The Sunday Morning Missionary Part 1

The Sunday Morning Missionary

When I go to Wal-Mart I have a purpose in mind. I know what I want and I want nothing more than to get in and get out. When my wife goes to Wal-Mart, she has a purpose in mind also. Her purpose usually includes checking out different outfits, or household items, or anything else between the front door and the original reason she went in the store. In both cases, our purpose for going to Wal-Mart is almost always self-centered.  For a large percentage of the people in our context, attending church gatherings is no different than going to Wal-Mart. They go in with one underlying self-centered motive.

Living in a culture and context in which attending church is often approached in the same way we shop at a store, we have to be more intentional about our own motives to attend church. And, we have to be prepared to equip other Christians to check their own motives.

Is there value in attending church? Yes. Is it important for Christians to attend? Yes. Can you ask the question, “What’s in it for me and my family?” Yes, you should be able to see personal value in your participation. The church should strive to serve you and your family, equipping you for the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-12) But, being a part of the church’s worship gathering is much different than going to Wal-Mart taking what you want, leaving what you don’t, all the while doing what you can to not interfere with the other shoppers.

Why do you go to church on Sunday morning? Have you ever really stopped and thought about that? For some that attend, they are living up to social stigmas. Places like this are fewer and farther between, but they do exist.  For some, it’s just what we have always done. For others, it is about relationships, learning the Bible, or worship. No matter who you are, if you attend church, something motivates you to set aside the time, to take the trouble to go. But do you ever, have you ever, stopped to ask yourself that one simple question; Why?

There is only one person that can discern your motives. But, over the next few weeks, through this series of short posts, I hope to help you do that. In addition, I hope to help you understand the purpose of the worship gathering so that as you come, you can come prepared to leave behind the Wal-Mart way, and participate as Sunday Morning Missionaries alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ as we worship Jesus, minister to one another for His glory and strive to lead others to worship Him along with us.

One Singular Focus, One Singular Purpose

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

Paul wrote this, originally addressing questions the Corinthian church had about eating food sacrificed to idols. But, don’t miss the key phrase that applies this to every action of the Christian life. Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. We can work, rest, eat, celebrate, love spouses, and raise children, dance, and sing all to glorify God.  Every act of our Christian lives can be an act of worship, if done with the intent of attributing glory and gratitude to God. But there is something special about God’s people gathering to do this together.

Christ motivated, Spirit-influenced, God-centered worship is the one singular reason behind our Sunday morning gathering. We provide drinks and refreshments to extend hospitality in Jesus’ name. We think through the songs that will be sung, the theological perspectives they present, and even the style in which they are played in order to serve the church to God’s glory. Sermons are prepared with the intention of equipping believers for life and to draw attention to the majesty and beauty of our Creator and Savior. We participate in Communion every week, because we desire to make much of Jesus and the work He did to save us. Even the order of events is considered as we strive to facilitate the church body to participate in this time, in which, all other things are set aside that together we can praise our God and we can live in awe of Him.

No matter how good our intentions are, we can’t change the motives of those participating. Worship extends from the heart of each individual. Therefore, we can facilitate, but cannot force worship. That becomes the responsibility of each believer, and the very reason we should check our own hearts and examine our motives. Are we going to church to satisfy some idol, or to worship the one true and living God?