The church isn’t for us…? 🤔

A truth bomb got shared this past week...

 

In staff meeting this past week, Pastor Aaron shared a HUGE thought with our team that I want to relay to you all. Here it is... "Sundays are not for us. They are for OTHERS!" 

 

Don't get us wrong... we want Sundays at City Church to be GREAT for each person. What we don't want is to create a culture where people come, consume, and go. Our spiritual lives grow when we are focused outward rather than inward.

 

Personally, Sundays are the highlight of my week. I love praising God, experiencing fellowship, and hearing how the Holy Spirit is touching peoples' minds and hearts. At the same time, I often leave feeling bummed when I see a person who sat by themselves and left without making a meaningful conversation.

 

Seeing so many new folks streaming through the doors of City Church these days is beautiful. The reality is that if we are not intentional to connect with them, to connect them to one another, and then to connect them into ministry, they probably won't stick around long. Even if they never say it, people are screaming internally to be noticed, talked to, and shown there is a place for them here. Luke 15:6-7 tells us that God rejoices more over a single lost sheep becoming found than over 99 who never left the fold.

 

What if God wanted to use you to help a lost person become found (through a simple conversation)? Some of you might be thinking: "Talking to new people is the staff's job! I just go here!" I promise you: The staff are doing a lot and we can only connect with a few people each on a given Sunday. In light of the hundreds that come every week, that's only drops in the bucket. So how do we reach the rest? YOU! Never before has there been such a great need in our church for the body of Christ to rise up and meet the needs. And right now it's a simple need: just go talk to some people!

 

I have two requests for everyone who calls City Church home, even if you've only been coming a short time.

 

1. Strike up a conversation with at least one person you don't know. Preferably someone who looks like they're sitting alone or a couple who you haven't met. Maybe even swap numbers! Who knows... a friendship might ensue.
2. Don't be in a rush to run or to end the conversation. In other words... LINGER a bit!

 

To linger requires pushing the pause button on our lives to make the needs of others a priority. It's never easy but it's how Jesus lived. Jesus lived for others, He was interruptible, and He made Himself available. Let's KEEP being like Jesus in this regard. Let's CONTINUE to be those outward-focused Christians the Lord designed us to be!

 

Pastor Kyle