You turned up early, what now?

The launch of our new congregations and service times provides us with a great moment to pause and reflect on how we do church and to consider whether we can be doing it better. In this second piece I want to provide some tips that will help us do church well while the service is actually happening. So consider this an upskilling session that I hope will be beneficial for those who already come to church but also for future members who turn up and find us engaged with God and engaged with each other and newcomers particularly. 

So, how do we do church well while the service is happening?

Let’s think first about helping others and particularly people who are new. And it’s simple—be attentive to the needs of the people around you and particularly newcomers. If they can't find their way around the Bible or they don't have a Bible or they need to find the crèche, help them yourself. Church is your meeting, not the minister's. So be observant and outward looking. Be conscious of who is near you and what they might need. 

Secondly, people in the congregation have an enormous impact on those who are teaching and leading. Communication is always a two way process and energetic listening through taking notes, making eye contact with the preacher, sitting at the front, laughing at jokes (even dad jokes) will spur on the preacher. It is very hard to preach enthusiastically to a sleepy, distracted, fidgety group. Our active listening will also infect others with enthusiasm for learning, just as our fidgeting will discourage them. Unbelievers will also pick up that these ideas are worth listening to if they see rows of regulars eagerly soaking up the Bible. Warm feedback and kind critique of preaching is also helpful, so don’t keep your thoughts to yourself—but perhaps wait until the service is over. 

Thirdly, those in the congregation can be a great help to the singing and leading of music. It is everyone's responsibility to share in the corporate singing of the congregation. The music may be well chosen and played but if it is poorly sung it is disheartening. Our enthusiasm and gusto in singing is of great help to those around us and those leading the music, even if we can barely hold a tune. The Lord calls us to make a joyful noise not to be choral experts. 

Finally, everyone has an important part to play in the smooth running of the meeting. The devil will use anything to distract people from hearing the Word of God so please don’t rely on someone else to fix things. If the window needs to be opened, get up and do it. If a door needs to be closed to shut out noise, get up and do it. If it’s hot and the fans aren’t on, get up and do it. Remember, it’s your meeting, not the minister's.

Well, that’s enough for now. Next week we will talk about how to do church well after the formal bit is all over! I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, early and ready to sing with gusto.