Bishop Richard Wilke, in his book Signs And Wonders: The Mighty Work of God in the Church, tells about interviewing sixty pastors and the churches were a cross-section from all over the United States.
Bishop Wilke writes, “I asked what was important to them. Overwhelmingly, worship was tops. Visitors touch the hem of the garment of Christ on Sunday morning. Sunday worship is exciting to them, and they want it to be exciting for their congregation. They try to preach with passion. They want the people to sing with enthusiasm and pray with power.”
Dear friends, Sunday morning is not the end of all Church life, it is not the end of the mission of the Church, but it is the beginning, and it cannot be side-stepped. Sunday worship is the catalyst by which most things are done in the Church. It is a time to be the Body of Christ gathered. With this being the case, God does not want it to be dry and mechanical.
Worship is usually the first contact people have with a Church. If worshiping God is not important to us, visitors will know it, and they are not likely to come back. On the other hand, if there is enthusiasm, excitement, a loving spirit, and a longing for Sunday morning to come, so we can go to Church, people will know we are not just another social club.
Sure, we go to Church to have our batteries charged for another week, but that is not our primary purpose. Worship means giving to God. We give Him our prayers, our praises, our singing, our resources, our time and ourselves. What we receive is icing on the cake. What we give to God is out of gratitude for the mighty works of Jesus Christ, our Lord!
I am excited about being your pastor at Guthrie Methodist Church. I am praying for you and ask your prayers for me. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and worshiping God with you!
With Much Love For You & Our Lord!
Pastor Mark
P.S. May we give glory to God every day!
