Don't be a pew warmer...

It's Sunday which means it's church day.
For our family, there is no question of whether or not we will go when the church doors are open. Yes, sometimes things get in the way, but when we are the ones deciding, we are there.
Not only because we are believers and love our Pastors and their leading, not only because we love our God, but because we serve in our church.

It is too often that people inside the church arrive at 11, leave at 12 and leave to check of their weekly worship on their 'to do' list. No volunteering, no serving, no looking for opportunities to be a blessing to the church and what it tries to accomplish.
It is so unfortunate, because they have a spot to fill made just for them, but instead, they're simply pew warmers.

God has blessed every single person with certain talents and gifts. Talents and gifts He wants us to use in every day life to be a blessing to those around us and in the end, make this world a much better place. That applies to whether you're a believer or not because not being one doesn't take that truth away.
What happens unfortunately is the people within in the church do one of two things.
They either consciously decide that they're not going to be any part outside of attending service or they don't feel valuable enough to find that place to serve.

My message to you today is this. Find your place.

A church isn't built by 4 walls. It is built by the people inside it. If everyone sits back passively, letting the Pastor and paid staff do all the work, that church will fail.
Your church needs Sunday school teachers who love kids, teens or even leading adults through life.
Your church needs your guitar playing abilities, your in tune voice and your awesome praise leading abilities.
Your church needs help running the sound, setting up for events, or your kind smile greeting people at the door.
Your church needs your fearlessness to reach people in the community.
It needs people who stand in front of the crowd and those who do quiet work behind the scenes. Collectively these people create the church experience that makes an impact in the community.

If you church doesn't need these things, there is a church out there that does. Pray for God to open your eyes to where He wants you to be. He didn't give you the gifts He did for them to sit on a dusty shelf. Someone is missing out because you're not in their life.

Our church is currently going through a transition and so I see this in such a different way now. I look across our congregation that is filled with so many different, neat gifts, but not everyone chooses to use them. I even see it in my friends outside the church who have so much to give and no where to give it. There is a place for you in a church. Not just to go sit, sing, learn and leave, but to serve, grow, be a part of something great.

Look for those opportunities. Ask for them if they're not there. Pray for what part you're supposed to play. No church is perfect. Want to know why? They're not made up of perfect people. Just willing ones. Don't know what your gifts are? I bet your leadership can help you figure it out.

Stop sitting idly by. Don't just be a pew warmer. You have too much good to give.