Becoming a Welcoming Church Chapter 2

Introduction: Chapter 1 of “Becoming a Welcoming Church

Luke 13:10–17 NASB95

10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. 14 But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? 16 “And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

Luke 13:

-(v.11-13) This woman was demon possessed and it caused her to be bent over without the ability to straighten up. This condition would have keep her from being able to work, and would have kept her from religious activity in the temple.

-(v.12) “When Jesus Saw her”

Tell me about the significants of this phrase? The Pharisees saw her too, but what is the difference when Jesus saw her. He say with eyes compassion.

-(v.12) “He called her over and said to her”

Tell me about the significants of this phrase?? She was possessed with a spirit UNCLEAN. But did Jesus do?? He ministered to her.

What was the result? (v.14) Glory to God

What was the reaction of the Synagogue officials?

-(v.14) “Indignant” vexed, annoyed or oppressed in mind.

Why were they annoyed?

-(v.14) because he healed on the Sabbath. Look at their response to this great miracle. “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

-(v.15) Watch Jesus bite them

Luke 13:15 NASB95

15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him?

Luke 13:15–17 NASB95

15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? 16 “And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

luke 13:

-(v.15) He calls them “Hypocrites” because he knew that any of these Pharisees would protect their asset on the Sabbath day if needs be. Look what he said. If your Ox needs water on the Sabbath you will get that, because your Ox tills your farms for you to able to increase your wealth.

In Verse 16 why did Jesus bring up this woman ethnic heritage???

-(v.16) He pointing to the fact that these Officials have more concern for their asset, than for another child of Abraham.

-(v.16) The Pharisees would break the Sabbath to protect their asset, but would not break the Sabbath to heal and comfort a daughter of Abraham who had been afflicted for 18 years.

What was the result of Jesus teaching and miracle?

humiliation and rejoicing

Luke 14:1–6 NASB95

1 It happened that when He went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching Him closely. 2 And there in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away. 5 And He said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” 6 And they could make no reply to this.

-Their were so humiliated by the last encounter that they just shut up this time. This does not mean that their position changed only that they knew not question him, because Jesus had the crowd.

Luke 14:7–15 NASB95

7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. 11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” 15 When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

luke 14:

What was the reason Jesus told this Parable??

-(v.7) He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they been picking out the places of honor at the table,......Everyone was lobbying for the seat closest to the host!!! Rather than deal with it straight forward Jesus told a parable.

What is the overriding principle of v.8?

-(v.8) Don’t go places with the belief that you are of greater importance than your fellowman.

-(v.9) It would better to be exalted by the host, than embarrassed. Jesus is no longer talking about just a wedding banquet. He is talking eschatologically about “Humility and Compassion” He is telling us the kind of attitude that he responds too.

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-(v.10) Let the host invite you from the back of the room too the front. When you exercise humility in your life. When you treat others better than yourself. When you give honor rather than always taking it. The host will notice your humility and give you honor in front of everyone.

What is the kingdom principle in v.11?

What reason does Jesus tell us to invite the lame, broken, and battered?

When does our repayment happen for acts of humility performed in this life?

Chapter 2 “Confidential Report” (For your eyes only)

The worst part of the guest experience takes place right before the worship service begins

Introduction:

Context of Kathy & Jim:

a. tough time getting the children ready for church 3 kids

b. All the children were under 8

c. Kathy and Jim have not been to church in about a decade

-Tell me about these challenges even before they walked into the church, which have little to do with the church?

-Tell me what we could do to comfort, encourage an relieve the stress that this family came into the service with?

-This Church seemed to check all the right boxes:

a. Great Website

b. Great signage

c. Friendly enviroment

-At this point this family is starting feel at home

-Most new families that come early to church will not go to Sunday School they will go and sit in the congregation until services start. Remember a good website told them that worship starts at 11am, so they are there about 1050a sitting down in the sanctuary by themselves.,

-Honestly speaking

What is our current practice at MBC when it comes to ministering to these families, singles, or couples?

Thom Rainer says “Even in incredible churches very few members make the effort to greet and speak to someone already seated before the service begins. And, frankly, most church members don’t ever go sit with guests.” Guest are most often overlooked in the few minutes right before the worship services. No one speaks to them or sits with them.

Very Few churches consider Guests during the Stand-and-Greet

-I want to talk a little about the meet and Greet time at the church

Can someone tell me what the intent of “meet and greet” time is?

Positives vs. Negatives

-Do the positives outweigh the negatives.

If we determined that the negatives outweigh the positive is that 3 min time worth in light of eternity?

Let’s take a look at the statistics

-Members 6/10 do not like the meet and greet-60% & 40% enjoy it.

-Non-members 9/10 do not like the meet and greet

If the primary purpose of the meet and greet is new members, and breaking out of your normal routine, but new members at a 90% rate say the do not like it, then what should we do?

What’s the worse part of shopping at Art Van?

Their salesman work on commission and it is obvious. I avoid Art Van like the plague.

Pg 82

-Folks greeted because I told them to---that is artificial.

-Conclusion: We should not do anything to complicate nor cause anxiety of visitors in our methodology.

Many guests see an abundance of holy huddles in churches

Someone please define what holy huddles are?

Are holy huddles wrong?

No they are the result of a healthy church that loves each other, the problem happens when you are so engage that you don’t notice strays.

-Remember when folks come to church they expect you to be more spiritual mature than them

The Silent Killers

Who would rate the ambience of our service?

Is there anything in our service that we could change to be less distractive?

The Air conditioner sounds like a Jet Plane especially for those sitting in the back?

-What we know is that for a large portion of visitors, these types of things are deal breakers for them.

Let’s take a look at a 1st Century Church

Acts 2:1–14 NASB95

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. 5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? 9 “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” 14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.

What event is going on here?

-Pentecost

What key points do we see in this verse?

There was unity in the leadership

Nothing was done without the empowerment of the Spirit. The exhibited Patience. They were told by Jesus to go and wait for the spirit.

The gift was a sign gift to signify the unifying of the Jewish people to the Nations around them. It is a reversal of the Tower of babel

There will always be distractors, doubters, and playerhater when the Lords work is being done.

There will be folks that will have a natural cause to explain a Supernatural work.

What did this powerful scene lead too?

Acts 2:37-

Acts 2:37–47 NASB95

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

-(v.37) Peter just preached a powerful message to this future congregation of new believers and look what happened:

a. They were pierce to the heart

-This lead to another question: “Brethren, what shall we do?”

-Good Biblical Teaching always leads to a decision? You will notice that I didn’t say “biblical teaching always leads to salvation?

-(v.38) Peter gives them the Gospel and in (v.41) 3000 come to know the Lord out of that crowd of people that heard the word of God in their own language.

Tell me the things that this body was commited too?

a. Devotion to the apostles teaching--- “Devotion” is used of a woman that stays devoted to her husband. it means an intense focus and commitment to a goal

b. To Fellowship---to share in, or participate in. We might say fellowship is doing life together.

c. prayer---

What was the outcome?

a. provision for the body

b. The Spirit of God drew them closer together

c. Hospitality

d. Final Outcome----When the Lord sees that you will be faithful with the folks that he has sent you look what he will do......And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Question to ponder?

Do we have a clear organized pipeline from Salvation/Baptism, or Membership to service in the body?

What does say our attitude should be concerning folks that we don’t know?

Hebrews 13:2 NASB95

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

3. What is the significants of the last two words: without complaining?

1 Peter 4:9 NASB95

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

4. What can we do personally to make guests feel more welcomed just prior to the beginning of the worship services?