THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE
“I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the Lord our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.”
-II Chronicles 2:4 NLT
When the church gathers, something sacred happens.
God has planned for you to be present—to experience His presence, to receive instruction, correction, and courage so you can move forward.
That said, it is possible to miss what He has in store for you.
How?
Your enemy, Satan, seeks to distract you from key moments in our gatherings. The cell phones we carry that seem quiet all week suddenly come alive during worship. Notifications from every direction light up our screens and demand our attention. The scrolling begins.
A cup of coffee gets knocked over. Someone beside us needs to step out. A loud noise behind us draws our focus. Thoughts flood our minds:
Did I lock the car?
Did I unplug the space heater?
Where should we go to eat after service?
Distraction is subtle—but powerful.
So what can we do?
Everyone has a role in making sure we don’t miss what God has prepared for us. From the moment we gather, our attention belongs to the Lord.
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
— Colossians 3:1 (NLT)
We must take captive our thoughts and focus on Jesus. He planned for you today. You don’t want to miss what He has for you—or become a distraction that causes someone else to miss what God has for them.
Our weekly gatherings are not events; they are encounters with the living God. Be intentional about every Sunday.
Plan with Purpose
Offer Excellence
Keep Worship Central
Be Missional
Build a Godly Legacy
Plan with Purpose
Preparation for Sunday should begin early in the week. We can eliminate unnecessary distractions by being prepared. Michele and I keep a Bible bag that holds our Bibles, notebooks, and everything we need for Sunday. We never have to search for what we need—it’s ready. Preparation positions us to receive.
Offer Excellence
Excellence means being prepared and well-rested. If you are scheduled to serve, Saturday night is too late to begin preparing. Arrive early and ready to give your very best. Consider this: If Jesus were standing at the door when you arrived, what would you be ready to offer Him?
Keep Worship Central
There are many blessings that come from having a home church—friendship, community, Christian education, and fellowship, to name a few. But the primary reason we gather is to worship God. Don’t let anything become greater than that purpose.
Be Missional
Being missional should be a natural expression of our Christian walk. Throughout the week, we share Jesus with those around us and invite them to gather with us. When Sunday arrives, that mission continues. We love one another. We encourage one another. We serve one another. We pray for one another. This is part of the mission Christ has given us.
Build a Godly Legacy
Building a godly legacy requires intentional action. When we give generously, model Christlike living, and share with others, we are laying foundations that will outlive us. Long after we are gone, the buildings we worshiped in, the classrooms where we learned, and the leaders we helped develop will continue the Christian legacy we lived out.