How do you start?

Question

I’m in my mid 30’s and have never regularly gone to church. I grew up non religious and my parents never went to church or practiced a belief. I live on a military base and they have several different religions and services but I don’t know where to start. Do I need to talk to someone? Can I just start going on Sunday? I don’t want to look like an idiot and not know how to follow along with everyone.

Answer

Yes, most churches and denominations that I've heard of love it when guests show up. We have guests at my church on a VERY regular basis and we love to have them! I can't imagine that whichever church you picked wouldn't be glad to see you. 
However as a word of caution...not all churches are equal. And by that I mean that they don't all believe the same things about the Bible, that's why there are different denominations (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, etc...). I hope that you find a church where you like the people and the music and the decorations and on and on, but the most important thing is what they believe and preach about the Bible. I'd encourage you that if you find a church that you think you like, sit down with the pastor or a member from the church and ask them to tell you some specifics about what they believe and to show you the Bible verses that lead them to believe that. 
I'm a Christian (specifically, an independent Baptist) and I believe that there is only one way to heaven. God is perfect and wants to have fellowship with us, here on earth and later in heaven. But He gave us laws to follow (like the ten commandments) and because of Adam and Eve's sin in the garden of Eden, we are born with the propensity to sin so we don't always follow God's rules.  This makes every person a sinner. Romans 3:23 It doesn't matter what sin we've committed, God still loves us! But because God is perfect and we are not, God cannot allow us into heaven. We would defile it. Instead, we must be punished because we decided to break God's law. That means hell. Romans 6:23
The solution: Jesus Christ!

Answer

Yes you can absolutely just start going! Most churches will have some sort of little slip you can fill out if it’s your first time and drop off after the service as well as a welcome desk or station to introduce you to others and help you get acquainted. Churches should always be welcoming places so I’m sure if you called or emailed before and said it was your first time they could help you feel more prepared too. Every church is different so I would definitely encourage you to try a few (unless you really connect with the first one!) to get a feel for different styles and communities. :)

Answer

Bible studies are great for someone who is just becoming a Christian! I have been a Lutheran my whole life. Of course there are different religions, but go to a bible study. You can talk about anything to anyone and they will listen!!

Answer

Well I contacted a bible study group that’s part of the chapel here and the lady was very helpful and told me that I am welcome to join them at the next meeting so I think I’m going to go. I brought it up to my husband and I kind of already knew that he would make a few jokes about me being curious about it. Have any of you found any issues in your partner not sharing the same beliefs or maybe just goals in general? I think he has a fear because of an ex girlfriend who had some really off the wall beliefs that made him question her sanity. He said he supports me but I don’t want him to really joke about it makes me happy.

How do you start?

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