10 Easy Ways to Help Your Church

Every now and then I have a conversation with a member or attender of the church that essentially is saying, ‘I wish I could do more.’ Often people feel their contributions are hindered by some circumstance which prevents them from spending time or money benefiting the church. Responding to this need, let me give you a list of 10 ways you can do more for your church on a very limited budget of time and absolutely no money.

• Boost your church on social media. Most specifically, like your church’s Facebook page. The more likes the page has the more credibility a prospect will feel when they check out the church on Facebook.  Similarly, talk about your church on Facebook, and tag it when you do by using the name of the church’s Facebook page.
• Rate your church positively on Facebook. Again you give your church credibility by doing this. Online ratings are getting more important every day.
• Every time you attend any event at the church, do a Facebook check in. Not only do you give the church more credibility, but check in’s also help with the extremely important Facebook algorithms which shape what pages show up when people search for churches.  The likes, tags, and ratings mentioned above will also help.
• Find your church on Google maps and rate the church there as well. Google’s algorithms are even more important than Facebook’s.  You can also help by searching for your church on Google and linking to their site from Google.  Never go straight to your church’s web page, but search for it on Google and then follow that link to the church website.
• Join Yelp and comparable sites that rate local businesses. Then rate your church positively on these sites.
• Not just when you are at church, but also when you are at church.  A smiling congregation is obviously preferred over one that has any other facial expression.
• Sing during the congregational singing. Learn to sing with gusto and allow yourself to enjoy it. Nothing expresses the sincerity of a church’s worship more than the enthusiasm of its singing.
• Speak to people whom you do not yet know. Some of these will be members you just haven’t met yet.  Others will be prospects who will be relieved that someone at the church noticed them and acknowledged them.
• Be respectful and clean up after yourself. Wipe down the sinks after you use them. Don’t leave bulletins and fliers on the pew.  Put your empty coffee cups in the trash. Do all these things because a messy church can never leave a positive impression, but also do these things because not doing them shows that you don’t care about the church.
• Attend more events at church. The more people that are at an event, the more likely visitors will perceive it positively. If you are only involved in Sunday worship, perhaps add a Bible study, or a monthly fellowship. As people attend events the church is better able to offer them.

It is not a coincidence that the first five suggestions have to do with technology and more than half of those involve Facebook.  It is quite understandable that people look for a church via technology, most specifically social media.

It is also not a coincidence that the last five suggestions are all about how your individual behavior affects others.  Colossians 4:5 (NASB) says “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.”

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Universal Church

Several months back at a men’s Bible study the speaker in a video referenced the universal church. Specifically he said people often use the concept of the universal church as a chance to cop out on their responsibility to a local church.

This confused some of the men who were unfamiliar with the term, so today let me define and talk briefly about the local church and the universal church.

The universal church is a term used to describe all the saved of all the ages. The only time and place the universal church will be gathered is in heaven, in eternity. Until then the universal church is a term used to define all of Christiandom, around the world and through all time.  While this is not a Biblical term, it is useful to allow us to define the large group of Christianity.

It’s natural to wrestle a little bit with who is in the universal church, but that is actually the soteriological question. The question of who is saved. For now suffice it to say, the concept should keep you aware Christianity is not limited to one church, denomination or tradition. Neither does it extend to anyone who calls themselves Christian. So everyone fitting God’s definition of Christian is a part of the universal church.

The speaker in the aforementioned video was pointing out he knew people who joined no local church because they felt it was unnecessary since they already belonged to the universal church. He encouraged a refocussing on the local church but if it had been me, I would have gone even further.

Remember the term universal church is not in the Bible, but the word defining a local church is very commonly used.  Simplifying what could be a very long discussion, the reason why is not because God doesn’t care about the universal church, but because His method of growing the universal church is by growing local churches.

Every purpose God has for his people is expressed through a local congregation. Discipleship, happens in a faithful relationship with a group of other believers. Worship, while it can be a solo event, is Scripturally described as a congregational activity. Missions, happens when a group committed to the same goals all pull together. Evangelism is seeking an individual decision, but evangelism is a failure when the new believer is not linked to a congregation for growth.

I am a strong believer in the local church. I define it as a group of Christians who have thrown in their lives together for the purpose of serving God.  This commitment made to one another is in the form of membership, and membership is also a confession by the person they believe as we do, at least on the most important issues. When a church begins to chip away at the membership commitment they will eventually find their people don’t have unity of belief or direction.

I believe once a person makes a commitment to a local church they have responsibilities there. Churches where the members are absent or lax will be weakened. Let me finish today by encouraging anyone who happens to read this, be committed to your local church and see it as your God designed avenue for serving the greater kingdom.