When a church has multiple services, multiple Sunday School times, online services, and a variety of different ministries to be involved in - it becomes tempting to know fewer and fewer people at church. You'd like to know more folks, but you don't know how.
Being connected at your church is a must. Your spouse and children should have friends and look forward to seeing those they know on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you have family members in your home and they don't know anyone, you should help them cultivate friendships and connections.
I can look at someone's circle of friends and tell you how happy they are attending church.
Here are five secrets that remind us that we don't "find friends" we "make friends.":
1). Arrive 10 minutes early, hang around 10 minutes afterwards. If you arrive after the service has started and you bolt for the door when it's concluded - you will speak to very few (if any) people. Arrival / Departure time will determine the effectiveness of making friends.
2). Do not sit down. You're likely to speak to more people standing up - you're free to move around. If you sit in a chair (or pew) and pull out your phone, you're saying, "Off Limits." Sitting down is isolating.
3). Attend Sunday School. Small groups connect - they're conversational, casual and you'll discover other people who have things in common. Make sure you join the class' email list - speak up when the teacher asks questions. Volunteer to read Scripture - go to lunch with the class after worship.
4). Don't talk about yourself. Asking questions, sharing encouragement, and listening always wins friends. People love talking about themselves, their travels, their children & grandchildren - use that to your advantage.
5). Come with a, "I'm here to serve attitude." If you arrive with an evaluation attitude, your thought pattern will be:
This should be your thinking while at church:
Being connected at your church is a must. Your spouse and children should have friends and look forward to seeing those they know on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you have family members in your home and they don't know anyone, you should help them cultivate friendships and connections.
I can look at someone's circle of friends and tell you how happy they are attending church.
Here are five secrets that remind us that we don't "find friends" we "make friends.":
1). Arrive 10 minutes early, hang around 10 minutes afterwards. If you arrive after the service has started and you bolt for the door when it's concluded - you will speak to very few (if any) people. Arrival / Departure time will determine the effectiveness of making friends.
2). Do not sit down. You're likely to speak to more people standing up - you're free to move around. If you sit in a chair (or pew) and pull out your phone, you're saying, "Off Limits." Sitting down is isolating.
3). Attend Sunday School. Small groups connect - they're conversational, casual and you'll discover other people who have things in common. Make sure you join the class' email list - speak up when the teacher asks questions. Volunteer to read Scripture - go to lunch with the class after worship.
4). Don't talk about yourself. Asking questions, sharing encouragement, and listening always wins friends. People love talking about themselves, their travels, their children & grandchildren - use that to your advantage.
5). Come with a, "I'm here to serve attitude." If you arrive with an evaluation attitude, your thought pattern will be:
- "She didn't speak to me."
- "I didn't get anything from the sermon."
- "I don't like this kind of music."
- "This is an unfriendly church."
This should be your thinking while at church:
- "Who can I speak to?"
- "Who can I pray for?"
- "Who needs encouragement?"
- "What need can I meet?"
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