Ways To Prepare for Your First Church Service
Some people grow up in faith and organized religion, while others do not. Many people who don’t grow up attending organized religious services are eventually curious about these services. If you’re interested in Christianity or want to know what church is like, then you can visit a church in your area. You can prepare for your first church service in the following ways.
Research Churches in Your Area
As your church curiosity grows, you can start looking for churches in your area. You’ll probably see many different Protestant denominations, as well as some Catholic and some Orthodox churches as well. Research the specific denomination or branch that you plan to visit first. This will help you learn what to expect during the service, such as whether Communion takes place every Sunday.
Once you’ve chosen a denomination, you can find a specific church. Look at their social media and website to learn more details, such as the time of services and suggested dress code.
Familiarize Yourself With the Bible
Churches aren’t going to quiz you about the Bible as soon as you walk through the door. However, you will probably feel more comfortable if you know where to look in the Bible for a book or verse. So consider buying or borrowing a Bible to look through before your first church service. Familiarize yourself with the basics, such as the Old and New Testament, so you feel prepared for the service. Most churches will provide Bibles, but you can bring your new or borrowed Bible with you if you prefer.
Charge Your Social Battery
While many churches try to provide spaces for everyone, services are often an extroverted experience. People get to know one another through various church activities and will talk before or after the service. Also, greeters and other friendly people will probably welcome you and talk with you. Make sure you mentally prepare yourself for this extroversion and charge your social battery beforehand.
Go With an Open Mind
The best way to prepare yourself for your first church service is to go to church with an open mind. Different churches will provide different experiences, and you may not enjoy some of these experiences. However, with an open mind, you can acknowledge what you don’t like and continue to search for a church you do like.
No matter where you are in your faith journey, you can attend a church to see what a service is like. If you want to prepare yourself ahead of time with a Bible, we are a Bible store online that can provide what you need. Our King James Version Bibles are classics, and some offer additional resources that you may find helpful, such as footnotes.