Help finding a church?

briocht

I know there is a thread above with many different churches listed, but I am hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction to a potential suitable church!

I would like to join one that's quite liberal (not one that states that people of other religions are going to hell etc), but that also has a similar teaching style to evangelical churches. Maybe that might be a difficult combination...

I've been following Saddleback Church in America watching sermons and joining in online Bible studies groups and I love it. The messages are so practical and helpful and I find it offers me something that more ritualistic worship such as Catholic masses don't. But I don't feel comfortable with the idea of trying to convert others and the idea that those who are homosexual are going to hell. It's just not something I believe in...again I guess because my views are more liberal.

I really want to dive right into a church though, to meet new people and join a local Bible study so hopefully some of you might have some suggestions for me?

Would really appreciate any guidance!

ryan101

Congregations and good priests/ministers/pastors make a good church, so try a few.
Just for clarification, most mainstream Christian denominations do not preach that people of other religions are necessarily going to hell, and a reading of the Gospels will reveal that most of Christ's warnings about hell were directed towards Christians themselves, but however one might get to heaven, believer or non believer, it will be though Jesus Christ.

mezuzaj

briocht wrote: »

I know there is a thread above with many different churches listed, but I am hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction to a potential suitable church!

I would like to join one that's quite liberal (not one that states that people of other religions are going to hell etc), but that also has a similar teaching style to evangelical churches. Maybe that might be a difficult combination...

I've been following Saddleback Church in America watching sermons and joining in online Bible studies groups and I love it. The messages are so practical and helpful and I find it offers me something that more ritualistic worship such as Catholic masses don't. But I don't feel comfortable with the idea of trying to convert others and the idea that those who are homosexual are going to hell. It's just not something I believe in...again I guess because my views are more liberal.

I really want to dive right into a church though, to meet new people and join a local Bible study so hopefully some of you might have some suggestions for me?

Would really appreciate any guidance!

Church or Ekklēsia is an assembly of people who followed Christ, that is the purest meaning of Church. I know you haven't mentioned Christ in your post above, so I take it for granted you want to follow him. Find yourself a group of people who want to do the same, that will be your Church.

Benny_Cake

Where are you OP? Often churches in the same denomination can vary quite dramatically in their style of worship, or the degree to which they lean liberal / conservative. It seems that you're looking for a church which is liberal/moderate leaning, but with non-liturgical worship (ie; a long sermon!) and active Bible study groups. Sounds like somewhere in the emerging church tradition would be perfect, but I'm not sure if that exists in Ireland. A Methodist church, perhaps?

Mrs OBumble

Where are you based OP? That will have a big impact on what's around.

One that you could keep an eye out for is the Unitarian Church. Might or might not be your cup of tea, depending on what style of service the one you find uses.

briocht

Thanks for the replies so far! I am living in Dublin.

I did think of trying a Methodist Church or the Unitarian Church but I don't particularly like their service style (type of music etc).

Benny_Cake

briocht wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far! I am living in Dublin.

I did think of trying a Methodist Church or the Unitarian Church but I don't particularly like their service style (type of music etc).

I drove past the Methodist church in Dundrum last weekend and I noticed they have two services, one traditional and one contemporary. Other churches may have something similar. It's a matter of preference I suppose, where I go there's no music but if I go to a church service with music I much prefer traditional hymns.

There is no such thing as a perfect church though - I find that for most people a sense of being part of a welcoming community is the most important element. Try a few different places until you find somewhere that clicks with you.

homer911

How can anyone mention Methodist and Unitarian in the same sentence??

Unitarians deny the Trinity and believe Jesus was just a good moral teacher:eek:

Mrs OBumble

homer911 wrote: »

How can anyone mention Methodist and Unitarian in the same sentence??

The OP's looking for a style of worship that works for him/her.

So s/he's assessing churches firstly on their style, and that's how the two can be put together.

Of course as soon as their theology becomes clear, you can see differences. But they may or may not be differences that worry the OP.

Nick Park

briocht wrote: »

I know there is a thread above with many different churches listed, but I am hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction to a potential suitable church!

I would like to join one that's quite liberal (not one that states that people of other religions are going to hell etc), but that also has a similar teaching style to evangelical churches. Maybe that might be a difficult combination...

I've been following Saddleback Church in America watching sermons and joining in online Bible studies groups and I love it. The messages are so practical and helpful and I find it offers me something that more ritualistic worship such as Catholic masses don't. But I don't feel comfortable with the idea of trying to convert others and the idea that those who are homosexual are going to hell. It's just not something I believe in...again I guess because my views are more liberal.

I really want to dive right into a church though, to meet new people and join a local Bible study so hopefully some of you might have some suggestions for me?

Would really appreciate any guidance!

Saddleback Church is an evangelical church - a fairly broad category that has several common distinctives. Evangelicals believe that you become a Christian by making a decision of your own free will to enter into a relationship with God (rather than by being born into a church or undergoing a ritual as a baby). They also tend to have a high view of the Bible as being the Word of God and therefore the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice.

Most (but not all) evangelicals would believe that people who deliberately reject the Christian Gospel do suffer some kind of negative consequences in the hereafter (hell, if you like, but there are many different ideas of what form that takes or whether it is everlasting or of limited duration). You can certainly be an evangelical without believing that everyone in a different religion is going to hell.

Similarly, there is a divergence of opinion among evangelicals about homosexuality. Some would be quite homophobic, while others wouldn't see a problem at all. The majority would disagree with homosexual acts but would not attempt to force their views on others. I know of a great many evangelical churches where you could attend every service for a year and never hear the subject of homosexuality ever mentioned.

But don't feel you have to agree with every single thing a church believes before you can attend it. Most churches will be quite happy for you to attend and worship with them and for you to have reservations or doubts about some of things you might hear in the sermons. Try attending a few churches (I can point you to a few near you if you wish) and find a place where you feel at home and the people are friendly and genuinely loving and accepting.

Nick Park
Executive Director, Evangelical Alliance Ireland

katydid

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Where are you based OP? That will have a big impact on what's around.

One that you could keep an eye out for is the Unitarian Church. Might or might not be your cup of tea, depending on what style of service the one you find uses.

Since the Unitarians don't require a belief in God, the divinity of Jesus, or the Trinity, it's a bit of a stretch to call them Christians,.

martinedwards

If you're in Dublin, have a look at http://saintcatherines.ie/

Benny_Cake

Mod: Catholic / Protestant back and forth moved to the relevant megathread. Unless it relates to the OP's question, don't bother posting here.

briocht

Nick Park wrote: »

But don't feel you have to agree with every single thing a church believes before you can attend it. Most churches will be quite happy for you to attend and worship with them and for you to have reservations or doubts about some of things you might hear in the sermons. Try attending a few churches (I can point you to a few near you if you wish) and find a place where you feel at home and the people are friendly and genuinely loving and accepting.

Thank you that's so reassuring! I'm always afraid I will get shunned for my liberal views! I would love to find a warm welcoming place to worship. I'm in North Dublin but don't mind travelling to the city center.

antiskeptic

briocht wrote: »

Thank you that's so reassuring! I'm always afraid I will get shunned for my liberal views! I would love to find a warm welcoming place to worship. I'm in North Dublin but don't mind travelling to the city center.

You could try the Exchange at the city end of Gardiner St. - right at Butt Bridge. It's a big old building (originally a church, then a labour exchange then a church again) housing a reasonable-sized congregation. The benefits would be the fact that views would be mixed and ranging in spectrum rather than being unified and solid. Good music, good mix of age, fantastic building, friendly lot. Lively and bright and plenty going on.

JimiTime

I think its important to desire fellowship with Christ, and seek his will. I'm not sure what you mean by 'liberal', but whatever it is, I would say that every person wishing to follow Christ must surrender to his will and make sure that they are not seeking to find a Jesus that moulds to their own will. Seek the real Christ in earnest and with your whole heart and do HIS will. I hope you've found him and that you find a fellowship soon.

Yarisa

There's DESTINY CHURCH on 63-64 great strand street, Dublin 1. It's a non-denominational multicultural church with a more contemporary style of worship and a focus on the bible. They meet twice on a sunday (11am and 6:30pm) and also on wed for lifegroups/bible studies. Occassionally they have events on a friday such as movie, games nights, or live music to support/host local bands.
Ultimately, as jimitime said the most important thing is to truly desire fellowship with God, loving him with all our mind, soul and strength and seeking to do HIS will, which he reveals to us as we continue to study his word.
God bless and all the best