THC, Come to Church with a "Shovel-in-Hand"!
In light of this past Sunday’s testimony shared by Rachel Park on “THC’s Growth Over the Last Few Years” - I was inspired to write this blog. I hope it encourages you!
* Note: This blog is written specifically to the Covenant Members of THC
I still remember the first time I went to Reality Carpinteria led by Pastor Britt Merrick. I was 19 years old, attending Bible College, and learning so much about God’s Word. Every Sunday we would visit different churches and talk about the experiences on the way home. College-church-hopping was attractive to us because both of us grew up at one church.
My friend and I get out of the car, and as soon as we get out, there is someone already walking up to us welcoming us to their church “Reality”. I’m thinking, “Woah! Talk about a welcoming church!”
This person walks my friend and I to the front entrance of the church, asking us questions like, “How did you find out about us?”, “How can I pray for you?”, & “Are there any questions you have about our church?”
I could sense genuine care. And I look around and this is happening all around me with their Greeter Team welcoming people to church. I walk through the front entrance and there are a couple tables with friendly-looking people, with Colgate-sponsored-smiles beaming at me… “Welcome to Reality, can I serve you some coffee?” I’m thinking, “Am I at church or am I a celebrity showing up for a red-carpet event?”
Coffee and donut in hand. I sit down with my friend and we are both just shocked by it all. Then I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. One of the elders of the church has just walked up to me and says, “Welcome to Reality! I notice you guys are visitors today! Can I sit with you for a minute and learn more about you and how we might be able to serve you?”
After conversing with him for 5 minutes and filling out their connection card. He says, “Worship is about to begin.” And we all walk in to church and sit down. He and his wife ask if they can sit next to us during worship. My friend and I give each other a look, “Where are we?!” (lol).
The hipster-cool looking Worship Team opens in song. I look around, and everywhere I look, 20 and 30-year-olds are passionately singing to Christ with hands raised! It felt awesome to see so many people just like me, so passionate about Jesus. During the announcements, I look around and the church is intently looking at their bulletin and responding with “Amens” and nodding-heads to the praise reports and serving opportunities.
The Pastor gives his sermon. And I loved it! If you’ve never heard of Britt Merrick, he is such a gifted expositor and preacher/communicator. He concludes his sermon and we worship once again in song. After service, the church eats together and my friend and I (3 hours later) are in his car and overwhelmed by it all.
We both said that this church was our “Dream Church”. How we would love to be members here. The people were the same age as us. The preaching was so good. The people so friendly. The worship so passionate. We went back to our dorm with hearts full and every church we visited after that was compared to Reality. And all those shorts fell woefully short to a couple of 19-year-olds.
Why am I talking about my experience going to Reality Carpinteria as a beaming youngster?
My intention is not to compare THC to this church. My intention in sharing this story is to show you how easy it is to evaluate a church based on how well your needs feel met and satisfied. How easy it is to see an initial “oooh-ahhh” of a church and fall into the mindset of, “This church meets my ‘needs’ and ‘style’, so I will check it out.”
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NIV)
I think it’s important for us to be reminded of the reality that we, as 21st Americans, grew up in a “consumeristic culture”. We have the ability to access information instantly through our phones, we have food that can be made instantly through a microwave or even brought to us these days, and when we go to a restaurant, we have an expectation that we will be served and tended to. We feel we have a rude to have a rude waiter taking our order or a sticky chair to sit on.
Now, there is nothing inherently wrong fast food restaurants, cultural expectations of being served, or the speed of smart phones, but we must recognize that it is very possible for us to view church community in a similar light as these things – a place to serve your needs.
When we correctly understand the example of Jesus. When we correctly understand the church-community-imperatives of the New Testament (the “one-anothers”), we quickly realize that our reason for coming to church should not be to be served, but to serve.
To serve the God, who has served us, by serving His Bride.
See… when I have a correct understanding of God’s grace and love for me, it should so satisfy me… so fill me… that it causes an overflowing effect in my heart to where I realize that I have been served by God. And His service to me produces a genuine desire to serve Him and His people in return.
This is why I am encouraging all of you who are Christians at THC to not come to church expecting to be served, but to serve. Come to THC with a “shovel in hand”.
May we be a church that correctly understands how greatly Jesus has served us so that we can serve others from a place of genuine love and joy.
See how Paul encouraged the church in Rome:
“3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”
(Romans 12:3-16, NLT)
Notice the constant emphasis and priority of serving others.
As those who have been served by the God through the sacrificial-serving of Jesus on the Cross for us – We come to church on Fridays and Sundays, not to be served, but to serve – and the funny thing about obedience to God is that when you are truly serving others’ needs as more important than your own, you end up feeling deep joy and purpose… because… you were created in God’s image… and He is the greatest servant of all.
We find most joy when we find live according to the purpose of our Creator, Savior, and Lover.
When our hearts and minds are filled with this truth, we joyfully come to church to serve.
Served people, serve people.
Love,
Your Pastor
* Note: This blog is written specifically to the Covenant Members of THC
I still remember the first time I went to Reality Carpinteria led by Pastor Britt Merrick. I was 19 years old, attending Bible College, and learning so much about God’s Word. Every Sunday we would visit different churches and talk about the experiences on the way home. College-church-hopping was attractive to us because both of us grew up at one church.
My friend and I get out of the car, and as soon as we get out, there is someone already walking up to us welcoming us to their church “Reality”. I’m thinking, “Woah! Talk about a welcoming church!”
This person walks my friend and I to the front entrance of the church, asking us questions like, “How did you find out about us?”, “How can I pray for you?”, & “Are there any questions you have about our church?”
I could sense genuine care. And I look around and this is happening all around me with their Greeter Team welcoming people to church. I walk through the front entrance and there are a couple tables with friendly-looking people, with Colgate-sponsored-smiles beaming at me… “Welcome to Reality, can I serve you some coffee?” I’m thinking, “Am I at church or am I a celebrity showing up for a red-carpet event?”
Coffee and donut in hand. I sit down with my friend and we are both just shocked by it all. Then I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. One of the elders of the church has just walked up to me and says, “Welcome to Reality! I notice you guys are visitors today! Can I sit with you for a minute and learn more about you and how we might be able to serve you?”
After conversing with him for 5 minutes and filling out their connection card. He says, “Worship is about to begin.” And we all walk in to church and sit down. He and his wife ask if they can sit next to us during worship. My friend and I give each other a look, “Where are we?!” (lol).
The hipster-cool looking Worship Team opens in song. I look around, and everywhere I look, 20 and 30-year-olds are passionately singing to Christ with hands raised! It felt awesome to see so many people just like me, so passionate about Jesus. During the announcements, I look around and the church is intently looking at their bulletin and responding with “Amens” and nodding-heads to the praise reports and serving opportunities.
The Pastor gives his sermon. And I loved it! If you’ve never heard of Britt Merrick, he is such a gifted expositor and preacher/communicator. He concludes his sermon and we worship once again in song. After service, the church eats together and my friend and I (3 hours later) are in his car and overwhelmed by it all.
We both said that this church was our “Dream Church”. How we would love to be members here. The people were the same age as us. The preaching was so good. The people so friendly. The worship so passionate. We went back to our dorm with hearts full and every church we visited after that was compared to Reality. And all those shorts fell woefully short to a couple of 19-year-olds.
Why am I talking about my experience going to Reality Carpinteria as a beaming youngster?
My intention is not to compare THC to this church. My intention in sharing this story is to show you how easy it is to evaluate a church based on how well your needs feel met and satisfied. How easy it is to see an initial “oooh-ahhh” of a church and fall into the mindset of, “This church meets my ‘needs’ and ‘style’, so I will check it out.”
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NIV)
I think it’s important for us to be reminded of the reality that we, as 21st Americans, grew up in a “consumeristic culture”. We have the ability to access information instantly through our phones, we have food that can be made instantly through a microwave or even brought to us these days, and when we go to a restaurant, we have an expectation that we will be served and tended to. We feel we have a rude to have a rude waiter taking our order or a sticky chair to sit on.
Now, there is nothing inherently wrong fast food restaurants, cultural expectations of being served, or the speed of smart phones, but we must recognize that it is very possible for us to view church community in a similar light as these things – a place to serve your needs.
When we correctly understand the example of Jesus. When we correctly understand the church-community-imperatives of the New Testament (the “one-anothers”), we quickly realize that our reason for coming to church should not be to be served, but to serve.
To serve the God, who has served us, by serving His Bride.
See… when I have a correct understanding of God’s grace and love for me, it should so satisfy me… so fill me… that it causes an overflowing effect in my heart to where I realize that I have been served by God. And His service to me produces a genuine desire to serve Him and His people in return.
This is why I am encouraging all of you who are Christians at THC to not come to church expecting to be served, but to serve. Come to THC with a “shovel in hand”.
May we be a church that correctly understands how greatly Jesus has served us so that we can serve others from a place of genuine love and joy.
See how Paul encouraged the church in Rome:
“3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”
(Romans 12:3-16, NLT)
Notice the constant emphasis and priority of serving others.
As those who have been served by the God through the sacrificial-serving of Jesus on the Cross for us – We come to church on Fridays and Sundays, not to be served, but to serve – and the funny thing about obedience to God is that when you are truly serving others’ needs as more important than your own, you end up feeling deep joy and purpose… because… you were created in God’s image… and He is the greatest servant of all.
We find most joy when we find live according to the purpose of our Creator, Savior, and Lover.
When our hearts and minds are filled with this truth, we joyfully come to church to serve.
Served people, serve people.
Love,
Your Pastor
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