I Would like to Start Going to Church...

Because you have a Catholic background, you might want to consider the RCIA Process. RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and almost every Catholic church will have one. It's a series of meetings, usually once a week for 60 to 90 minutes, to learn more about Christianity and the Catholic faith. The are focused on non-Catholics thinking about becoming Catholic, but they are open to anyone and really focused on learning, exploring and understanding faith. We often have adult Catholics who have not been practicing but are interested in coming back to the Church or at least learning about the Catholic faith as an adult. The first few weeks focus simply on who is God, what is faith, what is the Bible. After a few weeks we move into more specific topics.

I've been a member of 4 different RCIA Teams (I think we're done moving now), and RCIA at each parish had it's own program but they were all very, very similar.

I promise, this is a very relaxed program with the sole purpose of helping people find God in their lives and helping them to better decide what they want from God and from belonging to a church (even if it's non-Catholic).

Good luck with your journey!!! I hope you find what you're looking for.

This is a good book that may help you start back on your journey to faith. It's called Rediscovering Catholicism. I'm not sure if you are wanting to continue as a Catholic, but this book may help you decide. You can get a free copy (+ shipping and handling) here http://www.dynamiccatholic.com/node/19976 . I am a practicing Catholic, but my husband has struggled with his faith from time to time, and this book helped him. We both enjoyed the book, and so did our 14yo son.

As for your questions, yes, I pray every day throughout the day. We pray individually, and as a family. We aren't irritating, preachy people, but we do have strong faith, and find prayer very comforting. We respect others beliefs, and encourage our children to learn about other faiths. We go to mass every Saturday, and our children go to CCD classes. I help with the children's ministry, and the church food pantry, also, so we are involved in the church.

I hope you find a church that you like. It took us awhile to find one that was the right "fit." Enjoy your faith journey!

The New American Standard Bible is a great start. It's the most accurate translation. The King James Bible is commonly considered the least accurate translation because the scholars who did the translations didn't collaborate with anyone while translating and because of those egregious errors, the re-translations and further re-translations over the centuries have not improved the book. The KJVB also eliminated some of the texts from the final codex that the NASB didn't eliminate.

The first step would be finding a denomination and Church that makes you feel like you're at home. If you'd like to stick with Catholicism, visit several different Catholic Churches and see how you like them. If you're interested in exploring other denominations, go to several different of each Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian, Baptist. You can't always get a feel for a denomination just by going to one Church.

I've had an interesting faith journey. I was raised Lutheran. I went to a Lutheran school, was confirmed, and felt very strong in my faith. In my teens, after my brother died, my family basically stopped going to Church. I didn't practice my faith for years. When I got married to a non-practicing Catholic, and had my first child, things changed. I wanted to raise my kids in the Church. I had my daughter baptized at my Lutheran Church and just expected my husband to start attending services there. He wasn't interested and told me he'd go to Church if it was a Catholic Church. I somewhat hesitantly agreed as long as he was committed to going. We found a Catholic Church in our area and started attending. As a non-Catholic, I couldn't participate in the Eucharist, but I participated in everything else. I came to really, really love going to mass and felt at home there. After 2-3 years of attending as a visitor, I decided to go through the RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and became Catholic the following Easter at the Easter Vigil. It was one of the most special nights of my life. Since then, my life has been enriched by the Catholic Church. My children attend the parish school. My second and third babies were baptized Catholic, and my eldest made a profession of faith and received her first communion in second grade with her classmates. I am thrilled that we are all the same faith and attend and participate in mass together as a family.

Prayer is conversation with God. I pray throughout the day. I usually pray for patience and understanding with my kids, the health and safety of my family, friends, and even strangers if I hear about something on the news, or see an accident while driving. I do dedicate special time before bed to pray as well. I pray during mass. I pray both the traditional prayers of the Church as well as stream of consciousness prayers. Both forms of prayer bring me peace.

As for Bibles, I have a Catholic Study Bible that I love. It has side captions with explanations of things that are hard to understand. A good study Bible seems like it would be a great fit for you. You do not have to read it in order.

Group Bible studies usually focus on one book of the Bible or a theme that encompasses several passages. You usually read it on your own ahead of time, reflect on it, then come to class prepared to discuss and share your thoughts with the group. I don't participate in one now, but I have in the past. Some have been better than others depending on the leader and other participants. It's about finding a good fit whether it's a Church or Bible study.

Best wishes!

I was raised baptist so a little different but as I got older realized I was taught that God wants us to have a personal relationship with him and I could just talk to God like I would talk to a friend. Pray without ceasing is what the bible tells us so sometimes I'm praying more in the format suggested. asking for forgiveness, thanking him etc. Other times I'm just tell him about the day and what I'm thankful for or how next time I'm faced with a situation I'll do (this). Sometimes it's a matter of just listening to his response. Sometimes when you say God show me the way, or where you want me to go or how you want me to handle this and then just listen he'll tell you. If your not sure if it's him talking or just your hopes of what you want to happen it's ok to ask him to make it clear. It could be by if this is your will the phone will ring right now or like my aunt and uncle they pray that whatever they are to leave they will have no other choice. Ex. My uncle hates change and recently changed jobs but during their prayer he said make it so obvious that I can't go back and I don't have a choice but to go the right direction. Even as many times as I have tried to read the bible I get lost when it is talking about this person is the son of this person, etc. By going to a bible study it helps to focus on one thing at a time. Beth Moore is awesome when it comes to bible information. Best way to do it is one thing at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself or you'll be tempted to quit. Our church although no where near Houston has bible studies outside of Sunday School that hits on certain people or certain topics in the bible so much easier to understand than trying to take it all in at a time. Usually the bible studies will have a meeting for an hour or 2 one day a week then give homework to do on your own before the next meeting. The smaller groups also make it easier to find others who are studying the same topic and usually up for study groups or discussing the topic in more detail outside of the bible study. Everything may feel strange at first but you'll get it. There is no wrong way to pray and the more you do and the more you study his word and let others see him in your daily life the closer you become and the better your relationship with him will be.

For one thing you have this hope: seek and you will find! (Matt 7) yes, I pray everyday. Start with talking to God just as you would if he were siting beside you. Tell Him all the things you told us here. Ask Him for help and guidance in His plan for you. Then TRUST he will send you on the right path. Step out in faith to find that path. I don't pray the same things everyday but they do follow a pattern. Praise God for who He is, ask for forgiveness fo sin, ask for blessings for me ( like his wisdom, energy for the day, His leadership to be more like Christ) to ask for blessings for my kids and family, to express my thankfulness for yesterday's blessings. The Bible is a Spiritual book, it is Spiritually wrote and Spritually understood. It will take a while to understand. My son likes the NET bible. There are many translations today. They are not like history books in that you can sit down and read it and not search for the meanings in it. Start with the book of John in the new testament. You need to find a good Bible teaching church, I am not from Houston but I am a Baptist, so I have trust God to steer you to the right Baptist church. The denominations mean different ways to interpret God's doctrine. If you want to talk further Private message me.
May God Reveal Himself to You!

Sandy and Gidget have excellent ideas. As a "cradle catholic" who, like you, wanted to learn more and I am making progress.

I would recommend you do not get a bible that is not a Catholic version. ignatius.com has a full catalog of highly recommended Catholic publications. You can get a copy of the CCC (Catechist of the Catholic Church) for FREE.

You may find that the Catholic Church closest to you may not be a best fit for you. However, the "feel" of the church doesn't have the importance as whether it is orthodox (in other words, follows all the teachings of the Church (that body of Catholics which make up the Body of Christ) and has allegiance to the pope).

catholic.com is an excellent place to find answers to questions like "what are the teachings of the Church?" and "what is the difference between a church and the Church?". Another good place is the "Catholics Come Home" website at http://www.catholicscomehome.org/

(and please, don't hesitate to send me a private message)

One last thing, I no longer want to listen to regular radio stations in my car! There is a network of Catholic radio stations! Check ewtn.com for a station near you. The local station for me has their broadcast available via your computer. If you would like, go to www.redcradio.org and find the "LISTEN ONLINE KEDC 88.5 FM" tab almost at the top of that web page.

I will pray for you! It is a blessing to hear of your desire to return to the church of your childhood! I hope the non-Catholics who have made a response do not deter you from our "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church".

D.

Just start "shopping around" for churches until you find a good fit and one where you feel comfortable. Try a variety of denominations, sizes, locations, etc. and eventually one will make you feel welcome. If you are interested in the Bible I would actually start with a book more about Bible stories, such as a book entitled "So you don't Know Much About the Bible." It explains things. The Bible itself, without guidance or explanation, can be a tough and boring read. There are Bibles available that are specifically designed for daily reading and can be read cover to cover in one year. I don't necessarily recommend reading at the beginning and trying to finish the whole thing. I suspect you'll get bored and frustrated.

Bible studies really vary according to the church, leader, subject, etc. Once again you just kind of have to shop around. My church has a women only Bible study group that has been very popular.

I pray every night and it varies. Mostly I ask for the health of my family members and for guidance to get me through whatever challenges I am facing. I try also to be thankful so that I am not always feeling like I'm asking for something. If it isn't a particularly thankful time I ask for help in understanding the circumstances and the strength to face it. My family is in a medical crisis situation with my mom right now and I pray for guidance for our family to make the correct decisions about her care at the proper time. The pastors pray for the doctors and nurses caring for her to give them wisdom and strength.

Start slow, find some people you are comfortable with and who make you feel welcome. All the rest will come. Good luck and blessings on your journey! Oh, once you find a church you like I recommend you become involved somehow. It can make a big difference in your church experience. For example, I work in the church nursery, I am a Confirmation mentor and I deliver Meals on Wheels. I taught church school and Vacation Bible School in the past.

You have lots of great responses already! As a former Catholic, I left the Church because rather than feeling rejuvenated after services, I felt guilty and pretty terrible about how the church made me feel. Now, I know not all Catholic churches are like that, it was just not a good fit for me and my beliefs. I have since gone the way of Episcopalian. I like that they mirror to some effect the Catholic Church but at the same time, won’t commit to the big political/religious topics.
I do read my bible, not as often as I know I should. I have a wonderful parallel bible which is King James Version on one side of the page and the Amplified on the other side. My Husband has the King James ‘Study Bible’ which breaks down the info on the bottom of the page for better understanding. One thing I have done is sign up for a daily verse on www.biblegateway.com. They email a daily verse and sometimes they are right on the money, other times they are not as relevant at that exact moment. One thing I will do though is if a verse sticks out, I will read further into it reading verses before and after to get the full feel of what message I can and should be taking from it. Additionally, I a book called, “Prayers that Avail Much”. This is kind of my go-to when I am praying for something specific. It references several passages at the end of the section that I will also reference. I once tried to ‘read’ the bible and that was a mistake. So, I will occasionally just open it to any page and see what’s going on and skip around as I see fit. The other thing I like to do is watch episodes of Joel O’Steen or my favorite, Joyce Meyer. Both are phenomenal at giving you a clear understanding of the Word of God and also helping you to understand yourself and God’s role in your life.
I do take time on my hour drive into work each day to have some “me time” with God. Just kind of letting him know what is on my mind, asking for guidance, understanding and more often patience! Don’t take on too much at once. Just start slowly so as not to be overwhelmed. What a great journey you are about to begin.

I was raised Lutheran, went to a non-denom Christian school, got disenchanted with religion for several years, married a Baptist, and now attend a Methodist church (sometimes). We don't go as often as we should, but it seems to be a happy medium for my husband and I. I agree with someone below that you may want to start out with a Lutheran church, as it is very similar to Catholic and you may feel at home there.
When my husband and I started looking for a church home, we visited several different churches of many different denominations until we found one that we both liked.
I have always liked the NIV Bible because it was easier for me to understand than the King James version. When I was in high school, I had a study bible that had both the King James version and the NIV side by side. I would go to a Christian bookstore and see if you could find something like that. Now, if you talk to my Baptist in-laws, they will tell you that the King James version is the only pure and true version of the Bible. Quite honestly, I am not versed enough to know if that is accurate or not. I really don't read the Bible (I should) and I only draw on the knowledge that I gained in attending church and taking Bible class in high school. I have never been to a Bible study, although I would like to. My mom attends them frequently and I know she has a much better understanding of the Bible than she did previously.
I try to pray every day, either in the morning before I get out of bed, or at night, when I am in bed before I go to sleep. I pray for God's love and protection for myself and my family. I pray for the health and happiness of my children, husband, parents and sister. I ask for forgiveness of my sins and for God's guidance for me to have more patience with my children and to be better wife. I thank God for my healthy and beautiful children. I also pray for God to open/close doors of opportunity if they are/are not His will. Whenever a specific situation comes up that I want to pray about, I add it in. I don't have a list and I don't pray out loud. I don't think there is a "right" way to pray- just doing it is enough.
Good luck with finding a church that is right for you. You should ask your friends and see what kind of churches they go to. A large part of church is a feeling of community and if you go somewhere where you already have friends, you may like it better.

I am a Lutheran (Missouri Synod), so the best place I can think of to refer you is to the LCMS website. There is a page with FAQs and links/downloads available that explain the differences between denominations, and specifically the doctrine of the LCMS church.

Personally, I think that "going church shopping" is sort of a backwards approach. It might be more helpful for you to find out what the various denominations believe and teach and THEN make some visits to the ones that fit with your beliefs the closest. What are your beliefs regarding Baptism, Forgiveness, Salvation, the Sacraments, etc?

I came from a Southern Baptist background, eventually went to Presbyterian (PCA) and finally arrived at the place where we believe the doctrine is the closest to being understood rightly (LCMS Lutheran). Perhaps the Wisconsin Synod might be even a better fit for us, they are very similar, but we haven't explored them much, as there are none for over a hundred miles from us.

There are a gazillion non-denom, Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Community, etc churches around us. But LCMS is much harder to come by, here in the deep south. My point being, that depending upon where you are, any number of churches you walk into may have the same doctrine but a different "feel". So it would make more sense to figure out what doctrine you are looking for before you begin your search. I have been to churches that never fully explain what their doctrine IS, or say they have no creed (which is a creed in itself)... so just visiting and liking a place because the people are welcoming doesn't necessarily fill your need. There are a thousand subtleties that are incorporated into worship that you may be unaware of if you don't understand the fundamental doctrines of the church.

Here is the link. I hope you find it helpful.

http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=699

I would also suggest checking out WorldView Everlasting.. a website run by a Lutheran pastor which has TONS of links and explanations differentiating the doctrines.
http://www.worldvieweverlasting.com/what-is-a-lutheran/

Updated

I agree with reading "The Message" bible. It is much easier to understand.

As far as how do you pray, you talk to God like you would talk to your father. Tell Him your concerns, thank Him for your blessings. Pray for those you know need help. Praying is just you having a conversation with God (your Father). :)

I would find a non-denominational church in your area and start there. You should leave church feeling blessed and renewed! Sunday is my FAVORITE day of the week! :)

How wonderful! This can be a really fun journey for you!

I would recommend a NIV bible as it will be easiest to read. And, if you have a smart phone, you can get it in an app. The You Version Bible on my iPhone is all I every read!

There are lots of great bible reading plans out there - read the bible chronologically, historically, etc. Read the bible in a year, 90 days, etc. I'm sure you can find one that you would enjoy - https://www.youversion.com/reading-plans?category=whole_b...

A prayer list is simply that. A list of prayers. Prayers can be simple, elaborate or personal or general. God hears all! I will pray for healing for sick friends, for comfort, strength or protection for those that need it. It can be vague "Lord, please heal all that are sick and suffering today" "Lord, keep us all safe today" or very specific "Lord, please provide healing from Cancer for my friend Julie" "Lord, please keep James safe as he travels to NY".

Having a list just helps you remember your prayer requests. And, yes, you would generally find a quiet time and pray everyday.

Bible study classes can be extremely varied. Traditional bible study classes will generally be exactly what they say - a study of the bible - usually one book of the bible for a period of time. You read it and study it together to understand it fully. Our church has what we call "small groups". It's a small group of about 10 that come together to do a specific study. We are currently doing "40 Days in the Word". For 40 days we will read specific curriculum that will show us how to not just "hear" the Word, but to be a "doer" of the Word. We meet at someones home and watch a weekly video presentation, read and memorize scripture and pray and support each other. Learn more, and participate, here - http://www.40daysintheword.com

Many churches post their sermons online, so you can listen from the comfort of your home. This is our church sermons - http://highlandave.org/pages/online.html

Good luck and God Bless! Feel free to message me.

I like the King James traditional Bible, but many prefer the easier to read NIV modern day wording translations.

I would recommend starting out in a nice, non-denominational church. Look into your ones in your area and see what is important to you. Traditional hymns, Sunday attire, small meetings... or more of the rock concert, mega church vibe, or do you want a mix of the two. Some churches focus more on missionary work, some teach a more loving and forgiving God, others are more into the repent, repent, repent. So, pray, read your scriptures, do a lot of pondering and go where you feel comfortable.

I would highly recommend you consider taking the Alpha Course, offered at so many churches now. It's a great video series, written and spoken from a man who used to be an Athiest.

Then, for starters, I would recommend you start with reading The Message, which is the bible in layman's terms without all the Thous/Thees.

I think the King James version as recommended is way too cerebral and hard core for just returning people as yourselves.

You should also consider church shopping in your area. Personally, my two must haves are great music and a great sermon/preacher. But awesome music to me is different than awesome music to someone else. And I can't stand sermons full of "Bible Babble" where there is so much quoting of the bible, but very little message. Without those two elements, I would not even waste my time going to a church. If you look around and get a feeling for different churches and energies, you should be able to narrow down what it is you need and want on your spiritual journey.

Blessing on your journey!

1. I pray everyday. I ask God blessing for my day as well as my children, even though they are grown. I ask for God's traveling grace and mercy to and from or, etc. I pray for my classroom and for God to bless me and lead me as I instruct my students. If I am sick I pray for God's heali g power and I pray for others.

2. My prayer lists consist of special things I want God to do and I place it in Proverbs 16th chapter. I speak positive things because we can speak negative things into existence. Make your requests known to God and believe. He will answer, however it may not necessarily be an answer we want, but God knows what is best for us. Sometimes He may even answer a prayer because we Re His children, but seamy not want what we ask foe later o down the road. One preacher calls it living with bad answered prayers.

3. Proverbs is a great book to read because it is full of daly to day I strict ions and good wisdom along with advice. Genesis tells about the creation. I Kings and II Kings talks about the prophets and shows how God works on their behalf.

4. Galatians in the New Testament the fifth chapter talks about the fruits of the Spirit that all should profess as well as the works of the flesh that we shouldn't have.

5. Acts the 2nd chapter talks about God sending the Holy Spirit to live in us if we accept Him.

I attend Lily of the Valey Church of God in Christ. It is off of 13800 Buffalo Speedway and West Orem. It is a predominately black church, but that does not matter.

The is Lakewood which is basically no denominational. I welcome you to visit my church or any church that is teaching sound doctrine that wil, be beneficial to you and your soul. We are in the last days and things are
happening that are almost unbelievable. People are doing things that I never imagined. Check out and church aski g God to lead you on the right path.

May God bless you in your search.

Don't know what part of town you live in so it's kinda hard to recommend somewhere. My best advice is to visit all the churches in your area and see which one you like best. Go for a couple weeks in a row so you get a "real taste" of it.

As far as a Bible Study goes, you can not do better than BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) in getting and understanding the word of God. It's a non-denominational Bible study and they are world wide. They are kinda strict in their rules, but I learn SOOOOO much there and learned how to study and pray. Beth Moore has lots of Bible Studies also and various churches offer hers to the women (and some even let men attend).

There's also a "spin off" of BSF called CBS (Community Bible Study) who follow the same itinerary (praise and worship, devotional, small group discussion, then lecture) but aren't so stringent about the "rules". They also have classes all over the world, but all their classes aren't doing the same lessons - at BSF they are and if you're traveling, you can attend the class in the area you go to and they'll be on the same lesson you are!!!!

If you want to send me a private message, I can help you find a class of any of them. I attended Memorial Drive Presbyterian when I lived on the west side of town - it was wonderful - right at the corner of Fondren and Briar Forest/Memorial.

The Bible is only hard to understand if you haven't asked God to open your eyes and show you what HE wants you to know. I get something new out of verses I've read 100's of times!!! It's always relevant to whatever is going on in my life. I do pray - in the morning, during the day, at night - it's never a bad time to Thank God for His blessings and gifts. God wants a relationship with us and you can't have a relationship without communication!!! He wants to know it all - what's on your heart, what you're worried about, what you're afraid of, what you're happy about and what you're angry about. He can take it and besides, He already KNOWS!!!

If you don't want to go to a Catholic church I would suggest visiting different denomations until you find the one that is right for you. As for the bible it can be a little difficult to read but I would start with the NIV bible. It is written in our English so it is easier to read.

Unfortunately every religion has a different take on the bible so I would find the chuch and then start bible study. As for reading the bible look on line. I read the bible in a year one time but I don't know where my list is that told what to read each day. I typed in reading the bible in a year on the search and got some great suggestions. Just from looking briefly I clicked on BibleStudyTools.com. You can choose Chronological and it will give you the books to read in the order they occur. Good luck with your decision.

I forgot to mention prayer. I pray for my family's health. I pray for the world we live in. I pray for myself mainly that I am doing what God wants me to do and asking help to raise my daughter the right way. Prayer is a conversation with God. Like a parent you can talk to God about anything. He's there to offer help and guidence so I ask for His help often.

your in houston!! ksbj radio would be a great start , listen as much as you can. They pray on the radio and the songs are spiritual but not lame. I have picked up a easy reader bible and began I always get board in Numbers or the chapter where they trace the family history, this son was born of this man and his son was born of that man. Go to a christian store and ask questions and do some research on which bible would be best for you. I have learning disablities, while my iq is on the higher end but still in the normal range my brain moves very quickly. I asked my husband to purchase me an "easy reader" and also make sure the words do not contain thou and thy or old fashioned speach. I really like mine but I am asking for a audio bible. There is also The One Year Bible that you can complete in a years time. I did not like that style as it skipped around.

Prayer can be very different for all. I usually pray for the health and happyness for my family and friends. I also pray for my friends to find the wife God has intended for them, for them to find God, for healing of a friend who has undergone surgery. I pray for ppl I see while driving in my car. I pray for myself that I do Gods will. I dont so much pray for things I want in my life for myself any longer. I feel God knows what is best and His plan is better than my own. My father was raised Catholic,my mother raised Lutherian and we were raised Methodist (carasmatic). I dont feel I believe what the Catholic religion has to offer nor do I feel the carasmatic churches are truly feeling the holy spirit every service and speaking in tongues. Were now raising our kids baptist. FyI both my brothers arent strong and one does not believe in God while the other is open to the possiblity. I know with out a doubt there is a God. I think you have to church hop a bit and find what works for your family. I have friends of many faiths (and no faith at all).

Bible study class is some what boring for me!?! A group mets at church or ones home, drinks and snack usually, small talk, sitting in a room usually circled chair set up, prayers, bible study (dicussing certian scripture that has been read) encouraging you to look up and study certian chapters or verses. prayer requests (the group is offered to ask for prayers over situations, lovedones,) a closing prayer and small talk good byes.

You don't need to dive in all at once. I suggest that you look at the churches around you and take the time to visit several. Go back to the ones you like and fit your family's needs. Do you want a good children's program? Do you want small groups? Do you want a young adult program? Do prefer a contemporary or traditional service? Etc. Study groups vary with the people in them and the type of church.

I was raised in a church, left it for a while, found my way back. Same with my sister. We both pretty much did what I described. Thought about what we were looking for in a church family and visited congregations til we found one we were happy with. I checked out other denominations, too. Sometimes what you are raised with is not what you need as an adult. Many Catholics find themselves at home in a Lutheran church. Or you might consider Episcopalian. Or non-denominational.

I also don't feel that I only have to attend what is offered by my "home church". My friend's church has a Sunrise Service for Easter that I enjoy each year. And I take my DD to a Baptist church's Egg Hunt. She attends an Episcopalian preschool.

And you can read the Bible and pray at any time. I'm not as good about reading the Bible straight through. I like the ones with devotionals in them. I also like the Psalms. I prefer New International Version over King James but maybe King James will be more familiar to you. There are also versions for children that you can share with your kids.

The way I view it, prayer is a conversation. It can be long or short. You can say thank you for meals. You can say good morning and good night. You can ask for help. You can ask for guidance. God isn't going to grade you. He knows whats on your heart. Sometimes you might just want to sit and "be". A short version of Psalm 46:10 is "Be still and know that I am God."

I pray that you find what's right for you in your faith journey. It is good to have a church home. But you can still have a relationship with God while you seek one.

Hi C.! Congratulations! I was raised in the Baptist church, but many branches of my family attended different denominations - catholic, methodist, lutheran, episcopal. All that to say, I've spent my life in and out of different types of churches and I have never been married to the idea that you must go to one type of church - you must go where you feel like God is leading you. We now attend a non-denominational bible church and I have to tell you that I love it! I've never felt so enriched and my soul feels nourished! We focus on - just like it sounds - the bible! Our pastor is really a teacher at heart and has a true gift for speaking/teaching God's word and not just what he thinks.

Yes, I pray every day. When you have a relationship with God, you learn to talk to Him just like you would talk to your spouse, your friends, etc. I pray about EVERYTHING... you name it! I am not currently keeping a prayer list, but I have done that in the past. What is fun about a prayer list is to go back and look at all of the answered prayers on your list. It's tangible and very encouraging to do so. We love the NASB translation. As someone mentioned previously, the NASB has earned the reputation of being the most accurate translation. I have others, as well, though. I like to pick up The Message if I am reading a passage in the NASB that is more difficult to understand, but overall the NASB is pretty good about not being too confusing. As others have mentioned getting an NASB study bible also makes it easier because the footnotes are really great about interpreting. No, you don't necessarily need to read it in order. Bible study classes are great, but it kind of depends on the group and what you are studying. My favorites have been Beth Moore and Rick Warren studies. My favorite study that I did with a group of people was the most diverse group I've ever been in - we had every age range from 20-80+, blacks, whites, hispanics, male, female, single, married... you name it. I probably learned the most from that group of people. Best wishes to you!

Hi! We begin attending this church 5 years ago. Royalwood Pentecostal Church- we love it and so will you and your family. We have church services on Sundays at 10 am and 6pm and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. You can check the services out live online at those times by going to Royalwood.cc and clicking the media tab.
We have several bible classes to help you learn more about God and how to get to heaven according to the bible. We also have Sunday school classes on Sundays and special fun learning classes for children, teens and singles on Wednesdays.
So come on over!

I was also raised Catholic and had a strong desire to learn the bible etc and joined a non-denominational group called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I was able to learn so much and from there was able to know what church I was interested in and eventually join.
Google it and it will tell you of meetings in your area.
Good luck.

Great for you! In addition to KSBJ FM 89.3, there is another Houston radio station KHCB (keeping him close by) FM 105.7. It has mostly teaching and some music. Lots of great teachers on there teaching the bible so please give it a try!

Visit several churches in your area. See which ones give you a good vibe, have friendly people and sermons that make you think.
Many offer "newcomer" classes for those that are interested so you can find out more about that church.
This might sound silly, but my Nook has a Daily Devotions app that gives me a bible verse and then an explanation about what it means and how it can relate to my life. I love it!

C.,

Congratulations...this is a nice and huge start!
The Catholic Church in your area, should have a group and counselor for people who is "re joining" or starting over about their religion. Besides praying, volunteering at your church or attending mass, this would be probably a good idea to start with. Go to the church you like most and ask them about this group.
Blessings!

Go to the nearest Lifeway bookstore and any of the associates will be more than happy to show you what different Bibles are out there. They will have different translations on display (translations meaning "versions"). Read through a few of them and see which ones feels comfortable for you to read. All Bibles (that I know of) have a table of content and will have page numbers of where to find each book of the Bible, or you can get a Bible with tabs on the side to show you where the book of the Bible is.

Also, have them show you where the devotionals are for new believers or new Christians. You may not be a new believer but the devotionals will be written in a way for anyone to get started who has never read or studied the Bible before. There may be devotionals focused on learning how to read the Bible or how to study the Bible, but there are also devotionals focused on different topics such as "Do I believe in God" or "Being honest with yourself" or "Overcoming depression" or "Friendships for women" or "My kids are driving me crazy" etc etc. The devotionals may be a good start because you are still looking up verses in the Bible and answering questions like a Bible study, but again, its not as much work as a study.

Alot of people will say that Lifeway tends to carry more Baptist themed things, but they have a great Catholic section too, so you don't have to be biased or confused. You'll just have more options.

Try listening to KSBJ (89.3). Its a great Christian radio station that plays contemporary Christian music and they are focused on ministering to God seekers, newbies, new Believers as well as the spiritually mature. The songs and lyrics will uplift you and the DJ's will pray throughout the day, so you can hear what a prayer sounds like. You can also find them online. There is also 100.7 and 105.1 that plays more "old timers" religious music and sermons.

If you get any religious channels on TV, try watching in the morning...they usually have popular preachers from around the country giving recorded sermons, and you can see how a Protestant church service goes.

I'm so glad you are seeking God. There are so many resources out there I know it can be overwhelming. One thing I love about my relationship with the Lord is that even though there are times I don't know Him or even show love to Him, He always loves me no matter what. And He loves you too! Have fun and have faith on your journey :)

I chose my church because I could not reconcile myself with a God that would allow people to be sent to hell because they didn't subscribe to a particular brand of religion. The United Church believes that there are many paths to God, no one right way. If you are looking for a bible that is easier to read and understand try "The Message". It is the bible translated into plain, modern English.

A good suggestion is the One Year Bible. Written in "plain language". Gives passages from the Old Testament, New Testament, and short entries from Psalms and Proverbs every day. The verses are in order, so at end of year you've read the whole bible!
Norman Vincent Peale wrote "The Power of Positive Praying" that we reviewed in SS class long time ago. It's probably out of print but maybe you could research where to get a used copy. May god bless you for your desire to be a better spiritual person.

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The One Year Bible is written in plain language. Gives old testament, new testament, and passages from Psalms and Proverbs daily. Verses are in order so at the end of hte year you've read the whole bible.
Norman Vincent Peale's book "The Power of Positive Praying" is good for addressing God with a humble spirit and seeking wisdom, knowing how to ask for blessings, etc. May God bless you for your desire to be a better person.