Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’!” I’ve always loved those words from David. David did not dread going to the temple, but rather he longed to be there (cf. Psalm 84). He did not see his travel to the temple as a begrudging obligation. He recognized that it was a blessing from God. He was excited to participate in the gathering of God’s people and was looking forward to being near God’s presence.
We should not view church as something we have to do, we should view it as something we get to do. Every Sunday is another divine opportunity from God. Through the gathering of the saints, God gives His people the opportunity to worship and experience Him in a unique way. We are also given the opportunity to encourage each other, to build community, and to serve one another with our spiritual gifts. If you are married, Sundays provide an opportunity for you to grow spiritually with your spouse. If you have kids, Sundays provide an opportunity for you to help them grow in their faith in their most formative years.
Because Sunday morning gatherings are indeed a blessing from God, I encourage you to do two things this Summer. First, commit to be here when you are in town. I understand Summer brings lots of travel and activities. But if you are in town, make plans to go to the house of the Lord. I’ll be starting a new summer sermon series titled “Summer on the Mount.” We’ll be examining the greatest sermon ever delivered by the greatest preacher, Jesus Christ, all summer long (Matthew 5-7).
Second, I encourage you to share your gladness with others around you. Paul tells us, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). We are blessed every week to have new visitors attend each of our worship services. I realize we all have friends, but we cannot become so insular in our thinking that we miss the opportunity to live on mission right there in the worship center. Look for someone you do not know and make the intentional effort to introduce yourself. The truth is church can be intimidating for new people. Many new visitors don’t feel glad, they feel fearful. You can alleviate those fears and discomforts by simply welcoming them and getting acquainted.
Our time change goes into effect this Sunday (8:45am choir-led service, 10am BFGs, 11:15am band-led service). Remember that one of the primary reasons we are making this change is to create more time to welcome each other. I already know we are the friendliest church in Austin, but let’s prove that this Sunday. Parents, remember that this weekend is also Promotion Sunday. Our kiddos will be “moving up” to their new classes, so make sure they are here to enjoy that special day.
Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.
Onward and upward,
Jonathan Spencer
www.jonathanspencer.org 