This is something that I say to our church constantly. It’s not our outreaches…our programs…our modern worship…our welcoming atmosphere…it’s certainly not our funky folding chairs or our cramped storefront.
And God knows it’s not the short, fat, bald guy that teaches every week 
No the best thing about Calvary Chapel of Crook County is Jesus.
When people step through the door of our church I want them to experience Jesus. Not the Jesus of their own making. You know the one who smiles a lot and exists to make us happy because he’s really nice.
No what people need is the real Jesus. The One who compels us to take up our cross and live a life of humility, selflessness, and service. The One whose humble condescension and loving sacrifice demand us to lay our lives down and follow Him. Any other Jesus is a sham. Milli Vanilli without the dreds.
As a I pastor I desire to point people to the real Jesus. As a Bible teacher I want to take every text and make Jesus come alive to the listener. As a church planter my goal for our church is that it draws people into a deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus.
I don’t want people to just “enjoy” the services and ministries we offer. It saddens me when people show up with no heart to be changed. You know the people who say, “that was great worship” or “wonderful message pastor” but then depart to completely forget what was said and to have their lives remain exactly the same. I want our people to have an amazing encounter with their Creator who is longing to have a living dynamic relationship with them.
“Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’.” (John 12:20-21)
This is the true need of every person that darkens the door of our churches. They need to see Jesus. Like the women with the issue of blood they desperately need to be touched by Jesus.
I pray every week that the people who attend our services will be arrested in their spirit having their hearts captured by the Lover of their Soul. I don’t want anyone to walk away without being challenged to wrestle with and personally apply the truths we discussed.
Sadly though many people will never truly experience the Jesus we so passionately worship and preach about. They are content to sing 5 songs, drop a few bucks in the box, listen to the sermon while checking their watch and return to their life unchallenged and unchanged.
It’s the sad reality of humanity. It’s the discouraging dichotomy of ministry. Some get it some don’t. There’s not much we can do about it. In fact there’s nothing we can do about it.
Jesus is the best thing about us. When people realize that it will change everything.
