Our Expressions Leave Lasting Impressions
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
While there is a sense in which Christians are not to be people pleasers (Gal. 1:10), there is no doubt that God’s people should consider the impact of their actions on others. Our Lord spoke about the fact that people would “see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
As Christians, our expressions of worship and service do leave lasting impressions on others. Let’s ask ourselves, “How do our expressions impress?” “How are our visitors affected when they worship with us?”
Let’s consider the following thoughts:
1) Do we try to pay attention while the preacher delivers his prepared sermon (even taking notes on the content of the sermon), or do our actions reveal that our attention is far removed from the study of God’s word? (Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18; Hebrews 5:11-14).
2) Do we sing praises with enthusiasm and thoughtfulness (Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 13:15), or do we sit silently without any real reason for our non-participation as hymns are being sung to God?
3) Do we reflect a sense of preparation and zeal in our worship, or do we give the sense of being unprepared and lethargic? (Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 12:11-12; 2 Corinthians 9:1-2; Titus 2:13-14).
4) Do we try to sit near the front of the auditorium, providing an atmosphere of closeness, warmth and fellowship (Romans 12:10), or does a “great chasm” exist between the pulpit area and where people are sitting in the pews?
Brethren might assemble together in the same building without really being “together” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV). In some congregations, it’s obvious that some brethren hold to a form of the “gap” theory when it comes to being near one another in public worship. Yes, even where we sit in congregational worship, does leave a lasting impression on our visitors.
5) Do we exude a spirit of love, friendliness and concern toward our visitors, or do our visitors feel a spirit of aloofness and coldness on our part? (Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24; Philippians 2:19-23).
6) Do we actually appear to enjoy being together to worship God, or do the concerns of the world reign supreme, causing us to feel disinterested and rushed? (Matthew 13:21-22; 1 John 2:15-17).
7) Do our visitors hear the sounds of Bible pages being turned, serving as a backdrop for the sermon, or is the Book seldom opened? (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
Brethren, our expressions of worship not only leave lasting impressions on our visitors, but on the Lord as well (John 4:23; cf. Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6; Philippians 3:3).