“Ask not what your [church] can do for you; Ask what you can do for your [church].” How easy it is to fall into routine on Sundays and take the time for granted! Below are five ways to help you maintain genuine delight in your local church.
1. Remember the Mission of Your Church
There is delight in watching a group of people accomplish a goal together. If you do not know the mission, then the satisfaction of accomplishment is elusive. What end goal should everyone in your local church be striving toward together? If your church has a specific mission statement, then you can be in prayer to see how the Lord uses your church to accomplish the mission.
Zooming out, the church is called to be an outpost of God’s glory on earth to the watching world (John 13:34–35; Eph 3:10–11). There are certainly other metaphors given to the church, but functionally, the church exists as harbors for sending the gospel message into the world. Delight in witnessing how your church participates in that calling! Missions, community outreach, benevolence funds, and other ministries extend the glory of God to a lost world.
2. Stay in the ‘Know’
Whether your church is small or is big enough to have a Deacon of Parking, things are happening all the time at your church. Sunday morning is certainly the pinnacle, and the one time from Scripture that members are expected to be present (Heb 10:25; Acts 20:7). However, as much as you are able in your schedule, find a way to either be present at other activities or engage with people who are and follow-up.
When your season gets into full-swing, your evenings are likely booked. Yet, are you able to squeeze in something early in the morning? Are you able to come 30 minutes earlier on Sunday? Being in the know keeps the reality of “out of sight, out of mind” at bay. You can more easily pray for your church, celebrate its wins, participate in mourning its losses, and continue nurturing relationships. If you check out when you get busy, it’s harder to start the momentum back up again.
3. Take Something Off Your Pastor’s Plate
I could tell you to simply serve somewhere in your church, and that is good and true. Yet, there is a particular delight in knowing that you made a measurable, tangible difference for those carrying ministry burdens in the church. Consider asking your pastor or those close to him if there are any administrative or ministry-related items that would bless him by you taking them off his plate. The work will be delighting.
4. Invite That One Person
Whether this is a parent of one of your players, a neighbor, another coach, or someone who works for the same institution you do, you will be surprised how delighted you will feel when someone you invite to church after one or two (or many more) faithful invitations finally shows up! Fulfilling the Great Commission on the personal and local level can be an avenue of delight you may have never considered.
5. Cultivate the Delight of Worship and Fellowship in Your Home
If you have the time, having a church family over for dinner or dessert every once in a while or including a church family in holiday plans can be a proactive and organic way to continue knowing and loving your church family apart from the weekly church programs. Awkwardness at church is unavoidable, but killing the awkwardness by getting names, stories, and backgrounds down creates opportunities for deeper community.
In addition, if you have a family at home, consider singing together and learning the music that is most frequently sung at church. Sing old hymns and new hymns. Read Scripture together. Pray for the church. Coming to church on Sundays will then be an opportunity for you to express more corporately the disciplines you have been cultivating as a family. Sunday will feel natural because it will be a way of life. Delight will follow because your desire will be for this way of living.