I came across a scripture that validated something I\u2019ve been thinking about for 2025 and maybe it will spark something in you, too?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here it is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.\u201d – Acts 2:42<\/a> (AMP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve been thinking\u2026I\u2019m going to start taking members of my church out to eat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t cook or I\u2019d bring them to my home. But the smell of burnt pork chops wafting in the air has got to have a negative effect on fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I don\u2019t think the key is me cooking. I think the key is to get to know someone beyond sitting next to them in a sanctuary or auditorium.<\/strong> I think we can agree you don\u2019t get to know a person that way at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, what we call \u201cattending church\u201d could subjectively be thought of as the first and last part of this verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDevoting themselves to the instruction\u2026\u201d & \u201cPrayers\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s all congregational and done within the assembly, but the \u2018fellowship\/breaking bread\u2019 part can\u2019t really be done there. And if you\u2019re like me, you have a tendency to show up, receive (or serve if on staff), at the end give a customary \u2018God bless you\u2019 or \u201cSo good to see you\u201d and then we\u2019re straight to our car, home, and, if statistics<\/a> are true, our isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact of the matter is people are lonely<\/strong>. Single, married, kids, no kids, thriving career, struggling financially\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter where they may find themselves on the continuum of American life, people are just plain lonely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if the church is what it says it is\u2026how could loneliness ever find a place with us? How could it even be possible when there are at least 100 \u2018one anothers\u2019 found in the scriptures we say we hold so dear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s a lofty question. And it\u2019s also at best worthless and at worst accusatory if I don\u2019t position myself to be part of the answer to the problem<\/strong> I have identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So I\u2019m doing it<\/strong>. Every month, I\u2019m asking random church folk out to eat with me and my mama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going yet. But I plan to make an effort to know people this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe this is too big a step for you. I get it. I\u2019m an extrovert and my mama is a natural-born inquirer, so conversation doesn\u2019t frighten us in the least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, maybe asking people to dinner or inviting them to your home is not where you are right now. But how about this:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, someone is going to ask you to coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, someone is going to invite you to a get-together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, someone is going to want to have dinner with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JUST GO.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I think we\u2019ll all be better for it. I think we\u2019ll all grow. I think in the midst of a lonely, fearful, anxious culture, we have the opportunity to shine and show true familial relationships through Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.\u201d – John 13:35<\/a> (AMP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s time to be honest and say we just can\u2019t get this done<\/strong> in a 65-minute \u2018worship’ service, friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s gonna take a little more sacrifice\u2026a little more obedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m game! Are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n