Bill’s Bestowals:
“What’s Your IQ?”
“… in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you
to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
(I Peter 3:15)
Believe it or not, the average Presbyterian IQ is pretty low. But don’t feel dumb just because you are Presbyterian; I could most certainly replace the word “Presbyterian” with “Christian” and it would still be true.
I hear your wheels turning. “How can you make a blanket statement like that, Pastor Bill? And … what right do you have to judge our intelligence anyway?!”
I can make the blanket statement because it is a fact. But in response to your second question, I am in no way judging your intelligence.
In this case, IQ does not stand for “Intelligence Quotient.” Instead, it stands for “Invitation Quotient.” Its purpose is to show how willing a person is to share his or her faith with others. And, yes, there is an IQ test! It is from a book called, “Finding them, Keeping them: Effective Strategies for Evangelism and Assimilation in the Local Church.” To take the “test,” just circle YES or NO in front of each question.
1. YES or NO: Have you spoken to anyone in the last month to share what Jesus Christ and His church mean to you with them?
2. YES or NO: Have you spoken to someone who has been absent from worship in the last month to express your concern for them?
3. YES or NO: Have you invited a newcomer to the community to come with you to church any time in the past four months?
4. YES or NO: Have you encouraged or invited anyone else who does not attend any church to join you on a Sunday morning in the last month?
5. YES or NO: Before/after worship, do you have a habit of greeting and welcoming people you don’t know well (as opposed to only greeting those you do know well)?
6. YES or NO: Have you taken time to greet the people who sit next to you in the pew before or after the church services?
7. YES or NO: Do you pray for opportunities to be able to speak about Christ or your church to others?
8. YES or NO: Do you pray that the Holy Spirit will burden you with the souls of the lost people around you?
So … how did you do? If you had eight “yes” answers, you have an Einstein-like “IQ!” Two or less? I don’t want to embarrass …
Gary McIntosh and Glen Martin – the men who wrote this test – follow it by making two primary points about why people have a low invitation quotient. First, most churches have lost touch with those who are unchurched. Jesus was at home with the unchurched (and they with Him). But are we as a church (or as individual members) at home with those who are far from God?
Second, most churches confuse being a witness with being an evangelist. Some believers are gifted and called to be evangelists. But every believer is expected to be a witness to the good that God has done in his or her life … “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Reflect on the difference God does make in your life. What would you tell someone if they asked, “What difference does it make that you are Christian?” or “Why should I bother going to church? How has it changed your life?”
Not only that, but pray for God to open our eyes to any who are going through life without any functional relationship with Him … and, perhaps, paying for it dearly. Whose face does God place before you as you pray for your own eyes to be opened?
This Sunday is Palm Sunday and the next will be Easter. What a great opportunity raise your IQ by giving an invitation!
Shalom! Pastor Bill
April 2023 Calendar:
Sunday: Fellowship Hour at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
Worship at 11 a.m.
Thursday: GriefShare at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
April 1: PW Meeting, 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall
April 1: Game Day, 12 p.m. in Fellowship Hall – bring a snack to share
April 4: Christian Education Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
April 4: Mission Committee Meeting, 5 p.m.
April 5: Building & Grounds Meeting, 10 a.m.
April 6: Fellowship Committee Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
April 6: Maundy Thursday Worship, 6 p.m.
April 8: Easter Egg Hunt, 3:30 p.m. at Mary Dixon House
April 9: Easter Sunrise Service on the Mountain, 7 a.m.
April 9: Easter Sunday Breakfast, 9:30 provided by Serena Loyd
April 9: Easter Sunday Fellowship Meal following worship
April 11: Membership & Evangelism, 6 p.m.
April 13-April 16: Pilgrimage
April 16: Fellowship Potluck Meal, following Worship
April 17: Stewardship & Finance Meeting, 1 p.m.
April 19: Session Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
April 30: Helping Hands Sunday, begins 9 a.m. in the sanctuary.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
2 – Mary Dixon 7 – Bill Stiefer
2 – Kayla Pullen 8 – Marilynn Schroyer
4 – Lilly Loyd 10 – Robby Burt, Sr.
5 – April Burt 19 – Robby Burt, Jr.
SERVING THIS MONTH:
Ushers: Bill & Annette Hays
Communion Preparers: Paula Dearing and Susan Seitz
Communion Servers: Leon Myers, Bill Hays, Garrett Lundberg
Chuck Schroyer & William Edwards
SPECIAL COLLECTION SUNDAYS:
March 5: Personal Care Collection March 26: Goodland Academy
COMMUNITY EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
The 2023 Community Easter Sunrise Service, will be held on Rich Mountain, April 9th, at 7:00 a.m.!
Up the mountain and at the first “overlook”, on the right, past the Ranger Station.
There will be music and a short message as the sun comes up to start Easter Morning!
Come be a part of this worshipful, community event!
Bring a friend and a chair, with a blanket.
Hope to see you there!
Sponsored By:
THE MENA AREA MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:1-7)
