Gathering with the Church in worship each week reminds me that I am not alone.

Most of the time, I serve the Lord as an individual in my interactions. I write sermons alone, I battle sin in my heart, I talk to non-believers about faith, and I live for Jesus whether anyone sees me or not. Some weeks, this is exhausting. My energy is depleted as I stand alone for good against the forces of evil. 

Then, when I think that I cannot do it for another week, I go to worship with other believers. I hear them sing their praises, I listen to them pray, they instruct me from the word, they serve me in the name of Jesus, and they show me faith while walking through personal storms.

Each week, I walk out of worship with a renewed sense of community. I am not the only one living for Jesus. I am one of hundreds of people doing their best to follow him in a world that is not conducive to faith.

Today, if you are worn out living for Jesus, I would encourage you to be at worship this Sunday for no other reason than to witness the lives of others who share your beliefs and let it encourage you.  

Also, know that when you attend and share your life with others, you are an inspiration, even when you do not know or feel it.

Everything we do has a cost. Some of the costs may be paid immediately with cash, time, or hard work. Other times, it comes in the distant future.

This is seen the most in spiritual endeavors. Things like skipping Church, missing a quiet time with the Lord, and not connecting to other believers will not have immediate consequences. You usually do not feel the impact it makes on your relationships and personal connections until you are decades down the road.  

You will rarely see that you sacrificed your relationship with your wife, children, or parents to achieve your goals for at least twenty years. You will not see how your example influenced others for twenty to thirty years. You may not know the effects of your life until you are lying on your deathbed.

One significant question to ask before any major decisions is, “What will this cost me in the long run?”

At the moment, there may be little price to pay, but know there is a cost.

I believe God has you perfectly positioned to impact another person’s life for the kingdom of God. You have the unique opportunity to touch a life in Jesus’ name.

This can mean sharing the gospel with someone for the first time, or it could also mean being Jesus’ hands and feet to another believer who needs help.

All of us have the potential to do something incredibly positive today. Sadly, only a few will seize the opportunity.

Let today be a day you shine your light brightly in this dark world.  

I am reading through the Bible with a group of people from the Church I lead. One resource that I am always recommending to them is https://bibleproject.com/

There are lots of resources on this site, and I have not been able to explore them all. One thing I repeatedly recommend is to click on the tab at the top labeled “Watch.” Then go to “Old Testament Overviews” or “New Testament Overviews.” Finally, click on the book you are starting to read, and you will be able to watch an animated overview that helps you gain an understanding of the background and setting. 

These videos are particularly beneficial with the Old Testament prophets and any books with which you are not familiar. 

Every intelligent person I have ever encountered shared this one common trait. Regardless of their existing expertise, they approach each day with a sense of curiosity and openness to new information. They were continually learning as if they were not smart people.

They read, listened, watched, talked, and absorbed more information. That was the key to their knowing so much. They kept learning and learning.

One question worth asking at the beginning of each week is, “What plan do I have to become more educated this week?” 

If you don’t have an answer to that question, significant growth will always allude you.

The congregation of the Church is divided into two distinct groups.

The first group eagerly anticipates Sunday mornings. They find joy in worship, learning, and connecting with fellow believers. This group arrives early and often lingers late, as every weekend is filled with a sense of enthusiasm and purpose. They are grateful to have the church community as an integral part of their lives.

The second group, however, is already unsure if they will attend this week. They will join the congregation on Sunday but with muted expectations. Church ranks low on their list of priorities, attended more out of a sense of obligation than genuine desire. This group would be pleasantly surprised if anything particularly meaningful were to happen during the service.

As the pastor, I provide the same program and preparation for both groups. The Church leadership consistently makes plans for every weekend, yet responses greatly vary. I hope and pray that the second group of people will one day become the first, but there is no way to force this transformation.

This weekend, the Church I lead has planned worship, communion, a practical sermon, loving Christians who are excited to see you, and even a baptism is prepared. The opportunity is there for all to embrace. The rest is entirely up to you.

The most valuable advice for Bible readers, regardless of experience, is to carefully read each story as if for the first time.

Familiarity with the Bible can lead to skimming passages, relying on memory instead of engaging with the text. You might think you know a story well from childhood lessons, family readings, sermons, or Bible reading plans. However, this familiarity can prevent you from discovering new insights.

Consider my experience with the story of the thief on the cross. I had often heard that this thief knew nothing about Jesus. This interpretation colored my understanding until I decided to read the passage slowly and thoughtfully. I discovered that the thief actually knew quite a bit:

1. He recognized Jesus’ innocence despite the crucifixion.

2. He understood Jesus’ connection to God’s judgment, rebuking the other thief with, “Don’t you fear God?”

3. He knew Jesus was establishing a kingdom—an eternal one that would begin after Jesus’ death.

This close reading of Luke 23 revealed that I had been relying on others’ interpretations rather than the actual text.

To truly understand the Bible, approach each reading as if you’ve never encountered it before. You might be surprised to find that your actual understanding differs from what you thought you knew.

There are two big questions in the life of a follower of Jesus.

First, what new did you learn about God and the Bible this week?

Second, what is one behavior that has changed in my life this week because of God and the Bible?

If you do not have an answer to the second question, the first one is insignificant and actually might be counterproductive to faith. You can become full of pride as you begin to think that the goal of Christianity is knowing more information about God.

The pivotal question of faith is about changed behavior and nothing less.

This person was attempting to make a negative assessment of the Church. They stated, “That Church is only interested in noses and numbers.” What he meant was that he felt the leadership of that particular Church only cared about how many people were attending for pride’s sake. They also were concerned about the offering, presumably for their financial gain.

I admit I am incredibly interested in noses and numbers when it comes to my Church. The reasons are simple: They represent people whose lives have been changed by their faith in Jesus.

Every time our attendance grows, another person is attending worship. That means someone is hearing about Jesus for the first time, or if they already believe, they are learning more about their Bible.

Every time our offering goes up, it means someone new is testing their faith in God through their giving. They trust him to provide even when they give away some of their hard-earned money.

Not only that, but every dollar allows us to have a more significant impact on this world for Jesus. My pay is in no way connected to our giving, and it does not benefit me in the slightest. But it does mean we can give more to missionaries and Godly projects around the world. With the extra resources, there will be more shoeboxes sent at Christmas, more benevolence given locally, more ministry to children, and more kingdom work done.

Every number is significant because it represents something more. It shows us that lives are being changed and people are growing as believers. It means the work of the Church is fruitful. It gives hard facts to demonstrate unseen development.

It is true. The Church I lead is interested in noses and numbers but not for the reasons most people think.

There are two ways to handle fire. 

One is to purchase a fire truck and the needed supplies. Then, you will need several people trained to fight a fire properly with that equipment. You will need brave people willing to run into a burning building and do whatever is necessary to save lives.

Second, it is to invest in fire prevention. You will need to train people on how to avoid starting unwanted fires. You will need to purchase extinguishers and other tools to stop one immediately if it starts. Keeping a fire from starting and spreading so that no drastic action is needed.

Both are excellent choices, and both are needed.

The same is true with ministry. There is a need for programs that help people avoid disaster and others for people who are experiencing it.