Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

Hi,

"Blessed are the hungry for they shall be filled".

Jesus said that to the ones that are searching for the answer to the confusion of "religion" and He promised that you will find fulfillment to the quest.

I think it is wonderful that you are seeking to find a portion of the body of Christ that you will fit into the best, because that is what the church is, the body of Christ. Visit as many as you can until you find one that you just seem to fit into from the minute you step into the door. If you feel an overwhelming feeling that you have finally come home, then you have.

God bless you

huneyspur, first I want to say It is awsome you have given your heart to Jesus! It wormed my heart to read you started telling people in your life, I know that isn't an easy thing to do! Now, to answer your questions! First I hope you still don't feel silly for asking the questions because it is compltely and totally normal! "is it ok to just show up at church and try it out?" Yes, absoultly it is ok to go to church just to try it out, that is one of the first steps in finding which church to go to. "Do you have to make a commitment to that church if you are going to attend service?" To my knowladgege, which is not all that much, you do not have to make a commitment to the church if you are trying to find the right church, however when you find that right church and have been going for a while, most churchs will want some type of commitment! " if I went and decided this wasn't the church for me, would it be ok to not come back?" In order to answer this question I first want to say this: I am a bible college student and this year my class mates and I actually discuss this very question! Yes it is ok not to go back, however depending on how long you attend that church before decideding it is not right for you, I would incourage you to go talk to the pastor, and explain to him why you are leaving! See I learnt this past year that it is hard for a person to grown in their own spirtual life if there are hard feelings or unresolved issues with the past church, though I can't explain whY! And if there is noe and thats not why you decide to leave let the pastor know there is nothing wrong, it is just not right for you, cause that will also incourage the pastor by letting him know he never did anything wrong! hoped this helped! Take Care and God Bless, You will be in my prayers, Sinserly, OnFireForGod!

Huneyspur,
First of all, welcome to your new family - the Family of God ! I apologize for the late welcome, but I just now found this thread. Let me tell you that I have really been a Christian since 1984. But at different times, & for important reasons, the Spirit of God has let me know that it was time to move on from one church to another. So I have been out there doing what I affectionately call "church shopping" a few times myself. I think someplaces you can walk into right away & feel like it doesn't really matter to anyone that you're there. And that's not the way you want to feel around family! You should feel the welcoming presence of the fellowship of Believers in the church you want to call home. The place that my husband & I now call home has a very caring pastor & staff, who look to God's Word in ALL things & model their lives after the life of Jesus Christ - and teach us to do the same. While it is encouraged it is not essential that you become a member there - you don't get any special perks or discounts for becoming one. You do it just because you want to join the family. Over the last 8 years or so, since the world has become a more complicated & harder place to live in, we have reached out to the community around us to meet every need we see arising through small groups & ministries. We've been very blessed to find this wonderful church home.

How have you been doing in your search? Is there anything else we here on the boards can help you or encourage you with? It CAN take time to find the right place. Don't be discouraged. And I will keep you in my prayers.

Jackie Lynn

Church Signs............


1. There was a church that had problems with outsiders
parking in its parking lots, so they put up a sign:
CHURCH CAR PARK - FOR MEMBERS ONLY,
TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED!
That took care of the problem!


2. "No God - No Peace? Know God - Know Peace."


3. "Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"


4. "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."


5. "Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"


6. An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads:
"For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."


7. When the restaurant next to another Church put out a sign with big red letters that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."


8. "People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."


9. "Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily."


10. "How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Non-smoking?"


11. "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives"


12. "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."


13. "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."


14. "Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."


15. "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."


16. "If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."


17. "Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon."


18. "This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?" ----- (U R)


19. "In the dark? Follow the Son."


20. "Running low on faith? Step in for a fill-up."


21. "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."



jorja

Some churches give Bible studies so you can learn some basic scriptures.

I never went to church when I was growing up--my father was Methodist and my mother Catholic and we were baptized Methodist but we never went only one summer to revival or something when I was very small.

When I became around 20 yrs old it became a big issue to me..I would read and read the Bible and be somewhat confused but at peace too. I would drive to the nearest church on Sundays and sit and watch people go into church and I was afraid and shy and wanted to go in so badly.

2 year later a man came to my door and talked to me about his religion and then later a young girl was sent to study with me and she took me to her church but I didnt like it there. Nor did I like the fact they printed their own Bible. It was a year later that I finally found a church and someone to study the Bible with me. The knowledge gained changes your entire life and creates a new you.

God is in us and follow your gut feelings in things as you learn.

Cool Pastor jorja!