What Brings People to Church?

Given the way our consumer oriented culture works, it's easy to believe that people are brought to church by the product the church offers. It might be the shiny, sparkling programs for children or youth. It might be the beautiful music. It might be the "relevant" preaching. It might be the prevalence of "people like us." I'm sure those are features that do draw people.

My theory – and what I pray for – is quite different. My theory is that it is the work of God that draws people. When people see God at work in the lives of friends, family, acquaintances, they're drawn to ask questions. When people experience the Spirit stoking hunger for God in their own lives, they're drawn to come and see what's happening.

Every Sunday (and other times through the week) I walk up and down the halls praying for exactly those things to happen. I pray that God will draw people and make them hungry for him. I pray that God will do a work in my life, in the lives of Hardy people, and in our life together that will draw people to Jesus.

Easter is coming Sunday, April 20. As the highest day of the Christian year, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus is a great day to invite people. Here are a few things you can do as you join the work of inviting:

-Pray for God to do a work in your life that makes Jesus attractive to others.
-Pray for God to show you who to invite.
-Pray for the people God has put in your life, praying for the Spirit to make them receptive to your invitation.
-Pray for your fellow church people as they invite others.
-Our goal is to invite people who are not active participants in other churches; there are enough people out there who are not active in any church.
-In some cases it could be beneficial to offer your friends a ride to church. It can also be helpful to sit with them.
-Finally, pray that your witness will be bold, clear, and attractive.

Can you imagine what Hardy Memorial might look like when people are drawn to faith in Christ each week? When lives are changed by the power of God? When families are healed? When those in bondage to satan, chemicals, or destructive practices are set free? Lord, do it here! Do it in us! Let us experience afresh the resurrection reality of Jesus!

1 Corinthians 15:58
Rev. Richard Heyduck