I love it when the church (meaning the body, not a building) works the way I believe Christ intended it to. On Christmas Eve I saw the church respond to a need exactly how I would hope…
Before our fourth service on Christmas Eve I became aware of a family in our church who has been going through some really tough times, and wasn’t going to be able to provide Christmas presents for their children. My response was, “we need to make it happen”! As I prayed with the family on the patio, tears began to flow. Members of their home team saw this, and immediately came alongside with hugs and encouragement.
After service, I ran to Best Buy to find the presents the kids had asked for. Unfortunately they (and every other store) were already closed at 8:00 pm. I phoned one of the Home Team members and asked, “what do you think we can do to make this better for this family”.
Within minutes, all of the members of this Home Team dropped what they were doing on Christmas Eve, and headed together to the home of this family. When they arrived, they presented this family with money they had gathered together, and promised to help the family get presents. They stayed and had true fellowship with this family. A friend in the church whom I was with handed me money to give to this family also.
In short, this family’s Christmas was made by their Home Team. This is truly “doing life together”. This is, I believe, what Christ intended the church to be about. It’s not about music style, teaching style, keeping Christians happy,etc… The church is about people growing spiritually as we’re challenged to act like Christ. It’s not about information, it’s about application. This Home Team truly has applied the definition of “love” in the way they’re growing together.
I’m proud of this group, and so many others in our church who get it, and have a worldview that’s much bigger than their own wants and desires. They realize it’s all about making a huge impact on the lives of others, and the building up of God’s Kingdom, not ours.
Thanks to the people of Palm Valley Church who get it. Thanks for giving me the privilege of being called your pastor. Thanks for living beyond yourselves.
If you’re not currently in a Home Team, I encourage you to do it this week. We all need these types of relationships, where we help others in need, and they help us in our need; and we all grow to become more like Christ in the process!
Again, I love it when the church acts like it should, and in the coming days I’m going to keep sharing these kinds of stories that I hear on a weekly basis.
