Are you someone who grew up going to a Christian church, but haven’t been to one in a while? Maybe when you were growing up, going to church was something your parents made you do, and when you became an adult you just stopped going because you didn’t have to anymore. Or perhaps you had a bad experience with people in a particular church and decided to take a break. There are so many reasons why people stop going to church.
But what if you feel a tug at your heart to go back to church? Don’t ignore it! If you believe in God, you are called to be in fellowship with other believers. Hebrews 10:25 says, “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.”
Going to church isn’t just about hearing a sermon from the Bible every Sunday. If it was, you could just study on our own or watch sermons online. Church is about worshipping God with other believers. It’s about encouraging each other in our walk with God, and its about using our God-given gifts to serve one another in love. If you aren’t involved in a church, you are missing out on so much—and others are missing out on what you have to give!
Fortunately, there are many great churches in Temecula and the surrounding cities, and just about all of them welcome newcomers.
Not sure what church to attend? A good place to start is to ask someone you know who goes to church if you can attend with them. Or, if you are familiar with a certain denomination of church, you could try out a local church that’s part of that denomination. Denominational churches will adhere to a certain set of Christian doctrines, and may also participate in denominational events with other churches. Many churches in Temecula are non-denominational, and not affiliated with any denomination or church group.
On most church websites, you will be able to find a statement of belief. This will tell you, generally, where the church stands on certain theological topics. Church websites can also give you a little bit of a feel for what you can expect if you choose to attend that church. By looking at things like what ministries they offer and what types of events they host, you can get a sense of the things they value as a congregation. Some churches have strong help and care ministries—offering programs like addiction recovery, grief support, or counselling services. Other churches focus more on outreach and have programs for those in need in the community. Still others have more of an internal focus, and have lots of offerings related to discipleship, mentoring, and building community within the body of believers. Some of the larger churches in Temecula will have a good combination of all of these things.
Don’t be discouraged if the first church you attend is not a great fit. There are plenty of other churches in Temecula that you can try. Once you find one that welcomes you and encourages you in your relationship with God, get involved and put down roots! It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make!
