No one is ever charged a fee to enter the church’s doors for a regular weekly worship service or any of the core ministries it offers. Instead, it’s a gift to all who seek a deeper walk with God.
As Christians mature, many give sacrificially so the ministry can continue to change lives, with no strings attached. The prayer is a maturing faith, but the love and investment are unconditional.
That is a beautiful reflection of God’s unconditional love, and the Church is the institution that carries that mission.
Reflection / Action: Express gratitude to God for all the things your church does, seeking nothing in return and asking Him to multiply the impact according to His will and purposes.
2. A Single Act of Kindness in Jesus’ Name Resonates With All of Heaven.
Few things carry more power or touch hearts more deeply than a simple act of kindness. Your church is designed to multiply these thousands of times over.
The smallest, including unseen, acts of kindness align with the heart of Heaven. God multiplies the eternal impact of these acts of kindness when done according to His purpose and plan.
They truly carry the Gospel in a powerful way.
When the people of your church come together in a unified force to engage larger endeavors in the community, these acts of love and compassion make it possible for the world at large to see the hand and heart of God.
Reflection / Action: Are acts of kindness, small and large, deeply embedded in the culture of your church? What recent examples come to mind?
3. The Truth of the Gospel Has the Power to Break Anyone out of Captivity.
So much today holds the people we love and serve captive. Things like worry, fear, anxiety, addiction, pride, anger, greed, and the list goes on.
The heightened levels of sustained stress we experience amplify these conditions that can take our minds and emotions into captivity and prevent us from living the lives God intends for us.
Further, in a time when it’s increasingly difficult to know who to believe or trust, we can always count on the truth in the Word of God. This casts no shadow on any specific person or idea but elevates the truth and promises of Scripture.
God’s Word is a powerful “true north” gift to the Church, a gift that the Church freely offers to anyone who will listen and seeks a more meaningful life.
Reflection / Action: Take a moment to thank God and pray for the pastoral leaders who faithfully communicate the truth of Scripture to your church. Further, consider if there is any way to elevate this gift of truth you have to offer.
4. The Church Is a Space for Peace, Quiet, and Reflection in an Otherwise 100mph Society.
As I talk with church leaders and those who attend church, more and more people are craving a way to slow down, reflect, and find peace in their daily lives. This is a tremendous and sometimes underplayed gift the church has to offer.
I’m sensing a little conviction as I write this because so many churches, including mine, also move at a very high pace. But candidly, sometimes that’s necessary to keep up with culture enough to engage it.
