Why not contact a leader in your church and volunteer for a new ministry in the Fall? It’s the most strategic time of the year to store up treasure in Heaven where moth and rust don’t destroy, and where thieves don’t break in and steal (Matt 6:19-21).
Each Sunday that God’s people gather is a gift from God. Every Sunday is equally a treasure. Those weeks when you observe the ordinances of baptism or the Lord’s Supper are special jewels.
But, some Sunday’s are more strategic than others in terms of the flow of church life.
Consider the calendar for the next twelve months, which I did today. July 4, 2010 is a Sunday. While I trust that believers will make it a priority to be in church, I doubt that many pastors will begin new preaching series on 7/4/2010. Not a lot of new ministries will kick off on the 4th of July next year.
“So,” you ask me, “What are the especially strategic Sunday’s?”
Well—there are several, but none more strategic than the first Sunday after Labor Day weekend. This year it is 9/13/2009. For several reasons including summer travel, the beginning of the school year, and the time of the year when many settle in after a move this is when things kick off.
Which is to say, early August would be a strategic time to consider how you might invest your life at your local church. Would you – –
- Volunteer to be a greeter on 9/13/2009? Part of what you can put in the offering plate that first week in September could be a warm smile and a firm smile.
- Sign up for the nursery? Are you someone who can rock a baby, pray for that baby and his or her parents, and in so doing, store up treasure in Heaven (Matt 6:19-21).
- Invite a new neighbor to attend church with you. “Would you be our guest at church? We would like to invite you over for dinner afterwards?” God used a simple invitation from my first grade music teacher to bring my family to a Christ centered church.
- Join a small group?
- Host a small group?
- Gather a few to pray during your pastor’s sermon?
Why not make a commitment at your church tomorrow? Store up treasure in heaven.
The church is as much God’s vessel for this age, as the ark was for Noah’s.
“The church is as much God’s vessel for this age, as the ark was for Noah’s.”
This statement might as well have been written in flashing neon. This one will stick with me.
God bless all the vessels out there and the pastors who lead them.