Parking Lot Sermons
When I resided in Clarksburg West Virginia, I frequently passed a church building that invariably impressed me. I'm not referring to the physical structure, although it was attractive. What struck me was the PARKING LOT; specifically, the NUMBER OF CARS typically parked there.
Although the lot was generally full during their Sunday morning worship, what impressed me was the fact that it was 80% full at 9:10 AM on Sundays – 20 minutes prior to Sunday school. That's not all. Whenever I passed the building at 5:40 on Sunday evenings (20 minutes prior to their evening service), the lot was often 75% full. It was no different prior to their midweek service.
There's more. On many weekdays and Saturdays, I routinely observed between 25 and 30 cars in their lot. Apparently, this is a church that believes that a church building should be utilized for more than a handful of hours weekly.
Why do I bring this up? Although I never attended a service in that building, I was constantly tempted to do so. Why? Because their parking lot "perpetually preached" that this particular church is passionate about worship, Bible study, serving and growing.
In fact, every church parking lot "preaches” on Sundays, Wednesdays, and other days. But what message does it convey to the community? “Once-a-week attendance is acceptable here.” Or, “Bible class is not a priority here.” Or, “This facility is unused 95% of the time.”
What is the parking lot of the Milan church of Christ preaching to our community? May God help us to improve these "sermons" for His glory and the salvation of souls.
“I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psa. 122:1).
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
When I resided in Clarksburg West Virginia, I frequently passed a church building that invariably impressed me. I'm not referring to the physical structure, although it was attractive. What struck me was the PARKING LOT; specifically, the NUMBER OF CARS typically parked there.
Although the lot was generally full during their Sunday morning worship, what impressed me was the fact that it was 80% full at 9:10 AM on Sundays – 20 minutes prior to Sunday school. That's not all. Whenever I passed the building at 5:40 on Sunday evenings (20 minutes prior to their evening service), the lot was often 75% full. It was no different prior to their midweek service.
There's more. On many weekdays and Saturdays, I routinely observed between 25 and 30 cars in their lot. Apparently, this is a church that believes that a church building should be utilized for more than a handful of hours weekly.
Why do I bring this up? Although I never attended a service in that building, I was constantly tempted to do so. Why? Because their parking lot "perpetually preached" that this particular church is passionate about worship, Bible study, serving and growing.
In fact, every church parking lot "preaches” on Sundays, Wednesdays, and other days. But what message does it convey to the community? “Once-a-week attendance is acceptable here.” Or, “Bible class is not a priority here.” Or, “This facility is unused 95% of the time.”
What is the parking lot of the Milan church of Christ preaching to our community? May God help us to improve these "sermons" for His glory and the salvation of souls.
“I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psa. 122:1).
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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