The best part of church
Oct 22
It’s not Sunday morning worship. It’s not the preaching or the music. It’s not the bible studies or the classes.
And if that’s all your getting out of your church, you’re not doing it right.
Church isn’t, and never was meant to be, an hour-long program to be attended.
The best part of church is the people, because that’s what the church is.
The best part of my church is that new moms don’t have to cook for the first two weeks after they bring their baby home, because we’ve got a list of people who cook and deliver meals to them.
The best part of my church is the group of guys I can call when the pipes burst, the truck won’t start, or the belt flies off the mower. I don’t know much about that stuff, but I know a bunch of men who do, and they’ve got tools, knowledge, and time to share with me.
The best part of my church is the kids who run through the halls like maniacs on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, some of them barefoot, some of them stopping to hug me, some of them can’t remember my name from one day to the next.
The best part of my church is the ladies who drink tea and go to concerts together. They share recipes, and homemade jelly and pies, and call to check on sick kids, and offer to babysit so date nights can happen.
The best part of my church is families who pack backpacks with sleeping bags, bibles, food, and gloves to give to the homeless in downtown areas.
The best part of my church is families who shop for toys, food, and school supplies to stuff into shoe boxes, buckets, and barrels, then hold hands and pray together for the people overseas who will receive their gifts.
The best part of my church is classes who spend a day making cookie dough to sell so one family can complete their international adoption.
I love my church, and I promise you the best part doesn’t even happen on Sundays.
The sermon series at my church has been about BEING the Church. It has been so good. What I particularly loved yesterday was when our pastor said that we try so hard to get people to come to church when our whole deal should be taking the Church to them.
Sounds like that’s what is happening with your congregation, and that’s a beautiful thing!
When I first found my current church, I was initially brought in by the incredible worship sessions and the impact of the pastor’s messages. But over the last year, I’ve realized that those things only skim the surface of what “church” is. Just like you wrote about here, it’s the people. And for all the God-connection moments on any given Sunday, it’s definitely been the interactions with others on days other than Sunday that keep me coming back each Sunday.
It took me over 24 years to finally find what church should be like, and I’m so grateful!
Love it! And it is so true! This made me tear up knowing that all those things you mentioned are a part of my church family! I love each and every one of these people! Even Jared!! lol We at PBC are so blessed to have a shepherd that leads his flock in such a way that helps us to do things like he mentioned, not only because God tells us to, but because we WANT to! We have a building full of people on Sunday morning that will give you the shirt off their back if you need it. If you are not there one week, someone is calling, emailing, or showing up on your doorstep to see what’s up! We have a whole group of people who have gotten out of the routine of attending services, but we all want to do whatever we can to get them back in to join the fellowship with us! And right there in the very middle of all this activity, as well as surrounding all this activity, is LOVE! God is the one who makes all this happen. He loves us and we love each other, and even more importantly, we love God! (We also love our pastor too, but don’t tell him that because sometimes things like that can go to his head!) <3 We have a very special building that we call our church, filled with very special people, called or members, but in actuality, I think we are all just one huge family who is trying to do what God is telling us to do. Love your neighbor as yourself.
I’m pleased to say I know exactly what you mean. That sounds a lot like my church. That’s what it’s supposed to be like!