I’ve noticed that our church’s celebration services typically sees two types of first time guests.
One type of guest is the one who walks about three steps into our atrium and stops dead in his tracks. He stands there looking at everything going on around him. He isn’t just taking it all in; he is debating whether or not to run away! You can almost read his thoughts as he stands there. “What have I gotten myself into? Will I find anyone in this crowd that I know? If not, will I meet anyone that I like? Is there anyone here like me?” Assuming he makes it into the sanctuary, any differences in the worship style from his past leave him feeling unsure of what’s going on. Nobody likes that feeling.
The other type of guest is the one who got invited to one of our community groups first. After several weeks of making friends in a small group setting, he decides to accept the group’s no-pressure invitation to attend a worship service with them. As he enters the atrium, he is surrounded by people he knows and trusts. They have prepared him for what he is going to see. He has been assured that he won’t be put on the spot by anyone nor pressured to speak publically, give money or do anything he doesn’t want to do. He walks in like he owns the place. He thoroughly enjoys the experience and can’t stop talking about what he heard and saw while they have lunch together afterward.
The next time the first type of guest gets invited to church by a neighbor or co-worker he replies, “Thanks, but I’ve been to church. That ain’t for me.” The next time the second type of guest is invited he says, “Sure! I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen this weekend!”
Does your church have small groups? Are they inviting unchurched people to their gatherings? If they are–once trust is formed–are they bringing those folks to your worship services? Small groups and worship services, working in concert, are a powerful partnership for the transformation of lives in Christ.
The early church understood that partnership. Acts 2 tells us they met in large public gatherings and smaller groups in homes. They became a movement that changed the world!
