The staff and elders of Good News Church routinely read books about ministry and discuss them. And every once in a while I come across a quote in one of them that makes me think, “I should share this with the whole congregation.” This is one of those times.
This year, the staff has been discussing a book by Mark Dever titled, “Discipling.” Not too long ago we came across this section:
This year, the staff has been discussing a book by Mark Dever titled, “Discipling.” Not too long ago we came across this section:
“If you have ever seen pigs come to a trough for mealtime, you can probably imagine it. Pushing. Shoving. Snorting. Swallowing as much as they can with no thought for others. Here's a funny question worth thinking about for a moment: Is that how you attended church last Sunday?
No, I’m not calling you a pig. But stop and consider: Where did you park? What time did you get to church? Where did you sit? Who did you speak to?
Each one of these decisions provided you with an opportunity to give yourself to others and so join in the work of Christ. Or they provided you with an opportunity to look out for yourself, and do what is best for you. So which was it? Did you consciously strategize how to bless others with each one of those decisions?”
I thought those were good questions (even if the specifics don’t apply to everyone.) The idea is: Do you show up for you? Or for the good of everyone else?
Though I’m not perfect at it, I think I was around 16 years old when I made the switch to thinking that my role at church is to serve the other people who are there. Well, it wasn’t really even “church” where this first happened for me; it was youth group.
Somehow, my youth pastor convinced a group of us to show up for the good of the rest of the youth group instead of ourselves. And it changed us.
For instance, I can remember attending youth group when I was in middle school, and I evaluated the whole thing by what it did for me. If someone said, “How was youth group?” I would respond positively or negatively based on my personal experience, and at that point it mostly had to do with whether or not I liked the game that we played that night.
However, later on, in high school, I joined the greeter team at my youth group and something changed. I started thinking that my job was to make sure other peoplewere happy that they showed up, rather than making sure that I was happy that I showed up. (The funny thing is, I think this switch has actually made me enjoy attending church more.)
Mark Dever’s quote (above) reminded me about how this idea applies to Sunday morning church (and community group as well.)
How do you know if church went well? For many of us it’s stuff like this: “My favorite song was played, so yes, it went well.” Or “I didn’t love the sermon as much as usual, so it wasn’t that great of a Sunday.”
However, for others of us it’s more like this: “I got to teach 20 elementary school kids about David and Goliath.” “I showed up early to serve.” “I invited some friends and saved them seats so they’d feel special.” Or even, “I greeted someone else’s friends that they invited so they’d feel special.”
What a difference it makes both in your life, and in the life of the church, when we make the switch from thinking that you go to church for you, versus believing that you go to church for God, and therefore, for the good of the rest of His people.
Though I’m not perfect at it, I think I was around 16 years old when I made the switch to thinking that my role at church is to serve the other people who are there. Well, it wasn’t really even “church” where this first happened for me; it was youth group.
Somehow, my youth pastor convinced a group of us to show up for the good of the rest of the youth group instead of ourselves. And it changed us.
For instance, I can remember attending youth group when I was in middle school, and I evaluated the whole thing by what it did for me. If someone said, “How was youth group?” I would respond positively or negatively based on my personal experience, and at that point it mostly had to do with whether or not I liked the game that we played that night.
However, later on, in high school, I joined the greeter team at my youth group and something changed. I started thinking that my job was to make sure other peoplewere happy that they showed up, rather than making sure that I was happy that I showed up. (The funny thing is, I think this switch has actually made me enjoy attending church more.)
Mark Dever’s quote (above) reminded me about how this idea applies to Sunday morning church (and community group as well.)
How do you know if church went well? For many of us it’s stuff like this: “My favorite song was played, so yes, it went well.” Or “I didn’t love the sermon as much as usual, so it wasn’t that great of a Sunday.”
However, for others of us it’s more like this: “I got to teach 20 elementary school kids about David and Goliath.” “I showed up early to serve.” “I invited some friends and saved them seats so they’d feel special.” Or even, “I greeted someone else’s friends that they invited so they’d feel special.”
What a difference it makes both in your life, and in the life of the church, when we make the switch from thinking that you go to church for you, versus believing that you go to church for God, and therefore, for the good of the rest of His people.
