I know that some of you are not all on board with the spiritual gifts series and push. I get it! I am hoping you will see that understanding your spiritual gifts and actually using them are going to be the driving force between seeing MABC actually grow and thrive and not just exist.
You see, the early church didn’t care much about attendance. They were concerned with ENGAGEMENT! Engagement is emotional involvement or commitment to something. People get passionate about things they are involved in such as a hobby or a sports team. Football fans are passionate about their team. Fans will show up in sub-freezing weather, tailgate for hours and then sit for three hours or more in the cold to cheer on their team. They will spend hundreds of dollars on tickets and merchandise because they are passionate and engaged. They are not just spectators but they cheer when their team scores or makes a great play. They moan in agony when things aren’t going their way. They don’t just go and sit for an hour and then leave. They are invested and engaged.
We are not ever going to be an attractional church where people will come because we have a flashy band or the latest and greatest video boards and cool graphics. We aren’t going to have camels and a petting zoo at Christmas. I know of a megachurch in Wichita that actually built “camel doors” into their church design just for Christmas! We aren’t going to have advertising on TV. Our livestream right now is not a multi-camera production that people are going to be “wow, you gotta watch this church’s service!’ Those are just the cold hard facts.
We are a church that will need to make an impact in our neighborhood by engaging community and the people in our community. We need to focus on using our gifts in a few ways. One way is to benefit those already here by helping them grow in the Lord and become engaged followers. We also use our gifts to create an environment that is welcoming and comfortable to those who happen to visit. Another way is to use them to reach those who aren’t here now or don’t know Jesus. We are planning some events to serve community and engage our neighbors. Our centennial celebration will not just be a celebration for us but an opportunity to engage our neighbors. Hopefully you will plan on sticking around on March 23 to visit with our teams about where you can engage.
This is not just about enlarging our attendance but to engage people so that they may see the goodness of God – his compassion, mercy and love (1 Peter 2:9). People who use their gifts and are passionate about their church are “attractional” in and of themselves. We don’t just want people to attend – that includes you – but we want them to be engaged by becoming followers of Jesus. Culture is shifting and looking for community. Younger people are especially interested in being a part of something that is impactful in community. In the early church, the people were engaged…daily…not just for an hour on Sunday. You are the body of Christ and are important in helping the body grow. If a child was not growing, we would be concerned and do everything we can – passionately – about helping the child grow. Let’s be that passionate about helping the body of Christ grow and trusting that the Lord will help us to grow in return if we are obedient to the Great Commission. That’s how we ensure another hundred years of MABC.
Let’s be an engaged people passionate about showing the goodness of Jesus to those that need to know about him. Let’s be passionate and engaged about finding those that need to know about Jesus and his desire for them to his followers!
Have a great week! If you haven’t done your inventory, please take the time to do so. I believe that gifting evolves with time and spiritual maturity. I also believe God pulls some of your lesser gifts to the forefront depending on your place in the body at any given time.
Pastor Rick
But you man of God, flee from all of this and pursue righteousness,
