Finding the right church can be very challenging if you have just moved to a new town. There are so many concerns that come with joining a new church. You’re worried about fitting in, getting a church that supports what you believe and supports your faith, etc. It’s also crucial that you find a church close to your home for ease of attending services. 

In this blog post, we shall focus on protestants, understanding their faith, and later discuss how we can assist you in finding the right protestant church near you. 

What do Protestants believe?

Protestants strictly believe in sola fide, which means faith alone. They believe that salvation is by grace and faith alone. Jesus Christ did all the work on the cross for your sins. All you need to do is confess you’re a sinner in need of grace and believe in Jesus Christ, and you’ll be saved. Protestants also believe that you can do nothing to earn your salvation. 

This is best described in Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Martin Luther, the protestant reformer, considered sola fide so critical in a protestants faith that he referred to it as the article with and by which the church stands. 

Besides the sola fide, protestants believe in four more solas, they include: 

1. Sola scriptura (scripture alone): The bible has everything you need for salvation and guidance on how to live a godly lifestyle. 

2. Sola gratia (grace alone): Salvation comes from God’s grace, not your work.

3. Solo Christo (Christ alone): Jesus is the only way you can be saved. 

4. Sola Deo Gloria (glory of God alone): Everything you do should glorify God. 

Scriptures you can read to understand the rules governing the protestants’ beliefs: 

• John 14:6
• Colossians 3:17John 3:16
• John 5:24
• Acts 10:43
• Romans 1:17
• Philippians 3:9

Protestants separated from the original Roman Catholic Christianity and formed one of the largest Christian groups with 900 million members worldwide.

What is the difference between the Protestant church and the Catholics?

Although there have been several attempts to find common ground between protestants and Catholics, there are still several differences. 

They include: 

1. The sola scripture

Protestants believe everything they need to live in a godly way and find salvation is in the bible. On the other hand, Catholics believe that besides following scripture, a Christian must follow the Roman Catholic tradition to find salvation. The latter has other doctrines such as praying to saints, purgatory, worshipping Mary, etc. 

2.  The pope

The Catholics consider the pope Christ’s Vicar(substitute), which makes his teachings infallible and binding upon all believers. On the other hand, protestants don’t believe that any human being is infallible; they only believe in Jesus Christ as the head of the church.

3. How to find salvation

Protestants believe that the only way to find salvation is by faith alone. You’re saved by accepting you’ve fallen short of God’s glory and repenting.  On the other hand, Catholics believe followers must do other meritorious works to be saved besides living by the scripture. 

4. Life after death

Catholics and protestants believe that all non-believers will spend their eternity in hell. However, there is a difference in what happens to believers. Protestants believe that since they’re justified by faith in Christ when they die, they go straight to heaven and stay in the presence of God. On the other hand, Catholics believe in purgatory, which is a place where temporal punishment happens, to pay for transgressions fully. 

What are the denominations within the Protestant church? (What divides them?)

Here are the most popular protestant denominations:

• Anabaptist. They don’t believe in the baptism of infants and require baptismal candidates to confess their sins and proclaim their faith.
• Anglican. They are a combination of catholic and protestant. For example, they claim apostolic succession (catholic) and reject the pope’s authority (protestant).
• Baptist. They emphasize baptism on confession, and their baptism involves being fully immersed in water. Infants are “dedicated” in a ceremony and baptized when they’re of age to profess their faith.
• Lutheran. Their faith can be summed up in three phrases; faith alone, grace alone, and scripture alone. They are the oldest denomination to break off from the catholic church.
• Methodist. They believe in actualizing their faith in their community. They live by three simple rules: “Do good. Do no harm. Stay in love with God.”
• Congregational. The congregational church has no creed. They believe everyone has the freedom to read and interpret the scripture for themselves.
• Quakers. Quakers live simple lives, and truth and sincerity are essential concepts in their faith. They reject elaborate religious ceremonies and have no official clergy. Quakers also believe in equality for men and women.
• Pentecostal. Pentecostalism emphasizes the works and power of the holy spirit to experience the direct presence of God. They believe faith is experimental and can’t be found through ritual or thinking.

As a protestant, narrowing down all the denominations and following one can be very challenging. The main thing distinguishing you from other believers is how you interpret the scripture. Choose the denomination that shares the rituals that are relevant to you.

What is the easiest way to find a protestant congregation that I like best?

If you’re worried about getting the right protestant congregation, here are some tips that may help:

• Choose a church that supports their community to grow and experience life
• Ensure the church has systems that empower members and allow them to participate in the ministry work.
• Find a church that has the transparency in its projects and visions.
• Find a congregation that shares your denomination
• Pray for guidance on where God wants you to serve
• Find a congregation that follows a dress code you’re comfortable with

How to fit into the community and make friends in a protestant congregation?

Settling into a new congregation can take time and limit how much you’d like to contribute to the church. Here are some tips to help fasten the process:

• Join a bible study to learn more about the scripture; in the process, you’re likely to meet people with similar interests.
• Volunteer in church activities like teaching Sunday school.
• Make an effort to introduce yourself to a new congregation member every week.
• Start with a smile before talking to people to make them feel welcome.
• Ask people about their life – people love talking about themselves.
• Join small social church groups that meet at home.
• Join online church communities

How can Church.org help

If you’re looking for a fast way to find a protestant church near you, Church.org can help you. Our website has a database of more than 100000 churches. By simply entering the details or specifications of the church you’re looking for, we get you a church that supports your denomination and its distinctive.

Church.org also welcomes churches to host online services and classes, make announcements, and share stories and prayer requests. You can learn through the church sermons and classes we share on our platform and grow together with other believers.

Lastly, our site is safe and secure, and we don’t exploit our user’s data by selling their data.