Something more substantial

I grew up going to a church in Toowoomba that had a good deal of excitement and engagement (slightly Charismatic bent to it), yet I never became a Christian there and don’t remember hearing the gospel (which doesn’t mean it wasn’t preached). It wasn’t until university that God used King’s Christian Fellowship to save me. I ended up considering the style of worship from my youth worthless (distracting to the point that I could be so wrapped in the excitement without knowing the gospel) and favored the more academic/Bible focussed culture of King’s Fellowship ‘better’ and more conducive to the gospel.

I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive however. Thinking back, the Lord certainly used my Christian upbringing and engagement from the church to cause me to seek out the KCF guys at college.

I like our church byline: Something more substantial. Here are a few points of thought (in no particular order):-

• Social Substance – Are there things that mega-churches are doing that provide a social relevance we should be aiming at? If people are moving there, there’s obviously something attractive. We aren’t a mega church nor can we adopt social practices that are opposed to the gospel and Christ. I suppose the question is, how do we engage the culture we live in: website, music, multi-media, atmosphere, children’s needs, parent’s needs, community events, overseas interest etc.?
• Scriptural Substance – One area that society is in disagreement with is the scripture and especially the gospel. We must always strive to maintain scriptural substance and hold unflinchingly to the truth of scripture. We must also aim to communicate effectively: evangelism (in & out of church), growing in broad biblical understanding, addressing specific issues in season, regular personal study etc.
• Spiritual Substance – The gospel must have an impact on our lives. As individuals we need to be growing in the Lord and seeing that He brings an impact throughout out week, not just Sundays. As a church we need to be looking for ways to encourage people in this and making obvious the spiritual impact of the gospel in all our life.
• Supportive Substance – The body of Christ is a family, and we need to have substance in our support and love for one another within the church. We also should consider the needy in our community, guests to the church etc.

This has turned out longer than I’d planned. My original point was to encourage us that it seems people in the area are interested in searching out something more substantial (if perhaps only in the social context). Let’s be encouraged though, and seek the Lord to help us be as substantial as possible in all areas to His glory.