When you think of your home congregation, what are some words you would use to describe it?
active, warm, loving, sincere, giving, evangelistic
OR
cold, dead, apathetic, stuck in a rut, cliquish
Part of how your home congregation can be described is directly related to your role in that same congregation. If you are consistently warm and friendly, the congregation is warm and friendly because you help make up the church. If you keep to yourself or just go through the motions, the congregation does, too, because you help make up the church!
You definitely have an effect on the Lord’s church. How the church is seen in your community depends on what you do or don’t do every time you meet with the saints. God can use your efforts to grow His kingdom!
One easy way to make sure you’re doing your part to make the church warm and loving is to be a greeter. Smile and speak to all who come. Have you ever visited a congregation and left shaking your head because no one spoke to you? That should never be said of the Lord’s church!
“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you” (Rom. 16:16).
“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matt. 5:47).
“Greet” appears 59 times in the New Testament. It means “to welcome” and also means “to respect; to be happy about; to embrace.” What an impact we could make if we greeted EVERYONE who comes into the assemblies in that way, visitors and members alike!
“The way we behave toward people indicates what we really believe about God.” –Unknown
Suggestions for the Week:
- If you have a church directory, go through it and see if there some names you’re not as familiar with. Jot them down and make a point to have a real conversation with them the next time you see them.
- Don’t spend all of your “fellowshipping time” with your familiar friends. Step out of your comfort zone and use that time instead to grow in your relationships with others. Look for those who might be overlooked or neglected.
- Spend time in the foyer before and after worship looking for visitors. Greet them warmly.
- If you struggle with remembering names, don’t hesitate to ask again, write it down, or do whatever it takes to help you. Calling someone by name the next time you see them makes them feel special.
- Encourage your children to be greeters. Ask them to go up and talk to three others before they run off to play with their friends. You can assign different ones each week (senior citizens; teachers; elders; teens, people they don’t know, etc.).
- Make a point to speak kindly (sincerely so) to those who are prickly. You might even surprise them with a hug. Who knows? You may be the one who softens them up!
- Create a culture of warmth by asking a different person each week to join you in greeting others.