A Ticket to Church
Last Saturday night, Abigail was at a friend's house for a sleepover. The topic of church came up and her friend asked, "Do you have to pay to go to church?" Considering that this girl has no memory of ever being in a church and that she would pay to go to a concert, a sporting event, or an exercise class, it is a valid question. Abigail's response was a calm "No, it's free. Anyone can come."
During the sermon the next day, the pastor told a story about a woman in Toronto who wanted to try going to church so she asked someone "Where do I get a ticket?" In her mind, one would need a ticket for church or at least an invitation like we get for weddings to ensure there was a place for her to sit.
Hearing these stories helps me consider how strange church may seem to many people I interact with day to day and that those of us who go to church regularly cannot assume that our friends or family members know what it is like or what goes on there. It motivates me to pray for the people in my life who don't know Christ and His people. It also encourages me to practice hospitality when I'm at church - helping people find seats or the children's programs, greeting people I don't know during the greeting time, and taking time to talk with someone new after the service are all little ways to do this.
But what about those people who never walk through the church doors? The words of Col. 4:5-6 come to mind: " Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Considering the fact that she started attending church when she was 7 days old, Abigail could have laughed in her friend's face and said "Don't you know anything? Of course you don't have to pay to go to church!" when that question came her way. But she didn't and we are praying that a seed may have been planted this week that will bear good fruit one day.
During the sermon the next day, the pastor told a story about a woman in Toronto who wanted to try going to church so she asked someone "Where do I get a ticket?" In her mind, one would need a ticket for church or at least an invitation like we get for weddings to ensure there was a place for her to sit.
Hearing these stories helps me consider how strange church may seem to many people I interact with day to day and that those of us who go to church regularly cannot assume that our friends or family members know what it is like or what goes on there. It motivates me to pray for the people in my life who don't know Christ and His people. It also encourages me to practice hospitality when I'm at church - helping people find seats or the children's programs, greeting people I don't know during the greeting time, and taking time to talk with someone new after the service are all little ways to do this.
But what about those people who never walk through the church doors? The words of Col. 4:5-6 come to mind: " Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Considering the fact that she started attending church when she was 7 days old, Abigail could have laughed in her friend's face and said "Don't you know anything? Of course you don't have to pay to go to church!" when that question came her way. But she didn't and we are praying that a seed may have been planted this week that will bear good fruit one day.
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