Quick introductory question: How well do you know your next door neighbors? And once you think about that, how well do you know the people up and down your street, or on the same floor of your apartment? If you think about those questions and realize that you don't know the people there very well, then I would throw in a follow-up question. What is preventing you from getting to know them?
I suppose we could ask the same thing about the people that we worship with. How well do you know the people who sit in front of you, behind you, or at the other end of the row? How well do you know the people that sit across the aisle from you? And, as you consider those, I'd toss in the same follow-up question. What is preventing you from getting to know them?
I recently heard an interesting thought that came out of some research on churches and how they interact with newer people in their midst. The common thought out there is that people want a friendly church. But the researchers found that this statement isn't exactly accurate. What they discovered is something that I think we all sort of know in our minds and hearts. People don't want others to merely be friendly with them. They want to develop friendships with the people they worship with. They don't want merely a smile and a handshake; they want to get to know God's people as they worship. They want friends, not merely friendliness.
The problem that many new people discover is that the people already there seem to have their fill of friends already. It's pretty true that God's people spend time with the friends that they already have, and I absolutely do not want to discourage that. However, I would also suggest that it is necessary to get to know those who make their way among us. We need to reach to them with the hope that God is sending us a new friend, one with whom we can share our faith and hope, as well as our lives. While this isn't the saving Gospel message, it is often a key factor that keeps people coming so that they can hear the Gospel message, in worship, but also from God's people.
Getting to know you. That's what we are about as we gather together. Yes, there are many reasons we come together as Christians, but one that we shouldn't overlook is how we get to know those who are new among us.
So, this coming Sunday, to whom will you reach out a welcoming hand and say, "I'd like to get to know you"?
I suppose we could ask the same thing about the people that we worship with. How well do you know the people who sit in front of you, behind you, or at the other end of the row? How well do you know the people that sit across the aisle from you? And, as you consider those, I'd toss in the same follow-up question. What is preventing you from getting to know them?
I recently heard an interesting thought that came out of some research on churches and how they interact with newer people in their midst. The common thought out there is that people want a friendly church. But the researchers found that this statement isn't exactly accurate. What they discovered is something that I think we all sort of know in our minds and hearts. People don't want others to merely be friendly with them. They want to develop friendships with the people they worship with. They don't want merely a smile and a handshake; they want to get to know God's people as they worship. They want friends, not merely friendliness.
The problem that many new people discover is that the people already there seem to have their fill of friends already. It's pretty true that God's people spend time with the friends that they already have, and I absolutely do not want to discourage that. However, I would also suggest that it is necessary to get to know those who make their way among us. We need to reach to them with the hope that God is sending us a new friend, one with whom we can share our faith and hope, as well as our lives. While this isn't the saving Gospel message, it is often a key factor that keeps people coming so that they can hear the Gospel message, in worship, but also from God's people.
Getting to know you. That's what we are about as we gather together. Yes, there are many reasons we come together as Christians, but one that we shouldn't overlook is how we get to know those who are new among us.
So, this coming Sunday, to whom will you reach out a welcoming hand and say, "I'd like to get to know you"?
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