The Big Question (Part 1)

Boomers like fancy buildings, Gen Xer's want to be comfortable and transparent, Millennials want to be debt free and a part of the community? The big question is what do you want out of church?

-Do you just want to attend and not be really involved?

-Do you want the very best and are you willing to pay for it?

-Do you want to be a part of something great and make a difference in your community?

-Do you want your children to see genuine Christian behavior?

Notice all of this begins with you. What do you want from a church?

Mark Altrogge wrote:

"Sometimes churches get known for the wrong things. Often it’s a particular emphasis that some or many in the church have. So people in your community may describe your church as “the church that doesn’t vaccinate,” or “the right wing church,” “the homeschooling church,” “the pro-life church,” or “the organic, gluten-free, lactose free, all natural grass-fed free range church.”

I’m not saying that any of these things are inherently good or bad. It’s just that we don’t want our church to be known primarily for these kinds of things. We don’t even want our churches to be known primarily for things like incredible worship or great preaching.

I heard a story of a group of people who visited London in the time of Charles Spurgeon.  First they went to hear a famous preacher in another church. After they heard him they said, “What a preacher!” Then they went to Spurgeon’s church and heard him preach. After listening to Spurgeon they exclaimed “What a Savior!”

That’s how we should want our church to be known for, "Our glorious Savior." Let our community know that we preach Jesus, love Jesus, worship Jesus, and live for Jesus.  You would like your church to be known as a warm, welcoming, caring and loving church. I would hope that when people think of your church they think of Jesus and the changes He can make in their lives.

Pastors definitely want to pursue excellence in their preaching of God’s word for the sake of strengthening God’s people, and proclaiming the Gospel. They also want your worship to be as excellent as possible to encourage you to glorify Jesus with your singing. Yet I don’t want these things to be the first thing that comes to people’s minds when they talk about my church. I hope the first thing that comes to peoples’ minds is what came to mind in those who heard Charles Spurgeon: “What a Savior!”

Church isn't church without Jesus. Is He the center of your church or are you? If things don't go like you want do you just complain, or do you work for change? The big question depends on you!