Did you know summer is a great time for guests to join us in worship at New Life?  Many folks move during the summer and start looking for a new church home.  As a local congregation committed to noticing and welcoming guests, we have a great opportunity to be some of the first people to show newcomers to southern Butler County and the surrounding region the love and warmth of Jesus.  Tomorrow when you arrive at the primary school look around and see if there's anyone you don't know.  Take the initiative to welcome the person, couple or family.

If you're thinking, "What if they already attend New Life, and I just haven't met them?"  That's a great question, but I've found over the years, the result of walking up and saying, "Hi, I'm Chris.  I don't believe we've met," is a win-win.  If they're new, they'll let you know, and you'll be one of the first to welcome them to New Life.  It's always better when someone other than a pastor or staff person is the first to welcome a guest, because then they realize that friendliness isn't just a goal of the staff, but all of New Life.  If the person has been attending New Life for a while, they'll probably say something like, "We've been attending New Life for a while, it's good to meet you," and that will open the door for fellowship.  Even if the person has been attending New Life for a long time, you still have the opportunity to show the love of Jesus in a practical way, and have the potential of making a new friend.

As New Life continues to grow, the likelihood of folks coming to worship that you don't know personally will keep increasing.  Some folks think it's a problem when we don't know everyone.  The truth is on the first Christian Pentecost when the church grew from 120 to 3,120 people in one day, everyone didn't know everyone.  That wasn't the goal.  The goal was for everyone to know Jesus--and at the end of the day they all did!  It's important for each of us to know some of the people who make up New Life, because our faith grows best in an interactive environment, whether that's a one-on-one accountability or mentoring situation, a small group--whether a formal L.I.F.E. (Living In Faith Everyday) group or an informal group that develops out of friendship, or a team of folks who gather together for a specific project, mission, or service opportunity. 

The healthiest congregations are those that make knowing Jesus the first priority and then developing a community of communities where faith can be shared and grow a close second.  One of the best ways for those secondary relationships to develop is by developing a welcoming attitude toward everyone.  You never know when the person you greet at worship tomorrow may become a great friend, accountability partner or small group or team member through which you and they grow closer to Jesus.  So, I hope you'll be there tomorrow at 8:45 or 10:15 and that you'll be welcoming guests or those you haven't met. It's a great way to prepare for our corporate worship of Jesus!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving each of us personally.  Thanks for showing us in Your word how important it is for each of us to know You and for all of us to make You know in our relationships with others.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we'll glorify You in all we are and do.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.