Read Romans 16:3-16
Romans 16:3-16 may seem just like a long list of weird names at the end of a
Think specifically about how you greet others in your church and how you greet new comers. I’ve heard countless (literally thousands, if not tens of thousands) of complaints over 20 years of ministry about the poor greeting people have received in churches. Walking past people and murmuring a ‘hello’ or the perfunctory ‘How are you going?’ is not a biblical greeting. Walking past someone and looking away to avoid eye contact is not a biblical greeting. Being cold and formal and ushering someone into the worship area is not a biblical greeting.
In the days of the New Testament church greeting included embracing, kissing, offering the hand of fellowship and in some cases even bowing down in humility. In fact, Paul commands the church to greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom 16:16. See also 1 Cor 16:20). The word ‘holy’ ensures us that there was nothing sexual or perverted in this greeting. It was a mark of intense Christ-honouring affection and devotion.
Greetings speak volumes to people and basically communicate the love of Christ to those being greeted. How is your church greeting one another and the new comers you see each week? Do people feel welcomed by your greeting? Do people feel special and loved in the Lord by your greeting? Does your greeting procure an air of welcome and ‘I’m pleased you’re here.’ If our churches are to build unity and strength then we have to reassess how we feel and think about each other. We can no longer just greet the people we like or the trendy, important people. We can no longer avoid the people that make us uncomfortable. We can no longer turn our back on new comers hoping that some one else will greet them. We can no longer seek out those we know and love and ignore everyone else.
If Christ Himself were to visit your congregation I suspect that He would not come as a rich, well dressed and trendy man who has all the latest gadgets. I suspect that He would come as a commoner or worse, a poor person that has little or nothing to offer. Would He be greeted and welcomed into your fellowship. In Hebrews 13 v1-2 we are encouraged to entertain strangers because by so doing we might be entertaining angels! Of course the word ‘entertain’ has a different meaning today. It doesn’t mean that God wants us to sing and dance and to tell the funniest jokes so that the stranger has a good laugh. We are called to extend Jesus-honouring hospitality to strangers and that starts with a godly, heartfelt greeting.
Please don’t entertain the idea that ‘greeting’ is unimportant or someone else’s job. It’s up to each of us to welcome everyone with a heart that glorifies the Lord the Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Use today’s Bible reading and notes to pray along the following lines.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Ask the Lord to bless the people of your church with a welcoming spirit and that He would melt hard hearts and bring reconciliation to any warring parties that may be present.
¨ Pray that Christian relationships across the board would bring glory and honour to God and that they would be so sweet that many come to Christ through these relationships.
1. Why should each person in the church be involved in greeting others?
2. What things convey a heart felt welcome and what things come across as cold and unwelcoming.
3. How good is your church at greeting both the regulars and the new comers? Discus how you came up with your answer and what factors you considered.
Intro: When new comers attend church they need to be greeted and welcomed in a way that makes them feel special. But we can ‘t forget those who come each week either. They need to feel special too.
Discuss what things make you feel special when you go to church? What things make you feel not so special?
Read 2 Corinthians 13:12-13
Should we dislike any person in the Church? Why or why not?
what do we do with those hard-to-love people?
Pray together that God would give you a loving heart and a gracious attitude towards everyone in your church.
Intro: God can and wants to use you to make others in the church feel welcomed and accepted. Though this may seem hard and embarrassing, God has a job for you in welcoming new comers and regulars.
Discuss what things make you feel special when you go to church? What things make you feel not so special?
Read 2 Corinthians 13:12-13
Should we dislike any person in the Church? Why or why not?
what do we do with those hard-to-love people?
Pray together that God would give you a loving heart and a gracious attitude towards everyone in your church.
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