Getting Involved at Grace Rancho

From time to time Ashley and I get to visit a nice restaurant. I usually know exactly what I want to order within a few seconds of looking at the menu. Ashley takes much longer. All the options can paralyze her and then she begins asking me what she thinks she should order. My strategy in those moments is to just pick something and see how she reacts. That usually clues her into what she actually wants. Menus - especially the packed, multi-page, picture-filled ones - can be overwhelming. There’s so much, and it all looks good!

Some churches offer a massive menu of ways to get involved. There’s the men’s group, the basketball league, the mom’s club, the book club, the discipleship class, and the outreach team. And that’s just what’s happening on Monday night! They’re all good and you feel like you should do them all. I mean, wouldn’t it be bad to skip out on Thursday night evangelism?

But rather than offering you an overwhelming menu, we prefer to offer you a map. Think of this article as a map that leads you through different phases into full-fledged, whole-hearted involvement. It may not be what you’re used to, but it’s helpful in understanding how to get involved at Grace Rancho.

Phase 1: Getting Started

To get involved, start by getting to know the church. Don’t rush past this - that would be like buying a wedding ring before you’ve been on a date. Begin by building relationships with people in the church. Here are a few ways to do it:

Show up to corporate worship 15 minutes early. By this time several members are already present. Perhaps they’ve been sitting in a Core Seminar or Membership Matters. Now they’re in the lobby, waiting for the service to start. Use this time to get to know people.

Participate in corporate worship. Does this sound too simplistic? Don’t overlook this as it’s a critical part of being involved at Grace Rancho. We firmly believe that what’s happening on Sunday morning is a group project. Yes, there are usually specific people on stage. But their role is to facilitate the church’s singing. When the leader prays, pray along. Say amen at the end of the prayer. When the singing begins, sing with gusto. When the Scriptures are read, follow along. Corporate worship is not the performance of a few, it’s the practice of a family. Participate. Your prayers and songs matter to God. And they matter to the people around you.

Stay at least 15 minutes afterward. So much ministry happens in the 15 minutes following a church service. If you choose to stay I have no doubt you’ll be greeted and introduced to others in the church. You may get into a stimulating conversation about the sermon. You may end up praying for one another on the spot. In other words, if you want to get involved, don’t rush out.

Be willing to spend time with someone outside of the gathering. You will probably get invited to lunch or coffee or dinner at some point if you continue attending like this. Go for it. Open your life up.

Attend Sunday evenings. It’s hard to overestimate the value of Sunday evenings. Here relationships deepen, ministry is encouraged, burdens are shared, joys are celebrated, leaders are trained, and people are built up. I like saying, “If you want to stay on the fringe of Grace Rancho, avoid Sunday nights at all costs.”

Phase 2: Becoming a Member

Attend Welcome Lunch. The Welcome Lunch is a chance to connect with other church members and learn a little bit about the church from its leaders. This is a great first step toward committing to Grace Rancho.

Attend the next Membership Matters class. This five-week class reveals much of the thinking behind how we operate as a church. It’s been critical for cultivating unity in doctrine and mission. Also, you’ll get to meet several other church members and leaders. Meet with the elders. At some point after the Membership Matters class, if you want to continue pursuing membership, you’ll meet with at least one of the elders. God has called elders to “shepherd the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2) knowing that on the day of judgment, they will give an account to God for each soul under their care (Heb. 13:17). We hope that every member of our church has access to the loving oversight of an elder.

Be welcomed by the congregation. Biblically speaking, the congregation is responsible for receiving new members. This is why we bring all our incoming members up front. The church must corporately take responsibility for caring for you.

Phase 3: Starting Your Ministry

Pray through the membership directory. One of the first ways to begin a vibrant and fruitful ministry at our church is to begin praying for the church. We recommend praying through the membership directory every day, one page at a time. This might be the most effective ministry of the whole church.

Practice hospitality. Francis and Edith Shaeffer influenced thousands of young men and women by making their home a place to learn theology, the Christian worldview, and have difficult questions untangled. But it wasn’t merely his instruction that helped so many young people. One person commented, “As many people were brought to the Lord through Mrs. Schaeffer’s cinnamon buns as through Dr. Schaeffer’s sermons.”

You don’t need a Bible degree to start demonstrating the love of Christ to others. You can start a lifelong, eternity-impacting ministry by providing people with a warm meal, a pleasant conversation, and genuine concern.

Help others get involved. The easiest way to do this is to go back through the membership class again. Meet incoming members. Sit by them and remember their names. Make yourself available to answer any questions. Invite them to sit by you if they don’t know anyone. Offer to meet up with them and tell them your story.

Ask about needs and make yourself available. Every person is a bundle of needs - physical and spiritual. As you build relationships, try to determine what people’s needs are. Maybe someone is moving and you’re available to help them. Maybe a couple is struggling with finances and you’re good at managing a budget. Maybe someone struggles to read their Bible and you can meet with them once a week and read the book of Ephesians with them. The possibilities are endless.

Keep track of and pray for prayer requests. We believe that God is real, that he treats us as his beloved children, and we want to pray like we actually believe it’s true. On Sunday evenings, the church lays her heart bare as people share their prayer requests - their hopes, burdens, and gospel opportunities. We encourage all our members to write them down (usually in the membership directory) and pray for them throughout the week.

Follow up on the things you hear. If Hank requested that we pray for his unbelieving father Bill, ask him about it next time you see him. If Sarah requested that we pray that she’d be faithful to share the gospel with her sister when she visits next week, ask her how it went. If Ben wants prayer for his upcoming move, maybe follow up with him and offer to help.

Conclusion

None of this is extraordinary. In fact, getting involved in a local church is simply a matter of love. Christians should love the church God has put them in. Their love should be committed love, active love, sacrificial love, and persistent love. May the Lord continue to cultivate this kind of love here at Grace Rancho.