Average.

Posted by Jason C. Helveston on January 7, 2009

Context has the power to flip a word from a pejorative to a compliment in the blink of an eye.  There are plenty of places that the word “average” must never be first off the tongue.  Like when describing a meal you have just finished to the cook; or explaining your opinion of a child’s painting he or she has just handed you; not when categorizing your enthusiasm to friends after accepting a marriage proposal.  However in some areas of life, “average” should be a proud title to bear.  I believe that the church is one such place.

Some statistics indicate that about 2% of churches in America boast an attendance over 1,000.  So in the truest since of the word churches below the 1,000 member barrier are indeed average–their status expresses the norm.  However, honor should not be claimed simply in a group’s ability to stay small.  It is a far greater rewarded to be called average in light of a humble posture and faithful persistence.  Coincidentally, churches that remain smaller in numbers often find it easier to remain humble and faithful (though this principle is pervasive it is not true of all on either side).  Usually such an ease is a survival mechanism.  Average churches reason that humility and faithfulness are good because no matter what they do their numbers seem to stay the same.  What is so wrong with being average?

Isaiah scandalously describes the Messiah as a man with “no form or majesty that we should look at him,and no beauty that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2).”  Jesus appears average.  Not only does this reality fly in the face of a Jim Caviezel, perfectly parted hair, flower power Jesus we often envision today, but also challenges the pursuits of Jesus’ own Bride.  

The Church has learned to concern itself with catchier marquees, more attractive stages, and trendy media displays.  None is an inherent evil, but the identity we seek to create through their presence is in fact sin.  As a church we must identify with Christ.  The average church has a high calling; one that must not be abandoned for the glint of numbers, fame, and financial security.  The average church has a glorious identity; one that must not be covered by the flash of the vogue.  The average church has an extreme mission; one that must not be undone because of visible limits.

Context defines “average” as either an indictment or praise.  And it is the church that humbly and faithfully pursues success with numbers and not in numbers that will be found praise worthy.  ”Average” is a title that our King paradoxically bore for his Church.  The Church must respond by joyfully bearing such a title for our King.

Who Attends a Christmas Eve Service?

Posted by Adam Fix on January 5, 2009

My Sunday morning schedule looks something like this:

8-9am Set-up and preparation

9-10am Classes and Small Groups

10:15am Prayer with the pastors and the worship team before the service

10:30am Worship Service

Because we hold Sunday School classes and small groups before our worship service, many of our members are already in the building and preparing to worship before I have a chance to greet them.  Even through a consciece effort to make the rounds and greet people, I rarely hit even half of those in attendance.  However, on Christmas Eve, I made it a point to stand at the door and greet everyone as they entered.  It was so strange, despite the fact that we had an attendance comparable to a normal Sunday, I did not know half of the people who attended our Christmas Eve service.

For me, this raises two questions: who are all of these people coming on Christmas Eve and where are all the people who are usually here.  It also brings into question how we plan our Christmas service and what it should be like.  In any case, I couldn’t decide whether to be encouraged by all the new faces or discouraged because many of our regular attenders were not present.

Who attends your Christmas services and how do you plan accordingly?