For years now I have struggled with how late many of our faith family arrives to the worship services. I have talked to the staff about it, we have made announcements in Sunday morning bible study groups and even from the stage...not much change.
During the last few weeks I have been walking again through the book of Acts. On Tuesday my study took me to Acts 2:41-47.
...devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.
...everyday they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex.
...praising God
...and everyday the Lord added to them.
How I study is by reading the text then going through the notes in a study bible and also often a commentary. One note in the ESV Study Bible, referring to devoting themselves to meeting...praising God, jumped off the page at me: one evidence of revival is the people wanted to come together to worship.
I have been going about this all wrong. Announcements are not the key. Revival is the key.
I am convicted that I should pray more for my faith family that we all will want revival, a great manifestation of God's presence. It is only then that the room will be filled early with Christ-followers anticipating worship in spirit and truth and for His glory.
God give us a hunger for You. May we anxiously anticipate our times together as faith-families in Your presence.