5 Signs Your Church Underperforms

Posted on December 8, 2011 by revjohnhill

Great article by Mark Howell

Mark Howell serves as Community Life Pastor at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, IL. He founded SmallGroupResources.net, offering consulting and coaching services to help churches across North America launch, build and sustain healthy small group ministries. He spent four years on the consulting staff at Lifetogether and often contributes to ministry periodicals such as the Pastor’s Ministry Toolbox and ChurchCentral.com.

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You may want to argue with me (and if you do, please use the comment section), but there are 5 easy-to-spot signs that your church is actually designed to underperform at connection.  What I mean by that is that whether your church is growing or not (doesn’t matter), there are several key factors that predetermine whether people are able to connect.  And very importantly, it’s been conclusively determined that people want to belong before they want to believe.

So what are the signs?  How can you tell if your church is actually designed to underperform at connection?  Here’s what I’ve found.

Top 5 Signs Your Church Is Designed to Underperform at Connection:

Your senior pastor is a reluctant champion of group life.

Churches where the senior pastor only infrequently talks about the importance of being connected are rarely, if ever, easy environments for connection to happen.  Without encouragement from the most visible person in the organization, it is just too easy to remain disconnected.  Trouble is life change most frequently happens where there is dialogue.  Life change most frequently happens where people are known.

Stories about the power of group life are rarely told.

If you want unconnected people to take a baby step and test-drive a group, there is nothing more compelling than a satisfied customer.  While we’re on the subject, stories told by satisfied customers (as opposed to stories about satisfied customers) are much more compelling.  It’s the reason marketers love testimonials.

Your church has no clear understanding of what a win is.

To borrow the phrase from the 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, if it’s not clear to everyone that the goal is to be connected in a group where you can be known, challenged, loved, held accountable, forgiven, encouraged, etc., it will only happen for those people who instinctively gravitate toward community.  (You know who those people are.  They create groups and group life opportunities even without your help).  Everyone else will remain anonymous at their own peril…because they don’t know any better.

Your church thinks programs instead of steps.

Again, to borrow from the 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, there need to be easy steps that lead to connection.  If the hardest step for many people today is to walk into your auditorium for the first time, the next hardest step is to leave the auditorium to join a group in a stranger’s living room!  The steps that are created also need to be obvious.  They can’t be hard to find (like when you have a buffet-style ministry and only one of the menu items leads to group life).  Finally, the steps you create need to be strategic; they need to lead in the right direction without wasted time wandering.

You spend too much time propping up existing groups and not enough time forming new groups.

Although counterintuitive to many, matchmaking (helping unconnected people find a spot in an existing group) is rarely productive.  The easiest time for the largest number of unconnected people to put their toe in the water is when new groups are formed.

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Greatest Guitarist??? You Vote

Posted on December 8, 2011 by revjohnhill
Categories: John Personal | 1 Comment

Who’s Your Choice for Heisman?

Posted on December 7, 2011 by revjohnhill
Categories: Common Everyday Stuff, John Personal | Leave a comment

Dissension in the Church

Posted on December 6, 2011 by revjohnhill

 ”Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

I’ve been around a great many churches in my life and career.  I have found that so many people have been hurt in the church.  In most of these it seems that someone said something, did something, didn’t say something or didn’t do something and this hurt someone else.  The person who is hurt will usually do one of the following:

  • Leave the church
  • Allow their hurt to seep out to others in the congregation

What this does is creates dissension within the walls of the church.  This is very dangerous and is the playground for Satan.  The prince of darkness loves it when Christians begin to quarrel with one another because it takes their focus and the focus of the church and places it on something besides the Great Commission. Thus the warning from Paul to the Philippians, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”

Is this really possible?  A church without some sort of dissension seems like the exception to the rule.  However, IT IS POSSIBLE.  How do we get to that point?  Well, Jesus gave us a plan to deal with problems in the church.

“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.” Matthew 18:15-17 The Message

A three-point plan to prevent dissension/arguments/hurt feelings within the church.

  1. Go and tell the person who hurt you or your upset with.
  2. IF he doesn’t listen, take one or two others along and try again.
  3. IF he still won’t listen, tell the church.

In our churches today, there is way too much skipping of the first step.  As pastor, when someone comes to me with a complaint against another congregation member or a staff member, the first thing I ask is, “Have you talked to that person?”  Most often the question is no.

The main reason people get hurt and leave the church is a lack of communication.  Skipping step number 1.  Jesus made this one number 1 and I believe he was a pretty smart man.  If we’re Christian, why do we just jump over the first step when most disagreements can be solved at this point? Let me assure you that anonymous letters, talking with other congregation members or just holding it in and staying hurt or mad will NOT help the situation.

Please, allow me to encourage you to open up that line of communication with everyone in the church.  If you have an issue with something a fellow member, staff or if the pastor has said, not said, done, or not done something, please go to that person with your concerns.  If he/she does not listen, then go Step 2, then if it is not resolved go to Step 3

It seems that someone is always upset with the pastor. It’s okay because the way to avoid that is to try to make everyone happy.  When pastors try to make everyone happy, they lose focus of their true calling from God.  I had one of my pastor mentors tell me, “Don’t spend time worrying about the complaints that have come from someone on behalf of the person who is complaining.  If they won’t talk to you one on one, you’re not going to be able to make changes to their satisfaction and it takes your focus off the important stuff.”

Open up your communication and there WILL BE less dissension in our churches and can you then imagine what God can accomplish for the Kingdom!

Categories: Church, Church At Chelsea Park, Faith Journey, John's Rant (opinion) | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

7 Things the Pastor DOES NOT Need to Know

Posted on November 29, 2011 by revjohnhill

Written by Ron Edmonson http://www.ronedmondson.com/

In every position of leadership I have ever held, there were people who felt the need to “inform” the leader.

When I served in an elected office, people told me things I wouldn’t have otherwise known without the position. Sometimes I needed to know…sometimes I didn’t.

When I was a business owner, there was always at least one employee who made sure I knew the inside scoop of the company talk. Sometimes I needed to know…sometimes I didn’t.

As a pastor, I’ve learned there are plenty of people willing to tell me things I would never hear if I wasn’t the pastor. Sometimes I need to know…sometimes I don’t.

I usually never know if it’s something I should know or not until they tell me. If someone has a legitimate problem with a ministry area, I want to know about it, for example. There are some things, however, that I never feel the need to know.

Here are a few examples:

  • Gossip about another person…
  • Prayer requests given with a motive of gossip…
  • Rumors spread without substantiation…
  • Extremely intimate details about a person’s private life…
  • Problems happening in another church…
  • Secrets one doesn’t have permission to tell…
  • Details your spouse isn’t ready for me to hear…

You might be surprised to hear what people try to tell me…because I’m a pastor. Now there are extreme times when abuse or neglect is suspected or occurring to an individual and I may need to hear, but most of the time those are not the intent with the list above. Chances are that if it’s wrong to share with others, it’s wrong to share it with me.

Please understand, I’m not suggesting I don’t care about the struggles of people’s lives, but there is never an excuse to spread gossip or rumors that cause more harm than good to a person or situation. Even though I’m the pastor, there are some things I simply have no need to know.

Pastors, what’s the strangest thing you’ve been told…that you really didn’t need to know?

What else would you add to my list?

Categories: Church | 1 Comment

5 Christmas Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Posted on November 29, 2011 by revjohnhill

How can churches maximize Christmas.  Let’s face it, there are many who only go to church on Christmas and Easter.  Here is a great article about how to avoid planning mistakes.  Good for everyone to read.

5 Christmas Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them).

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15 Signs Your Church Is in Trouble

Posted on November 28, 2011 by revjohnhill

Here is a great article which gives some great points.  All churches need to keep these in mind as they reach for their goals.  Also, a church doesn’t need to have all 15 to be in trouble.  One or two could give you an idea.  Click on the link below for the article.

15 Signs Your Church Is in Trouble.

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Better or Bitter

Posted on November 27, 2011 by revjohnhill

Quote of the Day:

“Every hurt will MAKE you or BREAK you based on your response.Stepping stone or stumbling block? Better or bitter? You choose.”  Rick Warren

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Focusing our Efforts

Posted on November 26, 2011 by revjohnhill
Derek Jeter

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Over the last several months, the leadership at Union has been asking the following question:  “What do we do well?”  This is a very important question as we are making the next steps in our growth.  But what exactly does this mean?  It means”

  • We are going to determine what we do well.  What is it we are good at?
  • We do we not do well? What are we not good at?
  • We’re going to stop doing the things we don’t do well and
  • We’re going to focus our energy, time, money, efforts, resources on what we already do well and try to take these to the next level of good.

John Maxwell says “Don’t focus on the things your not good at!  Why, because you aren’t any good at them.”

Derrick Jeter is one of the best hitters all time in baseball.  Guess what?  Jeter doesn’t spend any time in the bullpen working on his pitching.  Why?  It’s not what he is good at.  He could spend hours and hours trying to be a good pitcher but never achieve even “good” major league pitching status.  If he were to spend all that time trying to become a pitcher, it would take it’s toll on what he is really good at…hitting.

So many churches today are trying to become good at what they are not good at and they are doing it while sacrificing the ministries they do well.  Instead, churches should be focusing on the ministries they are already good at and taking them to the next level.

Maxwell suggest that we have been taught the following:  Someone who gets an A in math and a C in English should study English more.  Maxwell instead teaches that the student should concentrate and become better in math.  That person has a “Math Mind.”

I’ve also been told if on a scale of 1-10, a person will never be able to increase their skill more than three points.  So, if you are a 6 skill level, you can reach a 9.  However, if you are a 3 skill level in an area, you will never increase more than a 6.

What does all this mean for churches?

  • It could mean cutting out ministries that have been going on for years, but are not productive and are being sustained because we have been doing them for years.
  • It means finding out what your strengths are and weaknesses are.  (these by the way, can be very difficult answers to face.)
  • Taking a look at the churches talents and using them to their fullest potential.
  • It will mean growth.  Both spiritually and physically.
  • It will mean less division because the churches will know what their vision.  (Where there is no VISION, there will be DIVISION)
Related articles
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This May Step on Some Toes!!

Posted on November 25, 2011 by revjohnhill

GREAT ARTICLE I read on Christian Post.com

My Wife Had a Bad Experience at Chick-fil-A!

Fri, Nov. 25, 2011 Posted: 09:09 AM EDT

I love Chick-Fil-A! (AND love Tim Hawkins song about it)

We eat there at least two or three times a week (not kidding…we’ve actually pushed that number up to 6-7 a few times.)

The food is ALWAYS good, they get the order right nearly every time and their customer service is second to none. It is always clean and no matter how long the line seems to be people are always served as quickly and efficiently as possible.

So, imagine my surprise when my wife came home the other day and, as we were catching each other up on the things that had taken place while we had been apart all morning and afternoon she told me about a bad experience she had at Chick-Fil-A.

I was immediately frustrated! (Any husband would be!) AND…before I knew it I had literally told myself in my mind, “Well, if that’s the way things are going to be then I guess we just won’t be going to Chick-Fil-A anymore, they’ve lost my business.”

TIME OUT!!! How stupid was THAT thought? Seriously, let’s review…
■#1 – They ALWAYS deliver great food!
■#2 – They ALWAYS have friendly people!
■#3 – They ALWAYS have a clean environment!
■#4 – What my wife had experienced was not in line with what normally happens.

(AND…I want to be completely fair to Lucretia, she was NOT saying she would not go back, nor was she angry…she was just telling me about her day and I am the one who became irrational!) :-)

I lost my mind! I was literally going to allow one bad experience with one employee ruin a reputation of excellence that had been consistent for years! (AND…no one knows what was going on in that employees life…she could have had one of the worst days of her life and was trying her best to just hold it together until she could clock out!)

Before you agree with me too quickly…I think there are people who have done the same thing to the church!

It has become quite popular, even in some “Christian” circles, to bash the church for all of the dumb things that she has done.

I have met people since being in ministry for over 20 years that have the same attitude with the church that I almost had with Chick-Fil-A! They will attend, serve, be devoted to a local church for months or even years…and then, all of a sudden…
■Someone didn’t call them when they were out for two weeks.
■Someone said something hurtful to or about them.
■They didn’t like what the preacher said.
■They didn’t like what the youth group was doing.

I could go on and on…but you get the point. There are times when people will allow one thing in the church to trump the decades of ministry and impact that have taken place through that body of believers, and that’s a bit insane.
■Yes, if you stay in a church long enough I promise you that you will see hypocrisy.
■Someone will say something to you or about you that will hurt you.
■Decisions will be made that you do not like.
■There are going to be sermons that make you mad.

When that happens the enemy is going to try his best to convince you to just walk away…because he knows that the first step away from God is usually getting people to step away from the people of God.

Yes, the church, EVERY church, has made some unwise decisions and, in the process have hurt or disappointed people along the way…but let’s know throw the baby out with the bathwater…
■She’s STILL being built by Jesus–that makes her important!
■She’s STILL reaching out to the broken, the forgotten and the poor.
■She’s STILL making a difference that’s going to be seen for eternity.
■She’s STILL GOD’S PLAN for reaching the world.
■She’s STILL necessary for believers! (If church is not necessary then why did Jesus say He would build it, died for it, will one day redeem it and spends so much time in the NT talking to it and about it?”

No, the church is NOT perfect…but neither are you (or me!) So, when we’re tempted to walk away because of the one thing that seems to hurt us or trip us up we should simply ask, “is this consistant with this churches character?”

Stay in a church long enough and you will have a bad experience…but let that push you closer to Jesus as you recognize that HE uses imperfect people in His plan, which means sometimes they get it wrong, and then beg the Lord to teach both them and yourself how to best deal with the situation…because, she’s STILL the church and STILL His bride.

Now…anyone want to go to Chick-Fil-A with me? :-)

Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church which has campuses in Anderson, Columbia, Florence, and Greenville, South Carolina. At ten years old, the church averages over 10,000 people across all campuses. You can find Perry online at perrynoble.com or on twitter @perrynoble.

Perry Noble
Christian Post Guest Columnist

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Stop Working on Your Weaknesses

Posted on November 25, 2011 by revjohnhill

This video really focuses on the reasoning for most of the recent changes at Union.  Please take 2 minutes to watch this video.

Perhaps a better question is, “What are you really good at?”

via John Maxwell: Stop Working on Your Weaknesses.

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What I’m Thankful For

Posted on November 24, 2011 by revjohnhill

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Today is Thanksgiving and I’m on a diet.  What this means is that I have to refocus my attention away from the wonderful buffet laid out before me and give some thought to the true meaning of Thanksgiving.  Here is a list of the 5 things I’m thankful for…

  • Jesus.  I can remember my life without my faith in Christ.  It was bad, lonely and empty.  This is so much better
  • Jill:  Next to Jesus, the greatest thing that has ever happened to me is my wife. My relationship with her has made me a better man.  I love her with all my heart and I thank God for her every day.
  • Erica, Jackson, Noah, Sophie, and Graden:  I love being a father and I love being a dad even more.  I’m thankful when I come through the door and I hear Dada!
  • Mom:  Her guidance, lessons and love have brought me this far in life.  I’ve also realized how much like her I really am.  That’s a good thing.
  • My In-Laws:  I love having brothers and sisters.  I was an only child and so having this extended family is something that I’m pretty thankful for.  Tim, you are the dad I never had.  Hilda, you’re the only one in the world who worries about my family more than me!!  I love all of you and thanks.
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Changes Happening

Posted on November 21, 2011 by revjohnhill

Union CCP is having a great many changes happening right now. We are in the process of merging two worship services into one.  As with any change, there are some who are excited about the change and those who are not.  It seems that we either love a change or hate it.

If we love a change, chances are that it falls into one of these categories:

  • We thought of the change to be made. (It was our idea)
  • The change benefits us in a way that we like. ( There can be change that benefits you which you don’t like.)

How do we face, accept and possibly embrace change?  Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us a clue in chapter 4:4-7.  Paul gives us 3 things:

  1. Rejoice in the Lord!  Our happiness and our joy should come from God.  However we often find it in the things of the world such as our house, spouse, children, boyfriend, girlfriend, money, career, football team, a hobby, car, Justin Bieber (for my daughter) and, well you get the point.  All these things are temporary, they will go away or, change.  The only thing in this life that will never go away or change is God’s love for you.  Find your happiness in the Lord.
  2. Be Gentle, Compassionate, Graceful.  How you treat those who are for a change when you are against it matters as does treating those who are against a change that you are for.  Paul urges us to treat each other with gentleness.  Paul then gives a “warning”  “Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”  This reminds me of my wife telling our three-year old son when he is misbehaving, “Your Dad will be home soon.”  Just a reminder that God sees all.
  3. Don’t Worry, PRAY.  Worry is a useless emotion.  It has never solved anything, never made something happen, never provided relief, never help any situation.  All worry does is give ulcers.  Paul tells us not to worry about anything but to take everything to God in prayer.  Ask Him for everything you need but also remember to THANK Him for all the blessings.  Often we get so busy lifting our needs we forget to say thanks and that does nothing but draw our focus completely on our problems.  There needs to be a balance and that balance is found through remembering all the things in our life that God has done for us.

Change is going to happen in our life.  There’s no getting around it.  How we handle the changes can and should be pleasing to God.  Does the way you handle change please God?

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5 Biggest Changes In My Life

Posted on November 10, 2011 by revjohnhill

Everything in life is about change.  It’s a fact.  If there is life, there is change however, that does not make us like change any better.  I have found that anytime there is some sort of change in my life, it’s carries with it nervousness, anxiety,  hesitation, a un-sureness about the future and wondering if this is the right move.  Even when I know it is the best change possible, I always have those feelings.

  1.  Leaving for college: I moved from Pearl, MS and over 300 miles from home.  The furthest I had ever spent the night from home was on a mission trip and that was only for 1 week.  I would be moving to another state and it scared me to death.  I knew Samford was the college for me and I wanted to go, but wow was this a big change.  I’ve lived in Alabama now for 20 years.  1 year longer than I’d lived in Mississippi.
  2. Going into the ministry:  This was a huge LIFE CHANGE for me.  It was this time that I truly realized my brokenness.  I asked questions like, “How am I going to do this?”  ”How can I preach a new sermon every week?”  It was also at this time I began to realize that I couldn’t and this would probably be the first thing in my life that I was not able to accomplish by my own resources…I had to rely on God.
  3. Moving to Decatur for my first appointment:  Accepting the call to preach meant that I would now be itinerant and where I lived and work would not be my choice but that of the Bishop and the Cabinet. Pastor Move Day of 2002, I moved to Decatur leaving behind my first home that I bought, my friends, my job, my financial security and my church. It was hard and scary and at the same time exciting and the feeling that I was finally doing what I was supposed to do.
  4. Getting Married:  I had never met a person like my wife.  Excluding my relationship with Christ, she is the best thing that has ever happen to me.  On the morning of the best day of my life, I was scared and my anxiety was at an all time high.  I was going from being single with my biggest responsiblity was my black lab Reagan and now I was not only a husband but a father.  Life was no longer just about me.  Been the second best decision I’ve ever made.
  5. Having another baby:  Jill and I were getting really close to the age where her doctor said it became more dangerous for her to get pregnant.  We were under time constraints.  Could we afford to have another child?  No.  We will have 2 in college at the same time (didn’t know it was going to be 3).  A lot of prayer and thought but we finally decided to move forward and it has been an awesome privilege to be Graden and Sophie’s dad.

Change is inevitable in life, make the best decisions you can and realized that even before the best changes, there is fear and anxiety.

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Where’s The Leadership?

Posted on November 9, 2011 by revjohnhill

The news is reporting that years ago, a Penn State Grad student witness a former coach abusing a child.  Reported it to Coach Paterno.  Nothing has been said and now the grad student is a coach at the school.This seems to be an incredible lack of leadership (not saying anything about the lack of morals) exhibited in this situation.

If the accusations are true, Coach Paterno should be held criminally responsible.  As a pastor, I have a great deal of contact with children and we are trained that one of the very few times we break confidentiality is when there is the possibility of abuse.  We cannot keep that to ourselves.  Why would Paterno keep this information to himself (if he truly did)?  We can ask the same question as to why most people have the first reaction that the accusations are true.  The power of the football god.

Football has taken on a god-like status and Football is a LOUSY god!!  Being from Alabama, I live in the college football capitol of the world.  There is no other rivalry that comes close to that of Alabama/Auburn.  It’s so bad that just this past year, an Alabama fan poisoned trees that are a tradition at Auburn. This man did not even go to the University!  How can one be that loyal (and I use that word lightly) or CRAZY regarding a school where you have never paid one semesters tuition?  Football has become a god.

In Alabama, people plan church, weddings, vacations, and family gatherings around the schedule of college kids chasing a pigskin.  Strange but true.

How did Coach Paterno have such a lack of leadership?  Simple, football is more important than the children who were hurt..

Why did a man who witnessed child abuse remain silent and take a staff position on a team that covers it up? Simple, football is more important than the children who were hurt.

Quite a sad commentary.

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Almost Christian…

Posted on November 1, 2011 by revjohnhill
Stripped image of John Wesley

Image via Wikipedia

Yesterday I preached from John Wesley‘s sermon he preached in 1741 entitled Almost Christian.  Here is an outline of Mr. Wesley’s sermon that gives the main points of the sermon.

Summary:  The theme for this sermon is the difference between nominal and absolute Christianity.  He draws a distinction between those who exhibit outward godliness yet do not have an inward godliness.  Thus are hypocrites.  Even though Wesley would later waver on his evaluation of “Almost Christian”, his theology on salvation by faith grounded in love is very evident.

Introduction:  There have been many throughout history that have been almost persuaded to become a Christian.  However, it is not enough to be almost, one must go all the way.

  1. The Almost Christian
    1. Even the heathens have a social order of acceptability of what is right.
    2. People without spiritual enlightenment realize there is an obligation to truth and justice
    3. Even those who have no knowledge of the Bible are willing to love and help others.
    4. The “Almost Christian” looks godly on the outside and…
      1. Does nothing forbidden in the Gospels.
      2. Does not swear
      3. Does not “profane” the day of the Lord
      4. Does not commit adultery
      5. Abstains from wine and strife
      6. Works for the profit of many to help some.
      7. Uses the means of grace.
        1. Goes to church humbly
        2. Behave in serious manner and praises God during worship.
        3. Reverent at the Lords Table
    5. Prays to God
    6. Has the outward godliness to escape retribution.  A hypocrite
    7. One must have a true commitment to serve God and do his will.
    8. It is possible to have a true commitment to serve God and zealously do his will and still be an “Almost Christian.”
    9. St. Paul and being “Almost Christian.”
    10. “All this time, I was only an “Almost Christian.”
      1. The Altogether Christian
        1. Has a love for God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.
        2. Has a love for others as Christ loved.
        3. Has faith, which is the ground of all.
        4. Don’t be deceived.
          1.  Faith that does not produce repentance, love, and good works is not living faith.
    11. The altogether Christian places their faith in the merits and salvation of Jesus Christ.
    12. Those who believe that Christ is sufficient is an altogether Christian
    13. Ask yourself if you are an altogether Christian
  2. Do I have an outward appearance of godliness
  3. Do I do those things only to please God.
  4. Are you an Almost Christian or have you come that far?
  5. Even if you have plans to become an Altogether Christian, unless there is action it is no good.
  6. God is in our presence and unless we have faith in and a love for him, it would be better if we had not been born.
  7. Let’s move forward from being just Almost Christians to Altogether Christians.  It’s possible through Jesus Christ.
Categories: John Wesley | 1 Comment

Awesome

Posted on October 31, 2011 by revjohnhill

Just saw the mock-up for Union’s new website design.  It is AWESOME and I can’t wait for it to go live.  Thanks Ginny!!

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Communion Questions and Answers

Posted on October 22, 2011 by revjohnhill
Dr. Gregory S. Neal, United Methodist Elder, p...

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CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE ON UMC PAGE

Why do United Methodists call this sharing of bread and cup by different names, such as Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, and Eucharist?

Each of these names is taken from the New Testament and highlights certain facets of this sacrament’s many meanings. Calling it the Lord’s Supper reminds us that it is a meal instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ and hosted by him at his table whenever it takes place. Calling it Holy Communion reminds us that it is an act of the most holy and intimate sharing, making us one with Jesus Christ and part of his body, the church. Calling it the Eucharist, a term taken from the New Testament Greek word meaning thanksgiving, reminds us that giving thanks to God for all that God has done is an essential part of the meal. By using different names we acknowledge that no single name can contain the rich wealth of meanings in this sacred act.

What do United Methodists mean when they call this act a sacrament?

Our Confession of Faith states: “We believe the sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian’s profession and of God’s love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening [bringing to life], strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” The term is taken from the Latin sacramentum, which was a Roman soldier’s pledge of allegiance. A sacrament is God‘s pledge of allegiance [love and faithfulness] to us, and our answering pledge of allegiance to God.

Do United Methodists believe that the bread and wine physically or chemically change into Christ’s flesh and blood in this sacrament?

No, we believe that the change is spiritual. They signify the body and blood of Christ for us, helping us to be Christ’s body in the world today, redeemed by Christ’s blood. We pray over the bread and the cup that they may make us one with Christ, “one with each other, and one in service to all the world.”

I am a Christian, but not a United Methodist. Am I invited to receive Communion in a United Methodist church?

Yes indeed. It is the Lord’s Supper, not ours, and it is Christ who invites you. As our ritual puts it: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.” We do not refuse any who present themselves desiring to receive. Whether you should receive Communion with us is between you and God.
I do not wish to receive Communion because doing so would be disloyal to my religion or my denomination. May I attend a United Methodist Communion service and not receive Communion?
Yes indeed. We do not want anyone to feel unwelcome because, for whatever reason, they do not choose to receive Communion. Simply remain seated when others go forward, or pass the bread and cup along if they are passed to you, and no one will question what you do.

Should I receive Communion if I feel unworthy?

Two thousand years ago Jesus ate with sinners and those whom others scorned. He still does. None of us is worthy, except by God’s grace. Thank God we don’t have to earn worth in God’s eyes by our goodness or our faith. Your sacred worth, and ours, is God’s free gift. No matter what you have done or what your present condition, if you want Christ in your life you are welcome at his table. Communion provides the opportunity for you to confess your sins, to receive forgiveness, and to indicate your intention to lead a new life.

May young children receive Communion?

Certainly. As The United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, “All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup.” We remember that when some of Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from him he said: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14 NRSV).

But do young children know what they are doing when they receive Communion?

Do they understand the full meaning of this holy sacrament? No, and neither do any of us. It is a wonderful mystery, and children can sense wonder and mystery. Children cannot understand the full significance of family meals, but we feed them at our family tables and at Christ’s family table. Young children experience being loved by being fed. They sense the difference between being included and excluded at a family meal. They have the faith of a child, appropriate to their stage of development, which Jesus recognized and honored. Indeed, he said to adults: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15 NRSV).

May I receive Communion without standing or kneeling?

Certainly. In some United Methodist congregations most persons receive Communion while standing, while in others most receive while kneeling; but you are always welcome to receive while seated. If others are kneeling at the rail, you may remain standing and you will be served. You may also come forward and be seated on the front row, or come forward in your wheelchair, and you will be served. Or you may notify an usher, and someone will come to you and serve you where you are seated.

If someone in my family wishes to receive Communion but cannot come to the church service, can Communion be brought to them?

Certainly. As an extension of the congregation’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Communion is brought to persons, wherever they are, who wish it but could not attend the service. This can be done by the pastor or other clergy, or by designated laypersons.

Is Communion possible at weddings, at healing services, or at funerals or memorial services?

Yes. If you wish to arrange this, talk with your pastor.

Excerpt from United Methodists and Communion: Some Questions & Answers by Hoyt L. Hickman. Copyright © 2001 The United Methodist Publishing House.

Categories: Faith Journey, Holy Communion | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 17, 2011 by revjohnhill

You miss 100% of the shots you never take. -Wayne Gretzky

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The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Posted on October 14, 2011 by revjohnhill

The sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are crucial means of grace, or vehicles, that God uses to reach humanity.  They are channels by which the grace and love of God flows, and it is through them that we can receive prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace.  They are outward and visible signs of an inward, invisible grace.

The sacrament of Holy Communion confirms the justification of our sins through the action of Christ.  It also refreshes and strengthens our souls as Wesley described in “The Duty of Constant Communion.”  The Christian life is not an easy journey, and there are temptations and stumbling blocks along the way.  As with our physical life, which requires proper nutritional sustenance in order to grow, our spiritual life also requires sustenance, which is found in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.  We obtain our strength from this sacrament, and it is the “food of our soul.”  Holy Communion is a remembrance, a commemoration, and a memorial, but it is more than just a simple intellectual recalling.  It is a representation of past gracious acts of God in an action that makes them present today.  Jesus Christ is risen from the grave and alive in the here and now.

Last summer my wife and I directed a Senior High Camp at Sumatanga.  One night during the week, Holy Communion was included in the worship service, and I witnessed the power and significance of the sacrament in a wonderful way. A young man, who was a junior in high school,  had become a very popular youth in the camp and was a guy whom everyone just seemed to like and looked up to.  During the Communion portion of the service, everyone was invited to stay at the altar and pray as long as needed.  I noticed that young man was staying for an extended time, and then I noticed his shoulders quivering from crying.  I went over and asked him if I could pray with him, and he just grabbed hold of my hands.  Without my saying a word, he started telling me that he was not worthy of what Christ had done for him and that he was not living the life that God was calling him to live.  Through tears we prayed together.  He asked God for forgiveness and the strength to live the life that God had called him to live.  Through the sacrament of Communion, God reached out to Frank (Not his real name) and confirmed the justification of sin through Christ and conveyed a grace that went straight to the heart of this young man.

Categories: Church, Faith Journey, Holy Communion, John Wesley | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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