One thing, I’ve learned from churches of all sizes. My role as a leader is important but churches experience growth and fruitful ministry through committed, motivated and unified members.
A few years ago, I searched for the word “comfort” in a Bible on my computer. In seconds, there were over 60 verses. I printed five pages of encouraging scripture. At a Bible study, each person was given a copy and asked to pick a favorite verse and tell how they received comfort during crisis.
Now comes the moment of truth. It’s one thing to forgive, even to forget. The breakfast and kindness are proof. Up to this point we would have an interesting story of two friends who quarreled and made up: Interesting, but hardly life changing.
I wanted to be the perfect pastor, the perfect Christian, the perfect husband and father and so on. I was frankly more car salesman than preacher: I could be arrogant, cocky and a little difficult to live with. A pastor was someone on a pedestal, and I intended to be worthy of the highest pedestal of all.
Sunday, I placed 21 empty chairs in front of us representing 19 young children and two gifted schoolteachers. Those empty chairs represented real people no longer in school or church or playing sports or teaching a child ever again.
Trinity began her life in a family full of issues and problems, but Trinity had a protector in a loving grandmother who saw what was happening to her and responded. But they were not alone either. Both Trinity and her grandmother were soon surrounded by a loving church and community.
In life we also face job difficulties, family squabbles, financial issues, health concerns and/or emotional trauma. So, you seek out a church for help. Hopefully, you find a loving caring church which gets you to first base. Then the real work begins: teaching, fellowship, sharing & prayer.
Maybe God looks a little like John Houseman, trim, prim and just a little grim. Sitting on his golden throne with his I-Pad. On that screen is your name and your picture. God then adds up the good stuff, then subtracts the bad. And if the total adds up? You’re in: Barely. Then God says: “You get to heaven the old-fashioned way. You earn it.”
The source of our strength, our peace, our comfort, our stability all lies with the amazing grace offered to us through Jesus Christ which is carried out and maintained by God’s church and God’s Holy Spirit. “I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we’re the church together!”
After Jesus death, the disciples were consumed with questions: Why did Jesus have to die? What will happen now? Would they too be arrested, tried, and executed? Somehow, the followers of Jesus needed reassurance. Two had an encounter with Christ that “cut them to the soul.”