Summary: Whether you found this blog by chance or you’ve been searching for a church community, thank you for your interest. We’re here to make every part of this journey clear and straightforward.
In This Blog:
Welcome! Whether you found this blog by chance or you’ve been searching for a church community, thank you for your interest. While committing to a church may feel daunting or overwhelming, we’re here to make sure that every step of this journey is straightforward.
Joining a church is a big step. In the Church Of Christ, it may mean learning teachings in the Bible that you may not have known about before. It may mean getting used to a structure that feels foreign to you. Maricar Crisostomo, a member of the Church Of Christ from Las Vegas, was not convinced at first, and had a lot of questions.
We’re sure you do too, so naturally the first step is to attend a Bible study.
“I love how every single time I asked a question, not only was there an answer for every single one of those questions but there was an accompanying Bible verse for everything. That’s when my beliefs started building.”
-Maricar Crisostomo
Want to attend a Bible study in the Church Of Christ? Let us know where you’re currently located, and we’ll help connect you to one closest to you.
Start Learning the Teachings Taught inside the Church Of Christ
One of the first questions you might ask yourself is “How do I know if this is the right church for me?” (it’s a question many seekers ask when they’re starting their journey). The Church Of Christ offers 30 Bible lessons to prospective members.
These lessons will give you an introduction to topics such as the importance of the Bible, God’s expectation of His people, the correct way to worship God, and what it means to be a member of the Church.
You’ll also learn about biblical prophecies, God’s commandments about baptism, and what you need to do to be saved on the day of judgment.
During these lessons, you can ask as many questions as you want! Actually, we encourage you to ask as many questions because we want the teachings to be as clear and understandable as possible.
This period of learning is also a time for consideration.Perhaps you’ll find differences between your current or past religions, like Ciara Laja did, who went to both the Mormon and Catholic Churches before joining the Church Of Christ.
“In college, you get yourself exposed to courses related to theology, philosophy, and religion. So that’s when I started looking for something else and looking for the answers, like, ‘Why do we have another testament of Christ in the form of a Book of Mormon?’”
-Ciara Laja, former Mormon.
This would be the first of many questions Ciara had, and the beginning of her journey learning about the truth found in the Bible.
Ready to start your Bible studies in the Church Of Christ? Sign up for a Q & A session with our team. They’ll answer your questions and get you connected to a Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) congregation near you.
Make Worship Services a Part of Your Weekly Schedule
One of the teachings taught in the Church Of Christ is the importance of worshipping God. In the Church Of Christ, we have worship services twice a week.
These are solemn occasions, where we get to sing praises, pray, and listen to God’s words. Unlike other church services, the worship services are not social events.
“And, I was completely intrigued and blown away at how the service was done. It was different from anything I had seen. But it didn’t feel foreign. It felt right. And even the orderliness of the service. That told me there was a focus on God, just walking in, that we’re not here to distract ourselves. We’re here to worship God.” – Brian Ramirez
Here’s what to expect in an INC worship service:
- The males and females are seated separately
- There is a specific order of events: hymn singing, prayer, sermon, and collection of offerings
- The lessons in the worship service are a little different from what you will hear in the Bible study. The sermons go in-depth into the life applications we can learn from Bible verses.
- It is the perfect time to sit in reflection
Want to see what to expect when you attend a worship service in the Church Of Christ? Watch this quick video https://incmedia.org/what-to-expect-in-an-inc-worship-service/
While you’re attending the Bible studies, you are expected to attend the worship service twice a week, as required of all Church members. This time is for you to not only learn and consider the teachings inside the Church, but more importantly, wholeheartedly accept it.
Accept the Teachings & Be Baptized Inside the Church Of Christ
After six months of consistently attending worship services and completing the study of the fundamental teachings of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, you will need to decide whether you believe and accept the teachings taught within the Church. Only then can you be baptized in the Church Of Christ.
The Church Of Christ practices baptism by immersion, which means your whole body will be immersed under water. Baptism is a holy event, and signifies your membership and commitment to your relationship with God within the Church Of Christ.
What if I’ve already been baptized in another church? Doesn’t that count? This is a common question that we receive. The Bible talks about the baptism that is recognized by God, which requires that someone not only hears the teachings but fully accepts it.
To learn more about what is considered as true baptism, you can read this blog.
Meet your Christian community
So you remain supported in and out of the worship service, following your baptism, you will be introduced to the Christian Family Organizations that reflect your current stage in life: Buklod for married members, KADIWA for unmarried members 18+, or Binhi for youth members under 18.
Discover what it’s like to join a supportive Christian community where faith, belonging, and purpose come together. Hear from individuals who found connection, strength, and family inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo Church community.
For a quick introduction watch → https://incmedia.org/what-is-the-inc-church-community-like/
Joining the Church Of Christ is a life-changing commitment
We know that joining the Church Of Christ is a big step, and we’re excited that you’re considering making this life-changing decision and want to help you every step of the way.
So what can you do right now?
If you’re not ready to meet a minister in person, you can ask a question online. We have ministers who are ready to meet with you one-on-one on a video call. When you’re ready to study with us, you can join a Bible study at the local congregation closest to you. And don’t worry, there’s no pressure to sign up for Bible studies right away.
You are welcome to listen and consider as long as you want.
Three stories from individuals who took different paths before finally signing up for Bible studies inside the Church Of Christ:
Ready for Next Steps?
Set up a time to get your questions answered and get connected to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) congregation near you.
