Articles/Bulletins
Playing Church
When I was growing up, my brothers and I would often times “play church.” It would sometimes just be the three of us, but sometimes we invited guests (stuffed animals) to join with us in worship. We would sing songs out of my dad’s song book, read a scripture as the lesson, and pass around juice and bread for communion. Obviously, as kids, we weren’t holding an actual worship service, but instead we were just imitating what we saw our parents do every Sunday and Wednesday.
Many of you probably had a similar experience as kids. Unfortunately, I think many adults have not grown up from “playing church.” Many adults admit the reason they attend worship services is because it’s something their parents did, and they are just expected to do the same. Is that why we come to services? Do we attend services because it’s something that our parents expected of us since we were little? We do it because we are checking it off our “to do” list? If that’s our attitude, we are doing nothing more than just playing church.
Why do we come to church? The Hebrew writer tells us not to forsake the assembly so that we can “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (10:24). We assemble together so that we can encourage one another and love one another. We also assemble together in order to praise God and partake of His communion (Acts 20:7).
When you aren’t here, God is hurting. When you decide not to come, God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled. How can we reach the lost of the world, when we can’t even reach our own? How can we grow closer together with each other and with God if we only show up once a week? How can we truly grow spiritually if we are coming to just “play church?”
I think it’s time that all of us grow up and realize that we are here for God! We are here to serve Him and serve others. I’m not here to check an item off my “to do” list. God comes first, others second, self last.
~ Kevin
- Bulletin 10-28-12.pdf.zip (1.67 MB)
