Welcome Our Visitors

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (NIV)
How do you make someone feel welcome? Most of us we understand the importance of needing to be welcomed properly. We decide to visit a restaurant a second time depending on our first experience, and based on other experiences after that, we make that place familiar and we get to know people who work there and serve us.
So how do we translate that to a church atmosphere? Do we yell ,”Welcome to Riverchase!” as soon as they enter the door? Do we great them with a big yell of, “Hey there!” That’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is simpler. 1. Recognize them, if you think a person might be visiting. Go say hi and let them know you are happy to see them. If they are already members, you just met a brother or sister in Christ, and it will mean a lot to them that you came to say hi. It’s better to err in that direction, than never saying hi, because we were afraid to be embarrassed. 2. Smile! You don’t have to tell jokes. You don’t have to be funny. All you have to do is approach someone with a smile and it eases their minds and hearts. You and I know what it is like to be in a new place, not knowing anyone. A smile will fix that. A smile can make people feel comfortable. There are more ways to make visitors feel welcome, and we will see those next week. Practice these two traits this week and make a difference in someone’s life.