“What you win them with is what you win them to.”
This is a quote from a professor of mine in college, in a class on youth ministry. The discussion surrounded the idea of events, give-aways, games, etc. When doing these kinds of things, youth pastors should be careful because whatever it is that ‘won’ the person to coming to church is what they are coming for. If it’s a big give-away, the likelihood the student stays past the give-away is low (unless you’ve ‘won’ them with something else in the meantime). If you ‘won’ them with a specific game, guess what happens when you remove that game? If you’ve ‘won’ them to a certain personality, with a certain kind of event, etc… well, you get the idea.
We’ve been looking at why the church exists and how it should operate. If you’ve missed the first three articles, I’d recommend you start there:
Why the Church (part 2): Worship First
Why the Church (part 3): Rightly Ordered Love
In my first article, I made the claim, “When mission is misplaced, the Church is being mis-used.”
Now, I’d love to envision what it looks like when mission is not misplaced.
Imagine a church where glorifying God is the norm. In this church, those who gather for worship each Sunday have been deeply changed by the work of God. These people know that they are saved, redeemed from darkness, adopted into God’s family. In this church, these worshippers have a desire to love and know God that overflows into their attendance, prayer, singing, conversations, listening to the Word, response, and more. These worshippers know that God is their King and they want to give Him all the glory they can for all that He has done for them and in them. “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” – Psalm 63:3
Imagine a church where worship is the pinnacle of the week. Each day of the week builds anticipation for when the people of God can come together again to worship—truly worship. Each day these worshippers reflect on how God is working in their lives, in their church’s life, and in their community’s life. Each day these worshippers desire to live out the faith they’ve accepted. Each day these worshippers look forward to the day when they can be together again to be with God. “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere…” – Psalm 84:10a
Imagine a church where the love of God is the motivation to dig into the Word, to hear and respond to sermons, to learn about one’s faith. Imagine a church where the people have become so touched by God’s love for them that they cannot help but devote themselves to the apostle’s teaching. Imagine a church where God’s love has impacted the community that they cannot help but want to fellowship with one another: encouraging each other, holding each other accountable, where forgiveness is the norm, discipline is expected, and growth is celebrated. Imagine a church where the sacraments are a lifeline to connection to God, where His work and love are communicated and known. Imagine a church where prayer is the native language. Prayer becomes the heartbeat of the congregation. Everything in each person’s life and in the community life of the church flows into prayer, being poured out to God, AND, where everything in this community of faith flows from times of prayer, with God giving direction, wisdom, guidance, and vision. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1
Can you imagine this kind of church?
Maybe that’s hard for you. Maybe that’s not the kind of church you’re in. Maybe you’ve seen glimpses of this in your church or even in your own life.
But imagine this church for a minute. Think of how God’s love enlivens the church. Think of how God’s love directs the church. Think of how the people’s love for God drives their worship and prayer and fellowship and teaching. Think of how their love for God responds to his love, creating a loop of faith, of hope, of love.
Does something feel like it’s missing?
Yes, because a church like this can’t help but share this love. A church like this can’t help but tell others about Jesus, the King. A church like this can’t help but reach into their community with actions, care, and genuine love for others.
A church like this will be on mission. Why? Because this mission MUST be fueled by the love of God, and be expressed by love for God and others.
When mission is in it’s place, it is Love-fueled, God-directed, worship-focused, and filled with hope.
What we win the lost with is what we win them to. I don’t know about you, but I want to be someone who wins people for the Gospel with the Love of God. I want to be in a church where the lost come because of an overflow of love being expressed in community. I want to see lives changed by a Gospel that has changed lives through a God and community of love.
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