How to make someone feel at home!

Where do you feel so welcome that you can just be yourself? Who is always glad to see you regardless of how or when you show up? OK, from the picture, you can tell that I think dogs are among those who form the most Christ-like welcoming committee anywhere. How can we welcome the community into our fellowship like that?

There are three areas of concentration the session and I have identified for 2010 – attendance, Sunday school, and support and growth of the youth program.

We want all of our areas to have the same welcoming effect you would experience if these two welcomed you home each time you arrived. Imagine feeling that accepted.

To address these three areas we are going to do four things.

1.      We are going to get up and get moving. Colossians 1:28 tells us our job. We proclaim him so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. That is our goal. We can’t wait for them to come to us. Growth and discipleship are not optional. Each week we will find some practical way to put the lesson into practice, beginning today.

2.      We will become students of the Scriptures. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In other words, we cannot pull of #1 unless we equip ourselves by doing this second one. We will actively use Scriptural principles in every aspect of church life. I know that sounds like something that would be a “no brainer,” but I think we often take that for granted rather than actively pursue it.

3.      We will “own” our church program. David Bish says, Church isn’t something you go to, it’s who you are!” The Church is not the building. The Church is you and me. We DO church. This is our church. It is our ministry, not the ministry of the session, the pastor, or a committee.

4.      We are the pastors to the local community. Matthew 5:14 ff says You are the light of the world. . .let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. We are called to be followers of Christ. However, we are also called to be leaders in ministry. You began this with your efforts to raise money for Helping Hands last week. May our ministry efforts reach far beyond our physical grasp!

Pastor Craig