A DELIGHTFUL GATHERING

          Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m going to church more but enjoying it less.”?  While a church could become overly con-cerned with catering to the whims and wants of all who attend, it is certainly worth our time to ask, what can we do to help make our assembly a delightful gathering?.  Following our recent ThankSinging, Rod Sheldon wrote an email saying, “I find it such a joy to be with you and I always walk away blessed.”  David wrote in Ps.122:1 - - I was glad when they said to me, ‘let us go up to the house of the Lord’ .  What might we do to enhance our assemblies?  Here are a few minor admonitions that can reap some major results.

          SMILE A LOT!  “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face” (Prov.15:13).  One animated preacher (a former Amishman) was fond of telling his flock:  some of you look like you were baptized in vinegar and weaned on a dill pickle.  It takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown.  In the words of our Lord Jesus, let us learn to “be of good cheer” (Jn.16:33/KJV).  Even the most devout will soon be dis- couraged by a weekly gathering of grumpies.  SING HEARTILY!  Shout joyfully to the Lord…break forth and sing for joy. (Ps.98:4).    Speaking to one another in song is a ministry for one and all.  There is something especially uplifting about hearing everybody singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Eph.5:19).  BE ENGAGING!  Let us not gather as passive spectators, but as active participants.  While we may refer to the sanctuary as an auditorium, in truth we are not the audience - - God is!  Does our worship warrant the applause of heaven?  When others lead in prayer, are we also praying?  The Lord’s Supper will never become an empty ritual if each of us remain personally engaged.  Our offerings are to be premeditated and sacrificial gifts from our firstfruits, not last-minute handouts from our leftovers.  When we listen to sermons, we must aim to be doers of the Word (Js.1:22).  A hearty “amen” is music to a preacher’s ears.  Likewise for an occasional “head-nod” (not so much a “head-bob” - - although there is precedent for sleeping in church - - cf. Acts 20:9-10).  Last of all, let us EMBRACE ONE ANOTHER.   Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom.16:16).  That kiss may also come in the form of a hug or a handshake or some other expression of a strong and fervent sense of fellowship.

How sweet, how heav’n-ly is the sight, when those that love the Lord in one another’s peace delight, and so fulfill the Word.

                                                                                                                Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ