S
You don't have to hold yourself captive there. I recall more than a decade ago driving home from church with parents who were disappointed people weren't talking to them after church. That they felt left out and disregarded. For a while, I agreed. Until I joined a new church on my own in 2005. I attended service and naturally other than a few brief hello's and handshakes.. I would obviously not get to know anyone. Now let's pause it here.. and fast forward 4 years later to 2009.
I'm with one of my friend I met through a Bible Study.. attending a Men's Retreat. During the 2nd day, a man in the crowd had a gripe with the church community. He asked the guest speaker "Why don't we have this type of bond every week at church.. why do we have to come to a retreat to do this.. why not every Sunday?" Essentially, he was asking for the perfect world.. basically we all go to church on Sunday and have a happy ol' time getting to know one another.
The fact is.. one cannot put their chips all on a Sunday morning service. It's gotta be spread out between either a bible study, mid-week service, home group or ministry, etc.
Examining a Sunday morning service it has only but brief time for social interactions. Some churches offer a brief greeting time. Other than that.. you'll catch up with people outside the sanctuary all but briefly. Sunday service is more geared towards worship and the word.
Now getting back to 2006.. as I first joined a group.. it did take a few weeks to get to know people. Come to think of it.. it took a few months to get friendship momentum going with people. ***This is why it's highly important not to get down on a place the first few weeks your there. It does take 1-5 maybe 6 months to get used to the place and people used to you. Some people have gone there so long that they've seen so many people come and go.. so you gotta stick around and not stop going. You'll know you're establishing yourself with other believers when you begin getting invites to group outings, cookouts, events, etc.
Now it's important to note that you would have to examine your current church or examine the church you're trying out for it's opportunity level. If it doesn't have a lot of groups.. or any than it's probably a dead end church. Meaning, it's a good Sunday service but opportunties for weekly group interactions are limited.
This is why when I attend a new church.. I observe what the church offers during the week just as importantly as I do the Sunday service. You truly want both worlds. Before you'll know it.. you'll be sitting with friends during Sunday service and catching up with those friends following the Sunday service too.
Again, it's a matter of assessing the churches potential for you.. is it going to offer what you're looking for? Groups that interest you. I always say you can go to Sunday service anywhere.. but ultimately all churches vary for weekly group opportunities.
I'm with one of my friend I met through a Bible Study.. attending a Men's Retreat. During the 2nd day, a man in the crowd had a gripe with the church community. He asked the guest speaker "Why don't we have this type of bond every week at church.. why do we have to come to a retreat to do this.. why not every Sunday?" Essentially, he was asking for the perfect world.. basically we all go to church on Sunday and have a happy ol' time getting to know one another.
The fact is.. one cannot put their chips all on a Sunday morning service. It's gotta be spread out between either a bible study, mid-week service, home group or ministry, etc.
Examining a Sunday morning service it has only but brief time for social interactions. Some churches offer a brief greeting time. Other than that.. you'll catch up with people outside the sanctuary all but briefly. Sunday service is more geared towards worship and the word.
Now getting back to 2006.. as I first joined a group.. it did take a few weeks to get to know people. Come to think of it.. it took a few months to get friendship momentum going with people. ***This is why it's highly important not to get down on a place the first few weeks your there. It does take 1-5 maybe 6 months to get used to the place and people used to you. Some people have gone there so long that they've seen so many people come and go.. so you gotta stick around and not stop going. You'll know you're establishing yourself with other believers when you begin getting invites to group outings, cookouts, events, etc.
Now it's important to note that you would have to examine your current church or examine the church you're trying out for it's opportunity level. If it doesn't have a lot of groups.. or any than it's probably a dead end church. Meaning, it's a good Sunday service but opportunties for weekly group interactions are limited.
This is why when I attend a new church.. I observe what the church offers during the week just as importantly as I do the Sunday service. You truly want both worlds. Before you'll know it.. you'll be sitting with friends during Sunday service and catching up with those friends following the Sunday service too.
Again, it's a matter of assessing the churches potential for you.. is it going to offer what you're looking for? Groups that interest you. I always say you can go to Sunday service anywhere.. but ultimately all churches vary for weekly group opportunities.