During my childhood, our family attended a traditional Pentecostal church. In this tradition, members would participate in different ways during services. There were times when individuals were invited to share an incident from their week illustrating God’s goodness or an answer to prayer. More senior members would start the service with prayer.
Every now and then my dad would be expected to do one or the other. He is a quiet, introverted person and did not enjoy speaking or praying before a group of people. However, my mother and most other people always got what they wanted from him. So, to alleviate the stress of this unnatural act, he would plan his words. And since he did not do it often, it ended up being the same words every time.
As a result of this repetition, I can still remember what he would say or pray to this day. And I became a great believer in the power of repetition… 😊
His favourite story I will be keeping for another day, but he always started his prayer with these words.
Somewhere during that time, I read Psalm 122 and realised David had copied my dad when he wrote the psalm. They both seemed pretty excited about going to church.I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
Yes, I know you have been told often that you are the church and that the building is just a building. Since I have done church in a golf club, bar, restaurant, tent and under a tree, I tend to agree about the building. Comfortable chairs help. Good sound is great and talented musicians are awesome. A preacher who does not make you cringe or fall asleep is a bonus.
However, even if some of this is not available, I still want to say to you: Let’s go to church!
I long for the beauty of people raising their hands and hearts in worship. The privilege of standing next to a brother who has a future because of the same grace that gave me one. The joy of God’s Word stirring me deep within and lifting me higher towards better.
No podcast has had the same impact on me. No blog has touched me as deeply. And no playlist has lifted me to sing along in quite the same way. Nothing replaces real people before a real God.
There is no place quite like the place where God’s children gather in his name. There is such a place near you, and I hope I bring joy to your heart today with this reminder. There is a Sunday in the near future, and I hope you will take me up on this invitation.
Come! Let’s go to church!
80% of people in church today are there because somebody invited them. 68% of unchurched people claim they will accept the invitation if someone were to invite them. Only about 20% of people going to the church this weekend will invite a friend to join them.
Come! Let’s go to church! And let’s invite a friend.
Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. (1Co 1:21 MSG)I pray that your heart will be drawn to the joy found in gathering with people (just like you) in his name.
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It is very helpful to access the FAQ folder whenever you are struggling with something. Very often you will find that you are not alone in struggling to understand something. And understanding the questions on somebody’s heart will give you great insight into who that person is, especially if you are intent on a relationship with that person. Knowing the questions God frequently asks will help you in many ways.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
This post was previously published here
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