11 Differences between a College Football Fan and a Church Member

I am reposting this article by Thom Rainer... It does speak ....

Warning: The article below is a bit of sarcastic humor. I am speaking in hyperbole to make a point. The football fan noted represents a very rabid football fan. The church member represents some, but certainly not all, church members.

Disclosure: I tend to be a rabid college football fan. I see my allegiance as an area of devotion that needs significant adjustments downwardly. So I don’t necessarily practice what I preach. For example, even as I type these words, I am reminded that the kickoff for my team’s first game of the season is exactly five weeks from today.

Caution: While I do write these comparisons with some humor and a lot of hyperbole, you might get just a bit uncomfortable reading them. That may indicate there is some truth in each of them.

1. A college football fan loves to win. The typical church member never wins someone to Christ.
2. A college football fan gets excited if a game goes into overtime. A church member gets mad if the pastor preaches one minute past the allocated time.
3. A college football fan is loyal to his or her team no matter what. A church member stops attending if things are not going well.
4. A college football fan is easily recognized by his or her sportswear, bumper stickers, and team flags. Many church members cannot even be recognized as Christians by people with whom they associate.
5. A college football fan pays huge dollars for tickets, travel, and refreshments for games. A church member may or may not give to his or her church.
6. A college football fan reads about his or her football team every day. A church member rarely reads the Bible once in the course of a week.
7. A college football fan attends the game no matter how bad the weather is. A church member stays home if there is a 20 percent chance of rain.
8. A college football fan invites others to watch the game every week. A church member rarely invites someone to church.
9. A college football fan is known for his or her passion for the football team. A church member is rarely known for his or her passion for the gospel.
10. A college football fan will adjust gladly to changes in kickoff time. A church member gets mad if his or her service time is changed by just a few minutes.
11. A college football fan is loyal even if he or she never gets to meet the coach. A church member gets mad if the pastor does not visit for every possible occasion.

Yes, I admit I do enjoy college football. But I really love Christ’s churches even more. I need to demonstrate that reality more readily. Do you?

So . . . what would you add to my somewhat sarcastic list? Do you see the humor? Do you see some truth?

Summer Spiritual Surge

It's Summer Time! We welcome this time of year because we all need“a change of pace.” Longer days permit us more leisure time after work, more opportunities to hit the lake or the park. Most will take needed vacation time away at a park, beach, or mountains. These are times that families make life-long memories, not to mention the simple benefit of “a change of pace”that can simply rejuvenate us emotionally, physically, and relationally.

Yet, in the midst of all this good, most churches suffer during the summer. Lower attendance, lower offerings, less contact with one another during the week, and sadly, less consistence with our walk in the Spirit.

How can this be a Summer Surge instead of summer slump? To paraphrase Jesus, “what does it gain a family to win great family time, family memories and yet lose their spiritual vitality?”

May I propose two visions for a Summer Surge for our body of believers and for us as individuals?

As a body of believers

1. Be present at the church’s gatherings when you are in town. 

    Everybody will be gone some during the summer and that is encouraged. But when you are in   

    town on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, be in attendance. Don’t begin to “forget” its

    Sunday or Wednesday and drift in your attendance.

 

2. Stay current on your financial giving. 

    Summers are expensive to our families, but the financial needs of the church do not stop, and more

    importantly, your commitment to the Lord to honor Him with your giving can not be substituted

    or another good commitment, even if it is family and fun.

The biggest challenge will be not to forget to give our tithes and offerings either in advance of us being gone or to catch up when we return. You may also give online through our web site. Don’t let our church’s ministries suffer, and more importantly, don’t lose the practice of obeying God.

3. When you are away, catch up spiritually with the church. 

   You can download the Pastor’s sermon on ITunes or check his blog for an audio of the message. I

   am going to blog more this summer. Stay in touch through Facebook, tweeter, texting or email with

   your LIFE group members. Check on them and hold each other accountable. “Life” does not stop 

   during the summer, so reach out to those who are hurting.

As individual believers

Just as important that the corporate body surges, so it is that we individually surge this summer. How can we do this?

 

1. Commit to read a certain portion of Scripture this summer. 

     Take it as a summer goal to read the New Testament, or through a Gospel, or however else God leads. This will give you a marker to know how you are doing.

 

2. Commit to some extra times of prayer and fellowship with God.

      An early morning or during a nice sunset, just connect with God in deep prayer and intimate communication. Just as extended time of being with the family and friends will enhance your relationship with them, so with God.

 

3. Be sensitive to the spiritual condition of persons you may spend extended time with this summer. Pray that you will be in tune to family/friends that may not be walking with the Lord and seek to speak to them while at the beach, the backyard barbeque or at the lake. This will keep you “surging” for the Lord spiritually.

 

4. Commit to read a good Christian book this summer. 

    That one you got for Christmas or a birthday, or a classic. It will do you good.

 

Let’s refuse to give the summer away to mediocrity. Let’s surge this summer, not slump. And when September comes, we’ll be glad we did.

 

(Thanks to a pastor friend for this blog)