Why do we come to church?

[ayin jade]

 

 

they have good coffee. . .

and donuts.

 

 

Both of which are examples of things a church group does to try to entice people into their doors.  Along with trying to find feel good music, shorter preaching time, etc. And yes, I do know your adding humor here.  

 

 

Our church does it (coffee and donuts) to encourage folks to fellowship and get to know one another, to build relationships within the church body.

[Guest LadyC]

 

 

 

they have good coffee. . .

and donuts.

 

 

Both of which are examples of things a church group does to try to entice people into their doors.  Along with trying to find feel good music, shorter preaching time, etc. And yes, I do know your adding humor here.  

 

 

Our church does it (coffee and donuts) to encourage folks to fellowship and get to know one another, to build relationships within the church body.

 

 

yep, that's probably why ours does it. or maybe because they figure everyone will skip breakfast. who knows. but this is definitely not a drawing card in our church LOL. it's such a tiny little church located in a tiny hole in the wall of a shopping center. very unassuming place and people. i don't think i've ever seen more than 30 people in any given service.

[Guest]

 

 

they have good coffee. . .

and donuts.

 

 

Both of which are examples of things a church group does to try to entice people into their doors.  Along with trying to find feel good music, shorter preaching time, etc. And yes, I do know your adding humor here.  

 

 

Don't forget that the sugar from the donuts and caffeine in the coffee help folks stay awake during the sermon! 

[Guest shiloh357]

The Church "community" provides opportunities for ministry that you don't get on your own or through a group that simply meets around someone's kitchen table.  Church communities are often able to participate in ministry and outreach programs that people who never go to church would not otherwise know existed.

 

One thing I have noticed is that people have consumer mentality about going to church.  Churches have to please our flesh and be what we want them to be otherwise we won't give them the time of day.   They have to meet our checklist of requirements and if they don't have what we want we either don't go at all or we, "shop around."

 

When some Christians visit a church that lacks certain things, these visitors don't see that as an opportunity for ministry, perhaps a position or a need they could fill. They just see it as something the church lacks and so they visit a different church in hopes that another church can sell themselves better.  

 

Some churches need better ministries for single adults or college age students, or maybe they need help with the music program or a senior adult ministry.   But few people join a church to serve;  they join to be served.

[Blue Moon]

I go to church to worship God and to fellowship with other believers. 

 

Ditto. I look forward to going to church. There are like-minded brothers and sisters there. People that need a hug or an encouraging word, and people that love on me. We have a common bond and that's to worship our Wonderful God together. I love the singing, the preaching, the fellowship, etc. They are my family, and I love them, and they love me. No church is perfect, and you know the old saying - "If you found the perfect church, after you joined, it wouldn't be any longer." However, it pleases God for His children to worship together and I desire to please Him. I get blessed beyond measure when I go to church.

[Fez]

There are things people do in my church (as indivduals), which I don't like. One person in particular really irks me. But that is not a reason for me not to go to church. I love going to church, and the small things that make it less than perfect I can live with. Otherwise who would ever go to church?

 

We have coffee after the service (instant, self help), but no donuts. I must try and convince Andy that donuts are an intergral part of the service! Maybe we might even entice a few of our local policemen to attend.....

[Guest LadyC]

The Church "community" provides opportunities for ministry that you don't get on your own or through a group that simply meets around someone's kitchen table.  Church communities are often able to participate in ministry and outreach programs they would not otherwise even know existed.

 

One thing I have noticed is that people have consumer mentality about going to church.  Churches have to please our flesh and be what we want them to be otherwise we won't give them the time of day.   They have to meet our checklist of requirements and if they don't have what we want we either don't go at all or we, "shop around."

 

When some Christians visit a church that lacks certain things, these visitors don't see that as an opportunity for ministry, perhaps a position or a need they could fill. They just see it as something the church lacks and so they visit a different church in hopes that another church can sell themselves better.  

 

Some churches need better ministries for single adults or college age students, or maybe they need help with the music program or a senior adult ministry.   But few people join a church to serve;  they join to be served.

 

that's very true about the consumer mentality. i shopped churches for 3  years before finding this one, although my shopping sprees were sporadic. i did a lot of church from home on my roku. a lot of churches (even very small ones these days) have a roku private channel because they're so easy and relatively inexpensive to create.

 

my own checklist of requirements was kinda vague though. it had to have good, solid bible teaching and be close to my home, had to have a real preacher (not a satellite projection from another location), music that felt like worship and not a rock concert, and it had to feel "like home". that was the hardest part to find... that homey feeling was elusive. ha, finding a church with a real preacher, and one that didn't have the entire stage area draped in black with neon lights and a rock band was also kinda tricky! but that down home feeling of being surrounded by people who really care? that was tough.

 

when we walked in the doors of our current church for the first time, that's exactly what we felt. totally at home. it was an amazing feeling, and it was instant. maybe because when we walked in, there were only a half dozen people in there... the preacher, his wife, his parents, the associate pastor/worship leader and his wife. we were only ten minutes early! the seats did fill up before the end of the first worship song though. still, it's a very small congregation. maybe 30ish. so it's very easy to get to know each other there and feel like a part of a family.

 

the one thing lacking though is community outreach. that's not just this church though. i found over the last three years that very few churches have any real outreach, at least not like i'm used to. but God has met that need for me, anyway, with a ministry that is just around the block from me... a ministry that houses single mothers while they go to school and work. by the time they graduate the program after 1-2 years, they have the skills and training necessary to support their children without government assistance. 

[Guest shiloh357]

I like that you mentioned doctrine first on your list.   Most people today do not choose a church based on sound doctrine.   If more people chose a church based on sound doctrine, Joel Osteen would be selling shoes.

[MorningGlory]

I second Wingnut's post; they ONLY reason I go to church is to worship Him.  Everything else is of no interest to me.  Except the coffee and donuts, of course.   

[ncn]

On one of the first occasion that I started to attend my church  I had a dyskinesia moment ,

my hymn book flew across a few pews and actually clipped another members head. 

The old lady next to me pushed her  hymn book over to me and said, "I think it's safer to share"

 

The church is friendly , the age group is somewhat elderly but they all stick together. 

Peppermints seem to be in every ladies hand bag.

When someone says Amen , there is an old chap that always says in aloud voice to his wife , " Has he finished yet?"

 

Collectively they have an amazing amount of knowledge and I love them to bits.

The group I really love are the young ladies , the youngest being slightly over 73 . 

They organise things , food bank, coffee mornings , fund raising for missions , you name it they do it. 

 

During recent times as my health has declined they have rallied round me.

The blue tint brigade come and have tea  at my house once a week. 

They always bring a home-made Victoria sponge cake.

Mabel and Hilary argue over who will be mother and  pour the tea , Mabel somehow always wins.

(Both of them go out of turn anyway)

The rest of the group try not to spill tea on the carpet and I sit there and smile. 

 

When I was taken to hospital the last time I awoke in the middle of the night to find my pastor sat next to the bed. 

He had been there several hours ,

I told him I'm not about to kick the bucket yet.  so you can go to back to bed where you belong and visit me at home tomorrow.

 

Oh I love them all and they are like a family, what a Blessing.