Pre-COVID-19, you could attend just about any church next Sunday and you would see the usual obvious things taking place: people are greeted, songs are sung, Scripture is read, a sermon is preached. All good stuff.
These days, people watch church online, attend parking lot services, or gather in small groups. Church looks different, but the same unseen thing are happening.
And the unseen things that happen on Sundays are far more impressive than the things we see.
The Amazing Unseen Things that Happen in your Church Every Sunday
1. Insights are gained.
Paul once told Timothy that if he would reflect on what Paul had written, he would gain insight. Insight is more valuable than silver (Proverbs 16:16).
During next Sunday’s sermon, some powerful and profitable things will be happening. You won’t see them physically, but they’ll be happening nonetheless.
2. Hope is created.
As Scripture is taught, somewhere in the church, someone is finding hope. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it. But someone will walk out of your church with a new sense inside of them.
3. The Father smiles.
God doesn’t speak audibly very often, but one time he did. During Jesus’ baptism he was so moved with joy that he articulated out loud, “I am well pleased.” Imagine how you would feel if your children came together one morning to sing songs to you about how wonderful you are.
I bet you’d have a big smile on your face. I believe this happens with God every Sunday.
4. Treasure is stored.
At some point in every service, an offering is taken. According to Matthew 6:20, while that’s happening, givers are having treasure deposited in heavenly accounts with their names on them. Very cool!
5. Souls pass from death to life.
More people come to Christ on Sundays than any other day of the week.
In your church, you may see a hand raised, a knee bent, or a person walk forward to an altar. What you won’t see is the most important part: their soul will be passing from death to life. Imagine it for a minute.
That’s worth coming to church for, isn’t it?
6. Crowns are earned.
Do a study of rewards and you’ll find that lots of them will be handed out in heaven.
One of the top awards is the crown of righteousness, which is awarded to those who lead others to Christ (1 Thess. 2:19).
Next time you see someone coming to Christ in your church, imagine an angel manufacturing an amazing headpiece that will be placed on the brow of the one leading the other to Jesus.
Unseen, but unspeakably exciting!
7. Intentions develop.
As God speaks in worship services, people are moved to live differently. Sometimes this happens during a song. Often it happens during a sermon.
You can’t see it as you look around the room, but it’s an unseen reality: people change their intentions when they encounter the truth of God.
8. Demons get defeated.
Christians are involved in an unseen battle with “the forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). These forces are defeated whenever a Christian puts on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the word of God. That sounds a lot like what happens in a church service, doesn’t it?
The next time you’re in church, be aware that demons are falling.
9. Heaven gets changed.
Revelation 1 pictures Jesus in heaven, standing beside a group of lampstands. He explains that the lampstands are churches. Hundreds of new churches are planted around the world every Sunday.
Apparently, with the birth of these churches comes the creation of a lampstand in heaven that burns with light to the glory of God.
10. God gets glory.
“God gets glory” is such an easy statement to make that you may have never thought what that might look like. But try to imagine it. The primary Hebrew word for glory is “kabod.” It refers to something weighty, with wealth and honor.
Imagine this unseen, radiant force somehow being given further weight, or wealth, or value as God’s people gather and worship him. That’s not a full picture. But then, what happens when God gets glory is unseen. And well worth showing up to church to make happen.
Take a minute to thank God for what He is doing on Sundays in your church.
What’s Next?
Would you like to see your church love Sundays? Would you like to see people come back, or find church in the first place, when the pandemic eases and churches re-open?
An I Love Sundays campaign might be just the right thing for your church.
Further Reading:
Hal Seed is the founding and Lead Pastor of New Song Community Church in Oceanside, CA. He mentors pastors who want to lead healthy, growing churches with resources at www.pastormentor.com.
Start Here to learn more about the resources available for you at PastorMentor.
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