Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! This October message aims to stirring something in you to get you personally excited in the present and future of our church. Listen to someone who expressed excitement about her church:
“I love where I go to church. My family can’t wait for Sunday mornings. Each one of us serves, even my 12-year-old daughter. We faithfully support our church with our time, energy, money and prayers.”
Why should we be excited about West Henrietta Baptist Church? Who comes to church? Our visitors include: People who are looking for a better church; people who are not looking for a church; people who are looking for authentic answers to their questions; people who jump from church to church; and people who are looking for a church to settle for the long haul.
People, including ourselves who come to West Henrietta Baptist Church may be hurting physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually? They may be anxious about certain life issues. They could be frustrated or confused about certain happenings in their life or the community. We should want to help achieve a whole-some worship experience so that others will find it a time of connection and engagement. God has something to say to everyone, especially during worship. Make it your duty to be present for worship, be engaged, be excited and be noticeable to others in worship.
The question is, “How can you demonstrate your commitment to your church; your love for worship; and your devotion to seeing your church grow numerically and spiritually?” I offer the following suggestions.
Finally, it is my prayer that when all is said and done, our worship is all about Jesus. Nothing creates excitement and expectation like continually focusing everything on the One who is worthy of all this excitement, Jesus Christ, himself.
Yours in Christ’s Service
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor
“I love where I go to church. My family can’t wait for Sunday mornings. Each one of us serves, even my 12-year-old daughter. We faithfully support our church with our time, energy, money and prayers.”
Why should we be excited about West Henrietta Baptist Church? Who comes to church? Our visitors include: People who are looking for a better church; people who are not looking for a church; people who are looking for authentic answers to their questions; people who jump from church to church; and people who are looking for a church to settle for the long haul.
People, including ourselves who come to West Henrietta Baptist Church may be hurting physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually? They may be anxious about certain life issues. They could be frustrated or confused about certain happenings in their life or the community. We should want to help achieve a whole-some worship experience so that others will find it a time of connection and engagement. God has something to say to everyone, especially during worship. Make it your duty to be present for worship, be engaged, be excited and be noticeable to others in worship.
The question is, “How can you demonstrate your commitment to your church; your love for worship; and your devotion to seeing your church grow numerically and spiritually?” I offer the following suggestions.
- Bring your family and friends to church with you – The ultimate measurement to determine if you are excited to attend your church is to bring your family and friends when they are available. The point is not to force or course them, but to encourage or entreat them to join you.
- Praise in worship to God is very essential-Throughout the Bible, the commands to “praise the Lord” are too numerous to mention. Angels and the heavenly hosts are commanded to praise the Lord [Psalm 89:5; 103:20; 148:2]. All inhabitants of the earth are instructed to praise the Lord [Psalm 138:4; Romans 15:11]. We can praise Him with singing [Isaiah 12:5; Psalm 9:11], with shouting [Psalm 33:1; 98:4], with the dance [Psalm 150:4] and with musical instruments [1 Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 108:2; 150:3- 5]. There is that old saying, “when the praises go up – the blessings come down” because this is a profound life giving truth for the people of God.
- Your response to the Music Ministry matters– I have been preaching on Worship for the past 4 weeks. There is life in the worship. Worship should be a celebration of the fact that we are alive. We ought to respond with praise, clapping of hands, and shouts accompanied by music.
- Your response to the Scriptures in worship matters-- Scripture is inherently transformative: Scripture is described as “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12), God’s Word slices through our lives, changing us. Scriptures are meant to be acted on, not just heard (James 1:22), it corrects and challenges us (2 Timothy 3:16). Throughout Scripture, we see the power of God’s Word on dis-play. He calls for light—verbally—and there is light (Genesis 1:3). It lights the way ahead of us (Psalm 119:105). As sure as rain falling and snow melting, God’s powerful Word achieves its purr-pose (Isaiah 55:11) (Petersen, Randy, ABS News).
- Your response to the sermons matters– In that early church, people sat at the disciples’ feet and were filled with a sense of awe. Do you experience a sense of awe in worship? At the conclusion of each message, I often give worshippers a chance to respond to the claims of Christ on their life. It is my prayer that each week, significant, heartfelt, and deep life change takes place. I welcome your response to my messages. I want to hear from you about what I need to do more and less in the pulpit.
Finally, it is my prayer that when all is said and done, our worship is all about Jesus. Nothing creates excitement and expectation like continually focusing everything on the One who is worthy of all this excitement, Jesus Christ, himself.
Yours in Christ’s Service
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor
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