our Bible reading, our use of time, and our salvation. – J.C. Ryle
How to Join a Church
Some churches allow you to place membership in an official way. They might have you go to the front of the auditorium so that they might introduce you to the church congregation. This way, the members of the church can get to know you better.
Also, many churches keep a directory of their members, where you can get your photograph taken and stored so that other members can contact you should the need arise. If you are uncomfortable with any of it, of course, you do not have to do these things to be a member!
Most churches just want you to belong to their church so that they can fellowship with you on a regular basis and ensure your salvation, keeping you on track spiritually. While this could probably be worded better, you understand my meaning. We all need to be held accountable!
Many of the newer churches just consider the people who show up to be their members. There is no formality about it. So, if you enjoy going to a particular church, just keep going! You will find the rewards far outweigh any disadvantages you experience!!
Also, be sure to ask the member of the church you attend how to place membership or how to join the church. The leaders of that particular church congregation should have a solid answer for you in that regard. We do hope you join at least one church this year. Give it a shot!
If another believer is overcome by some sin, you, who are godly, should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way, obey the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:1-2 (NLT)
Top Ways to Get Involved at Church
Learn the top ways to get involved at church with these ideas. You can get started at the church you’ve been visiting today! Before getting started, assess your skills, abilities, and talents to see where you think you might best fit in! Once you’ve done that, just plug into the right area!
Go on a mission trip!
Most churches do some type of missionary work. Usually, this is done overseas or somewhere other than their home country. You might want to travel somewhere far away to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Consider broadening your horizons to someplace new with mission work! Keep in mind that there are plenty of opportunities to do mission work in the United States if you are not keen on traveling so far!
Join or start a ministry!
Churches have numerous ministries or areas where you can get involved if you seek them out. Often, they will not advertise them all, so be sure to ask if there is a place for your particular skills and talents. What are your spiritual gifts?
Here are a few ideas on ministries that exist in churches.
- Prison Ministry
- Children’s Ministry and the Nursery
- Celebrate Recovery
- Grief Counseling
- Singles’ Groups
Use your talents at church!
If you enjoy leading, you might do well as a teacher, usher, security guard, substitute preacher, or ministry leader. Are you innovative? Start a card ministry for those who cannot make it to church on a regular basis. An example might be someone in a nursing home!
Churches always need door greeters, visitors to shut-ins, and staff members. Members of the church staff might include a website designer, photographer, writer, or a totally new position! Find out if your church needs a new small group host or leader!
Where do you shine best? Do you excel on a computer or piano? Are you unsure as to where you fit in? Talk to the ministry leaders at your church about your desires to belong and get involved, and they will surely plug you into the right areas!
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. – 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
Top 25 Tips for Going to Church
Maybe you want to know how to go to church for the first time. Perhaps you are going to church for the hundredth time but want some new tips on how to enjoy service! Either way, these top tips for going to church should light a fire in you and motivate you to get out the door!
If you struggle with the motivation to go to church, be sure to post some sticky notes on your door with the reasons you want to go to church. What is your main reason for going to church? Keep that in the forefront of your mind as you focus on making it to church service!
- Set an alarm.
- Dress up! (Read more about Modesty).
- Map out the route to church ahead of time.
- Pick out your clothing choice the night before.
- Go with a close friend!
- Invite your family to join you!
- Take a non-believer as a guest.
- Find a way to get involved.
- Go to a Bible class (if available).
- Turn your phone off during church services.
- Look your best!
- Do not participate in gossip.
- Aim not to make excuses as to why you cannot go to church.
- Take your favorite Bible.
- Bring a notebook along to take sermon notes.
- Pack a snack if you have young children or low blood sugar.
- Do your best not to sleep during church.
- Practice active listening during lessons and sermons.
- Don’t spend the whole time checking your phone or watch.
- Sing along with the choir (even if you do not know the song)!
- Find new ways to motivate yourself to go on a weekly basis.
- Find a church where you feel like you belong.
- Determine new ministries you can join at your church.
- Enjoy yourself!
- Praise the Lord that you are able to go! Show gratitude!!
When He [Jesus] came to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. – Luke 4:16 (NLT)
Bonus Resources to Help You Go to Church
Use the following bonus resources to help you go to church. If you are still a bit hesitant about getting in the car and going to a new place, be sure to check out one of these resources, which just might be what you need for added motivation! You’ll never know unless you give it a try!
Free Sermon Notes Printable
Use this FREE printable worksheet that you can easily download for sermon notes. You can write whatever the leader of the church service speaks to inspire you as you fill as many pages as you desire! Use the sermon notes to record what you need for later on! Enjoy!
Free Bible Study and Prayer Resources
Be sure to check out the Shop for many FREE printable worksheets for use during your Bible study ti me.
If you are just getting started with doing a personal Bible study, we recommend the SOAP Bible Study Method or the SWORD Bible Study Method. Both are great for newbies!!
Are you just learning how to pray? Would you like a little guidance? We have a great resource on how to start a prayer journal, along with many FREE prayer resources in the Shop. Be sure to listen to God when you spend time alone with Him to grow the best relationship!!
Learn even more about growing your faith with a sermon from Rick Warren!
More Church Resources
Take a Vintage Leather Notebook with you to take notes on the sermon you hear or notes in the Bible study or Bible class you attend! You will feel like you’ve taken a walk back in time with this gorgeous notebook. Fill up one and then purchase another one to accompany you to church!
Grab another Leather Journal when you head out the door to church. You will enjoy giving your Bible a facelift by holding it next to this beauty, and it has antique pages to boot! Use this journal during church to draw or write what God places on your heart!
Learn how to build your own library full of great Bibles and other books that will help you on your Christian walk in this article: How to Build a Bible Library. There you will find all of my recommended Bibles and books for your personal library! We hope you enjoy the selection!
Frequently Asked Questions About Going to Church
What items are needed in a church?
Every church is different. Many have programs available that others do not. That’s what makes each church unique. Find out from your local church what they need more of. School supplies, food for a food pantry, Bibles, craft items, and volunteers are just a few suggestions!
What do you do at church?
What you do at church all depends on the church. Some churches have a band or choir that you can join. Others need a piano player. Either way, you typically will be able to join in and sing at church. You’ll also hear a message or sermon from a pastor, preacher, or minister.
How do churches make money?
Most churches rely solely on their members to help keep them alive financially. Some take up a collection during services or permit you to donate money or tithe online. If you are new to tithing and money is tight, consider starting small and building up to 10%.
How do I get started in church?
Often, you can get started at a church by just listening to the announcements. Does the children’s ministry or Celebrate Recovery need a hand? Could you coordinate something? Examine your skills and talents to see where you best fit. You might be inspired to be a part of many areas of church.
How do you pray?
At church, usually, someone prays at the front of the church for the entire church congregation. In private, you can learn how to pray by just opening your heart and speaking the truth. Follow examples in the Bible or pray the scriptures for further insight into prayer.
Conclusion
Wow! A lot has been covered in this article on how to go to church. You should now know the many reasons that going to church is a good idea and why you should get started today.
Plus, we’ve discussed exactly how to go to church, along with some great tips and resources to help you go to church!
Will you be trying a new church this week? What tips do you have for getting to church each week? Feel free to add your comments to spread the great news of how a church can make a difference in your life! Also, please share this article on social media and with loved ones!!
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:38 (NLT)
