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 […]

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.

Heart of the Gospel

The heart of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Paul expresses it in this manner: 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that...

Eclipse

An eclipse is an exciting thing. It was evident Monday at about 2:00 p.m. when I was driving back to the office from making some visits. The traffic was minimal. I even saw several vehicles pulling off the road to catch a glimpse of the moon covering the sun. I even...

The Same Story

Frank Wampol did an outstanding job on Sunday morning directing our hearts toward a better understanding of the emotional and physical agony that Jesus experienced during his crucifixion and the time leading up to it. Before Sunday, I knew that Frank was going to...

You’re Kidding

We were in Pigeon Forge with some of Jane’s family. While there, we visited the replica museum for the Titanic. A very interesting exhibit. We were at the bottom of the replica of the grand staircase listening to the guide explain the rich details of this beautiful...

Theme Verse

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. (Exodus 15:17 ESV) This is the theme verse for this year’s Leadership Training For Christ...

Changing Seasons

I need spring to come and winter to end. Honestly, this has been a constant thought in my mind since mid-January following a series of unfortunate events: a trip to the ER, an ablation scheduled, missing a conference due to heart issues, waiting for the ablation,...

Jacob and Esau

I’m sure you remember the story of Jacob and Esau. But if the following brief summary is not familiar to you, read the whole story beginning in Genesis 25:19. 24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out...

I Voted

I voted today. I took advantage of the right given to me as a citizen of this country to cast my vote for those who will lead our nation, state and county. I was even given a sticker to declare to others that I had voted.   It was only one vote, but it was my...

My Thoughts

My thoughts are mine! Aren’t they? One of Jane’s favorite expressions is, “I knew you were going to say that.” She loves to make me think she knows everything I’m thinking or that I’m going to say. I have to admit, she gets pretty close. But she’s not always right....

Our Comforter

Kimberly and I adopted our first dog together in 2013. She was a husky/German shepherd mix named Chloe. She was a big dog with a very loud bark. When I served in youth ministry, I often traveled out of town overnight. Kimberly traveled with me on occasion, but when...