You Must Be Present to Win

All the believers were together and had everything in common... Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. — Acts 2:44, 46

When I went to college in Houston, I was looking for a church. I wanted good preaching and encouraging worship. I thought I found it, and I walked down the aisle to join.

The pastor asked anyone who joined to stand down front. At the end of the service, he invited the church family to greet the new members.

There were quite a few of us who joined that Sunday. When the pastor invited people to greet us, only three people out of a large congregation came. I didn't stay long because I felt pushed away.

Here's what I've learned: Fellowship causes a church to grow. Not programming. Not a mission statement. Church is an organism.

You know why people stay in a church? Is it dynamic preaching? No. Is it the music? No. The main reason people stay is connectivity with other people. Some come every week just to see you, talk to you, and sit with you.

If someone new comes and they don't feel connected, cared for, and loved, they will go somewhere else. They're looking for someone with skin on to pour into their life.

When you have fellowship with the Father, you will desire fellowship with other believers. You don't have to be forced. It flows out when you're connected to God.

Because you'll spend eternity with them, this life is preparation. God wants us to have fellowship with Him and others right now. This is heaven on earth.

Online church might be wonderful for a season, but you must be present to win. I don't want to watch God move on a screen. I want to experience it with people in my life.

Are you in fellowship with other people? If not, you were made for fellowship. Walk slowly through the crowd. Someone may need an encouraging word.