Daily Devotional for Small Group Discussion: Churchfolk
Discussion Questions
- What is your favorite workaday part of church life?
- What are the lesser-known miracles of love in your faith community, and how do they amplify the good news of God’s love?
- Whose enthusiasm for church life inspires you to take initiative in serving others—whether at church or in the community?
Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of [humanity].” – 2 Corinthians 8:17-21, abridged (NIV)
I love the workaday parts of the New Testament. The passages that read more like meeting minutes than holy writ. The bit in the Book of Acts where they form a subcommittee to focus on food service. Or this piece in which Paul assures the Corinthians there will always be more than one person present when the offering is counted.
I love how boring they are!
I love that alongside the flaming tongues of Pentecost, the Church saw fit to include the mundane details of Monday’s board meeting. That the same book that contains the final cataclysm of Revelation also records a newsletter blurb about this year’s stewardship team.
I love them because they remind me of the sacredness of so much mundane churchwork.
Vacuuming Sunday school rugs. Getting roofing bids. Signing checks. Running the livestream. Making the coffee. Doing the dishes. Folding the bulletins. Counting the offering.
I love that when these ordinary things are done in service to the good news of God’s love, they are akin to miracles.
Prayer
God, thank you for churchfolk, who take up their work with much enthusiasm and on their own initiative.
Vince Amlin is co-pastor of Bethany UCC, Chicago, and co-planter of Gilead Church Chicago, forming now.