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Reflecting on Church #40: Would You Like to Sit With Us?

Sit with us

Invite Church Visitors to Sit with You

With our journey of visiting fifty-two churches over, I can reflect more on the complete experience. Today, I’ll add to my thoughts about Church #40.

“Would you like to sit with us?” asks the young couple we meet as we head into the church facility. We’re excited for the offer and most appreciative of their thoughtful gesture.

Yet, in only three of the 52 churches did someone ask us to sit with them. That’s less than 6 percent of the churches. It’s such an easy thing to do, requiring little effort, which left us feeling embraced each time it happened.

Most churches say they want to grow, and they make varying degrees of effort to welcome visitors. Though not everyone can be an amazing greeter, anyone can say, “Would you like to sit with us.”

This church is a friendly one. We would have felt at home even without the couple who asked us to sit with them, but their embrace heightened our experience.

Their extra effort makes so much sense, but why does it happen so infrequently? Do regular attenders not think to ask? Or have they never considered this visitor-friendly outreach?

[See my reflections about Church #39 and Church #41 or start with Church #1.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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