THE C WORD!

In most churches that I am acquainted with commitment is one of, if not the most often mentioned issue at staff meetings.  People don’t seem to be as committed as they once were.  Attendance is dropping off.  Volunteerism is down. So what are we to do? Well, we challenge our people to be more committed to the church.  We preach sermons, teach Sunday School lessons, even develop programs that encourage us to love our church and get more involved.  And on the whole, they really don’t work.  For a few months things seem better. But pretty soon we are right back to where we were at first, or maybe even worse off.

The problem is that we never addressed the fundamental issue of commitment.  As believers we are called together to fellowship and to serve, but we do so not out of love for the church, but out of love and devotion to Christ.  We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and body. He is to be Lord of all we are and ever will be.  When we are supremely devoted to Christ we will love the Church.  When Christ is Lord our service will be given naturally and joyfully. There will be no need for guilt inducing sermons or programs. When we are devoted to Christ we are most devoted to the fellowship of believers!  Why? Because he commands us to love one another. He commands us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but to provoke one another to good works.  Devoted Christ-followers are consumed with serving and pleasing the one who served them through His death on the cross.

Gospel centered ministry demands that we stop trying to lead people to greater devotion to the church, but lead them to something infinitely better. Devotion to Christ. 

Are you committed?