Preparing For Church

This is from "The Trellis And the Vine", a book by Colin Marshall of Australia (available in the WBF Bookstore). Kelly and I sat near him at the "Together For the Gospel" conference in Louisville last year. He's not only a very gracious man but a very good author as well. His book is a fresh look at what part the congregation plays in the overall ministry of the church. We'll be using it for our Sunday School curriculum this Winter. Here are his tips for Sunday morning;

Before the Service

• Read the passage in advance
• Pray for the gathering
• Greet newcomers (act like you are the host)
• Think strategically about who you should sit with
• Arrive Early

During the Service

• Sing with gusto (even if you can’t sing)
• Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)
• Don’t be distracted
• Listen carefully
• Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect others and discourage preachers)

After the Service

• Connect newcomers with others
• Get newcomers information
• Start a conversation about the sermon
• Ask someone how they became a Christian
• Stay late