How to be a friendly church?
I’ve been thinking about whether guests would consider our church a friendly church. Often times members are quick to say that their church is friendly, but would visitors feel the same way? A friendly greeter at the door may or may not help (Walmart has these too). A time of mutual greeting may or may…
Attending church less often!?
I recently read a post by Carey Nieuwhof on declining church attendance: 10 Reasons Even Committed Church Attenders Are Attending Church Less Often. Although attendance is not the goal or mission of our church, it is an important part of who we are and what we do as a church. The reasons he suggests below…
Time to reconsider how we do church?
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24?-?25) I have heard this verse used to encourage people to go to…
Invited to join in the festivities!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 14:15-24 “Not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” (Luke 14:24) In this parable, those who were first in the invite list make excuses. They are not interested enough in the banquet, their own lives matter more. And so the invite goes out to the needy,…
Two hands…
Do what Jesus says… too radical???
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 14:7-14 “Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” (Luke 14:13?-?14) As Jesus followers, we march by the beat of a different drum. The people we focus on are the weak, the outcasts, those who struggle. We see them as God sees them, as His much…
At home with God in the world!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 90 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 90 “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” (Psalm 90:1) For Moses, life was anything but stable and secure: — born of an enslaved people, adopted by the Pharoah’s daughter — raised in Egyptian wealth, on the run for saving a Hebrew brother — hiding in the…
A great Christ for my need!
Life to the full!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 31-33 “Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode that will not be moved.” (Isaiah 33:20) What would this world look like, if it were paradise? Imagine if there were no violence, hatred, abuse, illness, loneliness, sin. This is the dream that God holds out to Israel through Isaiah. But He holds…