This is the time of year with a lot of hope.
We have hope that our hockey team will have a successful year. No matter the year(s) we’ve endured as a fan, a new season always represents the possibility of change.
We have hope for our children as they enter into a new school. We pray that they will make godly choices, achieve their scholastic potential and make good friends.
We have the reminder of Thanksgiving, which forces us to recall the good in our life. In doing so, we see the hope that God has for us, but recognizing what He has done already.
One of the things easy for a church to forget is that we are the dealers of hope in our community. We are the people of hope: hope for life with God. It is our commission from Jesus to spread the Good News.
Every Sunday morning someone arrives at our church doors, walks down our intimidating staircase, longing to find something. Perhaps they’ve been at the church a while and are going through a miserable time. Maybe they’ve never been to any church, and this God thing is a last ditch effort at turning around a tough life. Likely there is the odd person who comes unsure of what and why they seek, but they are in our sanctuary none-the-less. Often there is a new family looking for a church community. They know and understand church and their faith, and are merely wondering if they can journey with us.
No matter the scenario, they desire something that they feel is lacking in their life.
Which is why our role on Sunday mornings is so vital. There really should never be such a thing as ‘going through the motions’ at church. Because likely the person next to you, or across the lobby, isn’t spiritual apathetic. They are searching and wondering. They are looking for God. They are looking for community. They are looking for a church.
This and every Sunday, try to remember this: we are the ones who must tell and demonstrate the hope of Jesus. Someone else is counting on it.
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