Having a Friendly Church

Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Finding friends is an essential key that makes people return to a church. It is critical for the church to be friendly, but it is critical that you find friends to make your church a friendly church. Being a friendly church means you are not only a welcoming church to visitors, but you are also a church that becomes friends with each other. Let me share several things you can do to help your church to be a friendly church.

First, friendliness starts with you. You will notice that the key to having friends is to show yourself friendly. Blaming a church that it is unfriendly is an indictment of your unfriendliness. The only reason it is not friendly is because you never made it your responsibility to be friendly. One thing I have learned over the years is that friendly people never have a problem with making friends. However, I have also learned that unfriendly people always have a problem with making friends and often blame the place for its unfriendliness when it was their own fault they never got friends. Friendliness is a choice, and you must realize that friendliness starts with you being friendly.

Second, don't be late to church and quick to leave. It is hard for a church to be friendly with you when they can't shake your hands and have a time to fellowship with you. What is the church supposed to do? Is it supposed to stop the services because you walked in late so everyone can shake your hand? Arriving early and staying a bit after the services end is what helps you to be friendly with others.

Third, shake the hands of people when you get to church. One of the big mistakes many make is they come to church and sit down and expect everyone to come to them to shake hands. Showing yourself friendly means that you go to shake hands with others. Shaking hands with the different people in the church is a great way to show that you are friendly.

Fourth, be conversational with people who shake your hand. If all you do is sit down and grunt a “hello” when someone shakes your hand, you will find it hard to find friends. You have to remember that just as much as you don't know them, they also don't know you. Conversations with others starts friendships. There is something you have in common with others, but you will never find it out if you don't have conversations.

Fifth, attend all the services of the church. If you only attend Sunday morning, you will find it hard to find friends in church. Sunday morning is the busiest church service, whereas on Sunday evening and Wednesday Bible study, you will find the services are not as busy and people have more time to get to know you.

Sixth, show up at the church fellowships. A church puts fellowships together so you can get to know each other. If you never show up for those fellowships, how will you become friends with people in the church? Those fellowships are a great way to be friendly with others in the church.

Seventh, get involved in a church ministry. This is the greatest way to find friendships. Lifelong friends are mostly discovered in the yoke of serving God in the same ministry. Working together with people kindles friendships. You will discover many friends if you get involved in your church ministries and programs.