Letters To The Church - Smyrna

Summary: Have you even been in a rich church - a really rich church? I was Interim Pastor once in a church where I had to fly to their city. After a few Sundays of picking me up and delivering me to the airport, a deacon said, while driving me from the airport to the church, “From now on just get a rent car. We’re rich. No need to us to be transporting you every Sunday.” I was Interim Pastor of another church that had a lengthy discussion during one business meeting as to whether to spend money to pave an adjacent gravel-covered parking lot. The discussion had hit a stale-mate so I gave them an assignment: Next Sunday morning make a list of the types of cars on the parking lot and we’ll vote Sunday night. Of course the list was BMWs Volvos, Saabs, Lexus, Cadillacs, etc. I simply asked if their neighbors drive the same type of cars (yes), I asked if they wanted to reach their neighbors. (Again, Yes). My final question was, “Would you park your car on a gravel parking lot in order to get to church?” The vote was unanimous and we paved the parking lot – and reached the neighbors. Rich churches are interesting. Today’s church was rich, so stated by John.