As our Guest Sunday approaches we want to position ourselves to serve our guests effectively, “…making the best use of the time.” (Col 4:5). We want our guests to experience the grace of Jesus Christ when they are with us. We want them to hear the gospel and experience the gospel. We want them to be surprised by the grace of God in the people they meet and the words they hear. We want them to feel welcomed so that their hearts are open wide to hear and receive the truth.

So here’s 7 ways we can all serve and make the most of the opportunity…

1. Come with your friends on Sunday.
If you’ve invited someone and they’ve expressed interest, try and arrnage to pick them up and come together. It’s a great way to help them settle in. People are often put off by going in to strange places by themselves, so be alongside them if you can.

2. Wait for your guests in the lobby area.
If you can’t arrive together, make sure you get there early to save seats and then wait in the lobby area to meet your friends, os you can be there to show them around and point them in the right direction.

3. Think of yourself as part of the greeting team.
Guests can find it frightening and overwhelming to enter a new building, especially one that hosts a church. Arrive early (after all, now there’s coffee/donuts to take advantage of!). Be ready to greet folks. A warm smile, a nice greeting, and a helpful posture goes a long way in making our guests feel welcome. (Please make sure your kids don’t scar off the guests, by playing around/being loud, encourage them to greet/serve alongside you.)

4. Introduce your guests to other Grace Church people.
Introduce them t people they might know, or people in your homegroup, or people in your row, or one of the pastors. This is a great way you can help them feel welcomed and not some much of an outsider.

5. Help them in anyway you can!
Help them drop their kids off (if they have any) at Sunday school. Show them where the loo is. Help them get a coffee and donut. Do it willingly, joyfully and sacrificially!

6. Borrow a Bible from the “Info Point”
Most guests will probably not have a bible with them. Make sure you get them a bible from our new “Info Point”. Position them to beneft form the preaching that morning.

7. Move to your seats early and prepare to worship God.
Our example here is going to help our guests get seated and ready to worship God. Your initiative will also make it easier for our guests to find a place to sit. Fill up the rows from the front first please! If you see someone on their own offer to sit with them, even if it means you have to move to sit next to them.