First Impressions

One of the most exciting things that I've been seeing in recent months at EFBC has been the tremendous increase in first time visitors! And as exciting as this is, there's one thing that always goes through my mind when they come: "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." For most of us "regular church attendees," we've forgotten what a scary experience that visiting a church for the first time can be. Visitors walk in not knowing what to expect from us, or what may or may not be expected of them. Hard as it is for us "old-timers" to understand, this can truly be a frightening and intimidating occasion.

With that in mind, let me encourage all of our faithful members to please do everything you can to put our visitors at ease and make them feel at home here at EFBC. This begins with the invitation to come and visit. Let them know ahead of time that we're not going to embarrass them, or single them out, or call on them to pray. Let them know that you'd love to sit with them in Sunday School and during the worship service. Let them know what they can expect when they attend.

I received a call last week from someone who told me they wanted to visit but didn't have any appropriate church clothes to wear. Isn't it sad that the "church culture" has created this idea in so many people's minds that attending a church service without dressing up is an abomination? I'm so thankful that Eulaton isn't that way. I'm glad that people can come here and feel just as comfortable in jeans as they do in a suit. Let's be sure the people we're investing in and inviting to church know that EFBC is not about a fashion show or a beauty contest. We understand that man judges by the outward appearance, but God judges by the heart (1 Samuel 16).

Two years ago I preached a series of messages entitled People Repellent, and it was about all the reasons why people say they don't attend church. The point of this series was to show that sometimes our actions in the church repels people much the same way a can of Off repels insects. Although it is true that the message of the Gospel is offensive, we need to make sure that when we offend folks that we're actually offending them with the Gospel. Most people who've quit attending church have not been offended by the message of the Gospel as much as they've been offended by people in the church who were just real jerks!

Satan's already doing a pretty good job of keeping people from attending church, so let's not go out of our way to aid him in his unholy cause. Let's remember the instruction of Colossians 4:5-6 that says, Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. (NCV)

People are watching us. Many of them are forming their opinions of the church and Jesus based on the things we say and do. They're looking for reasons not to believe. Let's not be that reason! Let's let them see Jesus in us!

Never The Same

Can hardly wait until Sunday at EFBC! Looking forward to preaching my message this week entitled Never The Same. Text will be Matthew 27:50-54, if you wanna get a head start.

After this Sunday comes Easter! All I can say is I'm expecting something OVERWHELMING, more so than we've already been seeing, on that day! I've just got one of those feelings, if you know what I mean.

So, let me go ahead and be encouraging you: Be inviting your friends, family and casual acquaintances. Try to get them here this Sunday. ESPECIALLY try to get them here for Easter! That's a day when people who wouldn't ordinarily set foot in the church will at least think about coming. Let's take advantage of that! I'm praying for such a packed house that the choir can't come down and people will have to sit in the window sills!

Fasten your seat belts, keep your fork and hold on tight, Eulaton, because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Overwhelmed!

When I consider all that God is doing here at EFBC and how He has changed this church in the past year, I am overwhelmed!

When I think about how blessed I am to have the greatest job in the world and that I get to do what I love to do right here in the community I grew up in, I am overwhelmed!

When I remember what Jesus did for me on the cross (which we'll be talking about for the next several Sundays), I am overwhlemed!

When I think about what God has in store for us this Sunday at EFBC, I am overwhelmed!

When I ponder the message I'll be preaching this weekend at EFBC, Drinking From A Bitter Cup, I am overwhelmed!

When I realize how much more God has in store for us and that the best is yet to come, I am overwhelmed!

Don't Forget...

Several things I don't want you to forget concerning this Sunday at EFBC:

-Don't forget that this Sunday is Youth Sunday, and our youth will be leading us in the worship service. Koy will be preaching a message entitled True Love Waits.

-Don't forget that our Sunday School hour precedes our morning worship service, and I guarantee that you'll receive a tremendous blessing by coming and being part of a small group experience.

-Don't forget that this Sunday is the weekend when we move our clocks ahead one hour. Don't be that person who shows up for Sunday School about the time we're heading to the worship service.

-Don't forget that God keeps blessing us week after week at EFBC. He's been showing up in a BIG way, and I believe we're in for even greater blessings in the coming days (starting this Sunday). We need to keep asking ourselves the question, "What's next?"

-Don't forget the words of Psalm 63:2 that says, I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.

-And finally, don't forget that God is good, Jesus saves, and the best is yet to come!

Short And Sweet

I'm short on time today, so this Sunday preview will be short and sweet. This week at EFBC we'll conclude our Things Jesus Said series with a message entitled Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The text for this week's message is John 6:51-67, and it's arguably some of the most unusual and misunderstood things Jesus ever said.

I'm expecting God to show up in a BIG WAY again this Sunday, and I hope you'll plan on being here. God keeps blowing me away more and more every week. What will He do this Sunday? I don't really know the answer to that question, but I do know for sure that we'd better all keep our forks because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!

Does Anybody See What I See?

Does anybody see what I see? In the past six months, I've seen things at EFBC that have absolutely blessed my socks off. Every week I'm more and more in awe as I see God working in our midst. As I reflect on what He's been doing, I can't help but wonder if others are taking notice too.

I see a church that has fully embraced its primary mission, which is to glorify Jesus Christ and to make His name known. I see people who've come to the conclusion that we ought to be working overtime to see Hell depopulated. I see people who've fully sold out for this mission, and the results are showing more and more.

I see a church that has caught the vision for what God wants to do in this community. I see people who are dreaming incredibly big, God-sized dreams about the future of the body of Christ at Eulaton. I see the things I had envisioned seven and a half years ago when I came here as your pastor beginning to come to fruition.

I see people who are moving out of their comfort zones and doing things that are stretching them. I see folks who've decided that the mission and the ministry that God's placed before us are far more important than their own personal security. I see these same people smiling a lot more as they exercise their gifts in serving the Lord.

I see that people's creative juices are beginning to flow more than ever, and that folks are really learning to think outside the box. I see a church that's been here for over 120 years realizing that we don't have to live in the past to serve God in the present. I see people who have begun to understand what Jesus meant when He said new wine requires new wineskins.

And most importantly, I see lives that are being changed. I see hearts that are being transformed. I see more and more people who are crossing over from death to life, and that's what it's really all about.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I see a living, breathing New Testament church that is alive right here in Eulaton, Alabama.

Does anybody see what I see?