I love Sunday morning. As a pastor I thoroughly enjoy preaching the Word of God, praising God through corporate worship (singing), and fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. It is clear in Scripture that gathering together as the church is important for our overall spiritual health. With that said, how can we make gathering with our church family the best possible experience for us and others? Here are eight suggestions:
ONE: As Pastor Dean Inserra likes to say frequently, “Sunday morning church is a Saturday night decision.” Don’t wait till Sunday morning to make the commitment to go to church. Determine ahead of time that the best way to spend your Sunday morning is by going to church and worshipping God with your brothers and sisters in Christ. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” -Hebrews 10:24-25
TWO: Before you show up on Sunday morning pray that the Holy Spirit is at work in a powerful way during the worship service. Charles Spurgeon is the one who said, “Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence.” Prayer will not only make a difference in how others are impacted by the church service it will also prepare your heart for what God wants to do.
THREE: Show up a little early. Being late to church causes us to feel rushed and grumpy. Definitely not ideal when you want to experience the power of the Spirit in your life.
FOUR: Be on the look out for new people at church on Sunday morning and go out of your way to make them feel welcome. Say hello. Invite them to sit with you. Get crazy and invite guests out to lunch after church!
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FIVE: Sing loud and from your heart! You are going to be singing about the most amazing truths in all the world (Jesus, the cross, grace, forgiveness). People get loud and emotional at sporting events, why not at church? We have so much to be thankful for as believers in the Jesus Christ.
SIX: At the end of each sermon ask God what he wants to say to you through the proclamation of the Word. We run the serious risk of wasting our time if we fail to ask God what he wants to say to us and how we should respond after each sermon. Can you even imagine how powerful it would be in your life if every Sunday you were changing your life based on what you sensed God was telling you? “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” -James 1:22
SEVEN: Moms and dads, let’s model for our kids the joy of gathering with our church family. Do our children see in our lives how much we love worshipping with other brothers and sisters on Sunday? If there is a lack of joy in our lives about gathering with our church family let’s ask God to change our hearts. “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!” -Psalm 122:1
EIGHT: Invite friends, neighbors, and colleagues to church. Research has shown that many people would actually attend church if someone they know personally invited them. I know, we are called to live as missionaries in everyday life. But that truth should not keep us from inviting people we know and care about to join us for church.
MichaelWallenmeyer.com 