FAQs About Going to Church
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Why should I go to church?
Being part of a church is being part of a family. The heart of God is that we be his sons and daughters. When we gather on a Sunday morning, we are coming together to give honor to our Father, God to learn what he has to say to us, and to take joy in being together with his people.
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What's the point of a Sunday service?
Attending a Sunday service is a key experience for Christian believers. It’s the only time of the week where we are in the same place at the same time for the same purpose. It’s a place where we can be together with others who share the same Christian journey that we’re on.
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If I read the Bible, why go to church?
The Bible is the foundation of our faith. Through it, God reveals himself to all people. Yet, the true Christian experience comes through relationship, through service, and through love. The Bible teaches how to do these things, church is where we get to experience them.
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What does a Sunday service look like?
Different denominations and churches deliver services differently. In most cases, there will be sort of musical worship component, a time for prayer or meditation, as well as a teaching from a pastor. At Lifeline, our services run about 90 minutes, beginning with about four songs (worship), followed by a sermon (teaching) from one of our pastors.
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What is a sermon?
A sermon is a kind of spiritual teaching that is presented to a gathering of people at church. Typically, a sermon includes reading from the Bible, explanation of spiritual truths, some kind of relevant illustration, and a call to respond for the listeners. Sermons are shared by a pastor to invite listeners to engage with God’s plans and intentions.
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How do I prepare for church?
At Lifeline, you are invited to come however prepared you feel. You don’t need to have a Bible, but you can bring one if you have one. Most people at Lifeline dress pretty casual (though some people do like to use Sundays as their excuse to dress up). You can pick a seat wherever you’d like, and enjoy a free coffee while you wait for service to start.
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Does Lifeline have a live stream?
Every week, we record the sermon from our Sunday morning service and uploaded the audio to our YouTube channel. We believe that Christian community happens best when people get together in real life. The best way to experience a Sunday service is by sharing it with others. If you would like to learn about our style and culture, you can listen to any of our recent sermons or come and visit us on on a Sunday morning.
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Is Lifeline part of a denomination?
Lifeline is part of a ministry fellowship of churches called The Assemblies of God. We are aligned in doctrine and in relationship with thousands of churches nationwide and our ministers are credentialed by a unified standard held between these churches. We operate as a sovereign church which allows us to meet the specific needs and provide unique ministry for our local community.
FAQs about Life Groups
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What is the point of a Life Group?
Life Groups are small groups (5-12 people) to share in discussion-based learning, prayer, and relational connection. It’s a ministry outlet for where you can experience Christian discipleship at it’s best—where people work through God’s truths together. It’s a life-on-life style of learning that God hopes for his people. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)
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How do I choose a Life Group to join?
There aren’t any big rules to follow in joining a group. We don’t have any criteria for who goes to which group. Mostly, people go to the group where their friends go, or to a group that works with their schedule. If you know someone who’s connected to a Life Group, you might start there. Or if you’d like, we can help you meet a leader.
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Can I change groups after I join one?
Group membership isn’t official, so you can change whenever you need to. The more you stay with a group, the more connected the group will be, so we hope that people stay with a group if they’re able to. But, we do get that sometimes, it’s necessary for people to make a change, and that’s okay. Fortunately, there are lots of groups to connect with at Lifeline.
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Do Life Groups have childcare?
The Life Groups that provide childcare are the groups that meet during our mid-week children’s ministry (Quest Kids) on Wednesday nights. We have groups that meet on campus at Lifeline so you can stay on property together with them. Groups that meet on other days tend to decide for themselves how they’d like to handle childcare
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Can I join a group at any time?
Groups are always open for new people. They don’t have a start or end time and they don’t have requirements to join. In fact, you can start going to a Life Group before you visit a Sunday service if you’d like. Most Lifeline Life Groups meet year-round with only a couple breaks around holidays. Otherwise, you can jump right in as soon as you’re ready!
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How do I join a Life Group?
You can join a Life Group by filling out an interest form on our website. We can connect you with a leader that we think will be a good fit for you in your season of life and situation. Or if you’d prefer, you are welcome to try one on your own or tag along with a friend to their group. Whatever way works best for you to connect, we’re here to support you.
FAQs about Tithes and Offerings
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Why should I give to the church?
When the people of God give to the church they are part of, it sustains the work and ministry they share in. The facilities, the staff, and the programs that the church provides are all funded by the congregation. At Lifeline 100% of our funding comes from our local congregation. And 100% of congregation gifts are governed by Lifeline. When you give, you are investing in the work of God’s Kingdom in our own community.
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How much should I give to the church?
Give as much as you are able to give and have joy about it. In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul says that God loves a cheerful giver. In the Old Testament, we see that God establishes the tithe (10% of what’s earned). This is a common practice for giving for modern believers as well. Many people don’t have the ability to start giving at 10% of their income. For some, it’s good to begin at 3% and go from there. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
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How often should I give to the church?
There are no rules to how often someone should give. Some people like to give weekly, others prefer to give monthly, and others prefer to give when they receive their pay. Perhaps the most important part about when to give is how to be faithful in your giving. The faithfulness of a giver creates long-term health and stability for the ministry they get to share in.
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What do my tithes and offerings pay for?
When you give, your gifts help fund the daily expenses of the ministry. Your financial contribution meets the normal expenses of running an organization: facility bills, salaries for staff, outreach programs, service supplies, children’s ministry activities, etc. When the people of a church choose to give to the church, they are acting as investors of the mission they are part of.
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How do I give to the church?
At Lifeline, we have several ways that you can give. You can give with cash or check on a Sunday morning in the offering box or by mail to our address, you can give at anytime using the give link on this website, or you can text to give at (940) 291-9092. You can also choose to setup a recurring gift, either through your bank billpay feature or through our online platform.
FAQs about Big Topics
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Is Lifeline a conservative or progressive church?
Lifeline is first and foremost a Biblical church. That means that our greatest allegiance isn’t to a political party, but to the heart of God. Though there are plenty of people at Lifeline who are devotedly red-minded or blue-minded, we do not align with any particular political agenda. That means that you can be part of this community regardless of your personal political choices. A person’s values are lived out from their identity in Christ.
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What does Lifeline believe about LGBTQ+?
In the Bible, we see how Jesus always engaged people where they were spiritually, socially, and morally. At Lifeline, we believe that God is Creator and therefore the assigner of our identity. When we allow Jesus to bring us into his family, we are embracing the truth that Jesus doesn’t accept us AS we are, but rather WHERE we are, and he loves us too much to leave us there. Wherever you are, you’re invited to be part of a journey with Jesus at Lifeline, one that will reveal the identity he hopes for you.
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Does Lifeline allow support animals?
We recognize that many people are including animals to help work through trauma in their life. At Lifeline, we strive to create an environment that is a place of peace so that people who are working through anxieties can feel at home. We ask that support animals be left at home for church activities; registered service dogs are welcome. We’d love to make your visit as stress-free as possible. If you’ll reach out to us in advance, we’d be happy to address any concerns.
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How does Lifeline address racial diversity?
At Lifeline, we strive to be a community where diversity can thrive. We work hard to create a culture where all people are empowered to minister in the full calling God has for them. We don’t align with any contemporary movement or cause, yet we do recognize that people of diverse race and heritage possess an equally diverse social experience and history. The more we can allow for diversity in our church and hearts, the more we will allow God to reveal his compassion in and through us.
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What does Lifeline say about women in leadership?
We believe that in the body of Christ, God has affirmed both men and women to lead in his Kingdom. When Jesus commissioned his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, his commission was an assignment not just for the eleven who were present with him, but for all of us who would one day join in his family. At Lifeline, you can expect to encounter both men and women of maturity and wisdom in positions of leadership, teaching, and pastoral care.
FAQs about who goes to Lifeline
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Does Lifeline have ministry for singles?
The ministry at Lifeline is designed to be inclusive for people in all different seasons. Though our ministry does not feature overtly singles-exclusive activities, all of our programs are crafted with single people in mind. If you're single and would like to get started, you won't feel out of place as our Life Groups are gender-specific. Also, we have many other programs like Book Hubs, Mission Trips, and other church-wide social activities that are a natural place for single people to connect.
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Will I fit in at Lifeline if I am divorced?
The love of God is great, and it cannot be limited by a person's marital (or divorce status). That means that when you come to church at Lifeline, you can know that God has something for you. At Lifeline, we celebrate the union of marriage and recognize it as a holy covenant with God. We also recognize that some people have had marriages that haven't worked out like they had hoped. Lifeline is a place where people believe that God's grace and love is generous, regardless of status.
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Will I be judged at Lifeline if I am a smoker?
We believe that if a someone smokes and he or she wants to go to church, they should get to be part of a church. The community of God's people--Church--is one of the most amazing gifts God has given us. Our hope is that you would never feel prevented from sharing in this amazing experience. If you smoke, know that God would rather have you in his community right now than for you to quit before you join in.
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How does Lifeline feel about Tattoos?
There are lots of reasons people like to get tattoos: for love, for friendship, for memories, for passions, or even simply for the love of art. Sometimes tattoos are intended to be public, other times they are very personal. Regardless of a person's intention, these expressions should never prevent someone from seeking and receiving what God has to give. If you have tattoos, whether hidden or overt, we hope that you will come share in the ministry of God with us at Lifeline.
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Is Lifeline a good place for someone who is exploring faith and spirituality?
When you visit Lifeline, we hope you find that everyone you meet started in a different place when they first began to seek God. There is no prerequisite for asking questions about God and there is no expectation that you have things sorted out before you come. We hope you'll find that we are intentional about communicating Bible truths so anyone can engage, no matter where they are on their faith journey.
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At Lifeline, do I need to bring a Bible with me?
If you want to go to church, go to church. If you don't have a Bible, go to church anyway. At our services, we list all our Scripture on projector screens, and many people follow along on their phones. We even have extra Bibles if you want to take one home to keep. At Lifeline, we want to make it as simple as possible for you to encounter the truth of God's word. Whatever works best for you to interact with the Bible, we are on board for that.