Sunday Expectations

(This post is based on thoughts that are directly and indirectly connected to my last post on koinonia.)

Do you get annoyed when you order something at a restaurant and the waiter says, "Oh, we're out of that today"? Or when you are at a store and you wait and wait for service, and finally someone comes to help you?

We have an expectation of a certain quality of service when we enter an establishment, whether it is a restaurant, grocery store, or nail parlor, but (time for a heart check) do we have those same expectations when we enter our church building on Sundays?

Ask yourself these questions honestly:

-Would I be grumpy if there were no donuts and coffee at church?

-Would I complain if the music was different or someone other than the usual preacher gave the sermon?

-Would I be angry if there was no children's or youth program?

-Would I leave if the chairs were hard or the temperature too hot or cold?

Sadly, here in the United States, many church-goers (and I say church-goers because this includes those who go to church out of habit and those who are Christ-followers) have lived in comfort for so long that sometimes they treat our Sunday mornings like they would a trip to a restaurant. They go there expecting to be served and they have come to expect all churches to provide certain services. And if they don't receive it at one church, they simply go to another.

We, as Christ-followers, must remember to be gracious. If I can be gracious when I see a waiter running ragged to fill in for a sick co-worker, or when a store or restaurant is out of stock on an item, then I can certainly be even more gracious when it comes to Sunday mornings. If I simply remind myself that a church is NOT a place of business, then my expectations will also change. Why do we gather with other Christians? To serve one another, with the gifts that God has given us. It's our opportunity to care for people whom we don't see everyday. It's our chance to invite people into our family. It's koinonia.

So, what should we expect from our Sunday (or Saturday) worship time?

1) The church is full of broken people, all in need of a Savior. Though a person may look happy and healthy on the outside, his/her inside may be crying and looking for comfort. Go to church expecting to be used by God to meet someone's need.

2) The church is served mostly by volunteers. These are people who are giving their time and energy, on their own accord, to help make a Sunday morning service happen. Be grateful for those people (say "Thank you!" to the one who picks up the donuts every week) and be gracious when something happens and that person is not there to fulfill his/her role. Go to church expecting to serve those who are serving you!

3) Expect things to be different from week to week. The Church is not static, nor is it confined to a building. Missions trips, visitations, and pastors speaking at other churches are all a part of a healthy church body. If you are in search of a new church, I recommend visiting a church more than once to get a better feel for the life of that church body.

4) Expect God's spirit to fill the place with warmth and love whether or not there are coffee and donuts, a five-piece band, cushy chairs, or a top-notch, state-of-the-art childcare program. If you visit a church that has all of the above but is lacking in strong, Biblical teaching or a welcoming spirit, "all of the above" CANNOT fill that hole (and neither is it really a church then… it is a childcare facility that offers free food, live music, and a place to kick back.)