Everyone is On the Welcome Team

Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7

This past Sunday was awesome! I love our baptism Sundays. It is always encouraging when believers share what Jesus has done for them and how they came to faith in Him. One part stood out to me as Lindsey shared her story. She shared how Pastor Andy had responded to her Facebook post about a church in the area and invited her to join us, and how Gracie was kind enough not let her be alone on her first Sunday. As we shared a meal together, I was more encouraged to see families sitting with other families and getting to know them. This is what the body of Christ should be about.

The truth is, we all walk in the doors with some degree of brokenness and struggles. Our sin weighs us down. The world has often just beaten us up over the past week. But we should be able to gather as believers, broken as we are, and worship the One who has Paid It All! What a glorious thing.
 
None of us deserves forgiveness, yet Jesus welcomes us into His goodness and grace, and we should do the same to others. If you are reading this, I want to challenge you in a few ways to follow Jesus’ example and obey God’s Word. Take the initiative to welcome others. Don’t wait to be welcomed. If someone comes to worship alone, they should not be alone for long. If a new person comes, they should be a priority. You know how nervous it can be experiencing church service for the first time, so let’s make it easier for new people. If there is someone you don’t know at our worship service, be proactive and go meet them. And finally, find a way to encourage at least two people every Sunday. We all could use some encouragement. There is a reason we don’t have a welcoming team, and that is because it is everyone’s responsibility.
 
Notice what Paul says in Romans 15:7. When we welcome others, it brings glory to God! Let’s be a church known for welcoming people, no matter how different or broken. After all, we too were different and broken, and Jesus welcomes us with arms wide open.