6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation
This is written from the perspective of a visitor. Last year, my family and I took the entire month of February away from local ministry and travelled to various congregations, both near and far, and enjoyed some time visiting. We learned much about the attitudes of congregations towards visitors and it is reflected in the words below.
Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you think they are right, get up and change the way your congregation is seen in your community.
Here they are, “6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation”
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“When I visited, you asked me to full out a visitor card, talked about how much you appreciate visitors but no one spoke to me.”
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“I saw no joy in your congregation. As the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no one was smiling and they sang like a funeral. I thought Jesus was a joy not a bore.”
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“I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I thought Christians were people who studied the book not talked about studying the book.”
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“Your services talked about being lights in a dark world, but I never heard of your congregation before today. You said your church has been around for 50+ years and I grew up here and never knew of you.”
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“I felt awkward because I had to sit on the second row because all of your members sat in the back and on the aisle seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”
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“You saw that I had children and no one helped me find a Bible class. There were no signs on the doors to help along the way.”
Just some thoughts,
How Should the Church Handle Unemployment?
“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
(1 Corinthians 12.26-27; ESV)
Our nation is currently holding a 9.1% percent unemployment rate. In addition, there were 0 jobs created in August. (statistic link here) The current jobs bill presented by President Obama is going to be a scandalous and political brick only to weigh down the current job struggles of individuals and families.
In the midst of an unstable economy, how are churches supposed to handle unemployment?
This topic is not an easy one to handle because it becomes highly personal. Many see the money they earn as theirs and no one else’s; whether the government, the church or anyone else. Discussing the distribution of money is a dangerous topic for a minister because is hits at the heart. With the heart in mind, consider the words of Jesus in the sermon on the mount:
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6.19-21; ESV)
The unemployment rate (9.1%) is not just a secular issue to be discussed, but it is a church issue to be acted upon. Church members work in the world and they suffer the same unemployment as those outside of the church. This issue is not something to consider small, but might grow larger over the plight of an unstable economy.
How Should the Church Handle Unemployment?
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Stop Depending (wholly) on the Government – The government is not the dependence of Christians. As many of us know, there is a benefit to being a citizen of the United States, but there are great benefits of being a member of the Lord’s body. We are citizens of a higher country, a country greater than anything this world has to offer. (Philippians 3.20; ESV).
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Prayer – The church needs to be praying before crisis hits our members not just after the crisis has reeked havoc. Christians are to look to God by prayer and supplication in everything (Philippians 4.6; ESV). Realizing that God is truly (not slightly) in control of one’s life, changes the current outlook to one of hope even in the midst of trial. See Hebrews 11 and Romans 8. Let God be your strength in time of trouble (Psalm 28.8, 9; ESV).
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Fast – Fasting has become a religious trend, but it is more than a fad, it is a Biblical lifestyle. I believe Jesus expected his disciples to fast. See Matthew 6.16 where Jesus uses the words “when you fast…” It seems like he is providing an expectation of a lifestyle. Fasting is a action to be encompasses with prayer and focusing on the providence and workings of God. A person who fasts is practicing a spiritual discipline which creates a dependence on God.
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Be a Liberal! – Yes, we need more liberal Christians – liberal giving Christians! (2 Corinthians 8.1-4) The Christians in Macedonia knew their was a concern and they took action on the issue. They stopped talking about the problem and they reached beyond their ability to create an overflow of generosity (2 Corinthians 8.2; ESV). Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are struggling with making house payments, bill payments and other payments because they have lost their jobs. It is time for the members of the church to reach into their pockets and support those who are in need. There are countless examples of the early church reaching to help!
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Realize You’re a Family – Paul writes of the power of the Christian family in 1 Corinthians 12.12-31; ESV. Give an ear to Paul describing the support of having a spiritual family and the bond a Christian family possesses. This bond is one when “one member suffers, all suffer; when one member is honored, all rejoice.” (1 Corinthians 12.26; ESV) In this regard, let use begin united suffering and united rejoicing!
What are your thoughts regarding how the church should handle unemployment?
Just my thoughts,
Building a Great Congregation
Great congregations do not become great by accident, they become great on purpose. Growing congregations do not grow on accident, they grow on purpose. The purpose of great and growing congregations is clearly defined and clearly determined. Each member knows the purpose and gladly shares it with others.
Take a moment and view the PowerPoint below as well as the sermon outline. You may also listen or download the audio using the streaming player below.
Here is a link to the lesson outline: Click here to view in a new window!
Just some thoughts,
The Key To Church Growth
As the clock is about to chime 3:00 am here I sit with my journal. My family rests soundly upstairs underneath blankets on a cool South Carolina morning. My eyes have been opening and shutting throughout the night while my mind races about building a strong congregation by bottling up the oldest formula for church growth. The oldest formula has been the truest and the most stable throughout all generations. While men shuffle to find the newest program, the old formula continues to work. When congregations explode in growth, the old formula holds its weight of pricelessness. Hundreds of thousands of people have experienced this old formula, but still some try to place it on a shelf.
Though all the church growth books a preacher could muster have been placed on a shelf, this formula has stood the test of time. It has outlasted the gospel meeting crowds of the 40’s and 50’s, the bus ministries of the late 70’s and even the direct mailing ministry of the 21st century. I am sure if it can outlast those it will outlast the movements to come. I believe placing our faith into a man made program has taken away our emphasis on the old formula. The creation of ministry motivated and approved seminars have refocused our eyes on the first formula of church growth – YOU!
You are the key factor in church growth! The old formula is You and Christ! Without Christ there is no light to shine and without you letting Him shine, the Father is not glorified (Matthew 5.14-16). While you think it sounds so simple, I am here to tell you it really is. Forget looking at everyone else and consider yourself. Do you make it easy for others to see Christ? Or do we mask him behind a program instead of opening our hearts so He can shine forth in our lives?
I believe Paul understood this powerful formula in Ephesians 4.16…
“…from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (ESV)
Notice Paul’s words about the body, “..when each part is working properly..”; that part is YOU! You are a part of a body which depends on your to fulfill your part (Romans 12.3-8; 1 Corinthians 12.12-31; 1 Peter 4.10-11). The body needs you to fill your role so the body can grow. Notice what happened in the early church when the members found their role in serving – see Acts 6.1-8! When every member filled their role notice the results…
“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6.7; ESV)
Are you ready to find your role and strengthen the body?
Just some thoughts,
Could Church Use One of These?
Many times in talking with preachers the conversation leads to strengthening the congregation and the best way to go about it. While I am not an experienced as some I would like to offer a possibility below. I heard this song in my younger years and recently saw it again on YouTube. I thought this might be a new technique to try.
Could your church use one of these?
Just a thought,
Podcast Feeds
Some of What I am Reading
I use Elegant Themes
