Come Check Us Out

While reading Psalms 66 I was reminded of the interplay between the purposes of our public gatherings and the invitations that we extend to our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to come and check us out. We recognize that our public services will be one of the front doors of NineSevenZero Church and that each gathering must be planned and designed with those we haven’t met yet in mind.

Anticipating and preparing for guests in our public gatherings will give us, who call NineSevenZero Church our church home, the confidence to know that our guests will have the opportunity to connect with God and to His family. So, not only should our planning include the guest and the non-believer, but we should also be intentional about how we prepare and help our people to invite their friends to come and check us out. The following contains an outline of some public service elements viewed through the context of Psalms 66.

• Invitation – Come and See
  • Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf. (Ps 66:5)
  • Proclamation – this is the presentation of the Gospel, the recounting of God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout history, and God’s principles for successful living,
• Invitation – Come and Hear
  • Praise our God, O people, let the sound of his praise be heard. (Ps 66:8)
  • Worship & Prayer – This is the vocal and sometimes ecstatic worship, adoration, exultation of our God, and the authetic prayers offered by the children of God to their Father expressing gratitude, praise and need.
• Invitation – Come and Listen
  • Come and listen all you who fear God. Let me tell you what he has done for me. (Ps 66:16)
  • Testimony – These are real people giving authentic personal testimony of God’s provision and intervention in their lives.
• Invitation – Come and Join In
  • Shout with joy to God all the Earth. Sing the glory of his name, make his praises glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds. So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.” All the Earth bows down to you. They sing praise to you. They sing praise to your name. (Ps 66:1-4)
  • Incorporating and offering opportunities to participate, extending a warm welcome and giving permission to join in

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