I was talking with a friend of mine who is an elder in his church (in Christian church circles, an elder is a layperson who overseas the spiritual health of the church. It is different from a Methodist or Baptist understanding of an elder- for my Baptist friends, think deacon) and he described to me what his Sunday mornings were like:
"I get to church and within five minutes someone is complaining to me about a program that went wrong. I try to deal with that person, then within thirty seconds someone is asking me about a water bill being paid, then someone tells me what went wrong on the youth trip and how they are probably leaving the church because of it, then someone comes up to me with some pressing problem about a fundraising dinner in two weeks and how so-and-so is messing it up, and so on. I'm usually late to the service, fifteen minutes or so, and I'm in such a bad mood that I can't worship. I hate Sunday mornings."
How sad.
How many of us could say the same thing? I can remember being at one church where we had an elder meeting every Sunday morning before church. I was requested to be there, and usually received a grilling about someone who didn't like the way youth group was going. I could completely relate to that elder. I hated Sunday mornings. I was always in a bad mood after those meetings, and in no way was I ready to worship God. The good news is- it doesn't have to be that way. As a matter of fact, I can't believe we've let it become that way.
Pastors and leaders, guard your Sunday mornings.
I challenge every one of you who is a pastor or leader to make a new policy. Write it in huge letters in the church bulletin, put it up on the screen, put it on the marquee outside: "Sunday is for worship only."
Sunday is for worship only.
In my church, we tell people, "Unless the church is on fire or someone is getting murdered in the parking lot, it doesn't need to be dealt with today. Call me tomorrow."
In other words, we guard our Sunday mornings.
I have never seen anything brought to me on Sunday morning that can't be dealt with on Monday. The problem is simply that Sunday morning is when the church is together, and that's sometimes the only time people see their leaders. People have become accustomed to bringing every problem, issue, and concern to leaders on Sunday mornings. While that may be the only time they see them, that turns Sunday morning into a gripe-fest filled with issues and problems instead of a worship service.
Church members, your pastors and leaders need to worship. Believe it or not, when you bring issues and concerns and problems to them on Sunday, it affects them. They are not able to focus on God, on worship, on being renewed in the Spirit. They are troubled, in a bad mood, distracted, and unable to focus on the primary purpose of Sunday morning.
Your churches are affected by it. Your leaders approach Sunday morning the way that you approach a "we need to meet immediately" summons from your boss at work. They approach Sunday mornings expecting to get an earful of every little thing that is wrong, every problem that needs immediate fixing, every little argument that has happened during the week. Believe me, it affects your church. Worship is merely an afterthought in many churches, because everyone is in a sour mood due to the drama.
Guard your Sunday mornings. Pastors and leaders, announce this Sunday that from this point forward, unless someone is getting murdered in the parking lot or the church is on fire, no problems or concerns or issues will be dealt with on Sunday morning. Sunday will be for worship only. If there are problems, the church office is open Monday-Friday, and we will deal with them then.
Learn these words and repeat them often: "Sunday is for worship only."
Church members, do not bring issues and problems to your leaders on Sunday mornings. Most of the time, they are not pressing. There is nothing that you want to deal with on Sunday morning that can't be dealt with on Monday. I know it is convenient, because that is when you see them, but resist this urge. Let your leaders worship. Let them enjoy church. Let them connect with their Lord and Savior. Let them be part of the church for that hour.
You will see an new excitement invade your church as Sunday morning takes on a whole new life. People will be genuinely happy to be at church. You will see a new enthusiasm, a new breath of fresh air, a new life growing in your church. Your gatherings will be joyful, not sour. Do not allow your Sunday meetings to be affected by anything other than worship.
Pastors and leaders, by not dealing with issues on Sunday mornings, you allow yourself to focus completely on worship. Church members, by not bringing issues and problems to leaders on Sunday mornings, you are more focused on the purpose of Sunday mornings. Please, for the health of your church, guard your Sunday mornings.
Look at complaints, issues, concerns, and anything else as intruders bent on destroying the church. Pastors, battle these intruders. Do not let them in. Do not give them an ear. Constantly say, "Sunday is for worship only," when someone attempts to bring an issue to you. Guard your flock. Guard your Sunday morning. Like I said before, there is nothing that needs to be dealt with that day. Deal with it on Monday.
By guarding our Sunday mornings, we keep our focus on what Sunday morning truly is- a celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Guard it. Honor it. Protect it. Love it. Be watchful. Be consistent. Be firm. Sunday is for worship only.
"I get to church and within five minutes someone is complaining to me about a program that went wrong. I try to deal with that person, then within thirty seconds someone is asking me about a water bill being paid, then someone tells me what went wrong on the youth trip and how they are probably leaving the church because of it, then someone comes up to me with some pressing problem about a fundraising dinner in two weeks and how so-and-so is messing it up, and so on. I'm usually late to the service, fifteen minutes or so, and I'm in such a bad mood that I can't worship. I hate Sunday mornings."
How sad.
How many of us could say the same thing? I can remember being at one church where we had an elder meeting every Sunday morning before church. I was requested to be there, and usually received a grilling about someone who didn't like the way youth group was going. I could completely relate to that elder. I hated Sunday mornings. I was always in a bad mood after those meetings, and in no way was I ready to worship God. The good news is- it doesn't have to be that way. As a matter of fact, I can't believe we've let it become that way.
Pastors and leaders, guard your Sunday mornings.
I challenge every one of you who is a pastor or leader to make a new policy. Write it in huge letters in the church bulletin, put it up on the screen, put it on the marquee outside: "Sunday is for worship only."
Sunday is for worship only.
In my church, we tell people, "Unless the church is on fire or someone is getting murdered in the parking lot, it doesn't need to be dealt with today. Call me tomorrow."
In other words, we guard our Sunday mornings.
I have never seen anything brought to me on Sunday morning that can't be dealt with on Monday. The problem is simply that Sunday morning is when the church is together, and that's sometimes the only time people see their leaders. People have become accustomed to bringing every problem, issue, and concern to leaders on Sunday mornings. While that may be the only time they see them, that turns Sunday morning into a gripe-fest filled with issues and problems instead of a worship service.
Church members, your pastors and leaders need to worship. Believe it or not, when you bring issues and concerns and problems to them on Sunday, it affects them. They are not able to focus on God, on worship, on being renewed in the Spirit. They are troubled, in a bad mood, distracted, and unable to focus on the primary purpose of Sunday morning.
Your churches are affected by it. Your leaders approach Sunday morning the way that you approach a "we need to meet immediately" summons from your boss at work. They approach Sunday mornings expecting to get an earful of every little thing that is wrong, every problem that needs immediate fixing, every little argument that has happened during the week. Believe me, it affects your church. Worship is merely an afterthought in many churches, because everyone is in a sour mood due to the drama.
Guard your Sunday mornings. Pastors and leaders, announce this Sunday that from this point forward, unless someone is getting murdered in the parking lot or the church is on fire, no problems or concerns or issues will be dealt with on Sunday morning. Sunday will be for worship only. If there are problems, the church office is open Monday-Friday, and we will deal with them then.
Learn these words and repeat them often: "Sunday is for worship only."
Church members, do not bring issues and problems to your leaders on Sunday mornings. Most of the time, they are not pressing. There is nothing that you want to deal with on Sunday morning that can't be dealt with on Monday. I know it is convenient, because that is when you see them, but resist this urge. Let your leaders worship. Let them enjoy church. Let them connect with their Lord and Savior. Let them be part of the church for that hour.
You will see an new excitement invade your church as Sunday morning takes on a whole new life. People will be genuinely happy to be at church. You will see a new enthusiasm, a new breath of fresh air, a new life growing in your church. Your gatherings will be joyful, not sour. Do not allow your Sunday meetings to be affected by anything other than worship.
Pastors and leaders, by not dealing with issues on Sunday mornings, you allow yourself to focus completely on worship. Church members, by not bringing issues and problems to leaders on Sunday mornings, you are more focused on the purpose of Sunday mornings. Please, for the health of your church, guard your Sunday mornings.
Look at complaints, issues, concerns, and anything else as intruders bent on destroying the church. Pastors, battle these intruders. Do not let them in. Do not give them an ear. Constantly say, "Sunday is for worship only," when someone attempts to bring an issue to you. Guard your flock. Guard your Sunday morning. Like I said before, there is nothing that needs to be dealt with that day. Deal with it on Monday.
By guarding our Sunday mornings, we keep our focus on what Sunday morning truly is- a celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Guard it. Honor it. Protect it. Love it. Be watchful. Be consistent. Be firm. Sunday is for worship only.
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