7 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR SUMMER MORE PEOPLE-ORIENTED
Every summer, we take a break from our normal Wednesday Evening rhythm to allow those who lead and serve during the year to rest. But just because there are no formal Wednesday evening activities doesn’t mean your summer has to lack discipleship! In fact, we hope the extra calendar space during June and July provide you some additional time to invest in one another. Below are 7 ways that you can spend your summer being more people-oriented:
Commit to having church members over for dinner
Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have been spending time around the dinner table (Acts 2:42). Sharing a meal together has always been one of the best ways to deepen relationships between Christians. Our problem is that we tend to get overwhelmed by our schedules. So go ahead now and set aside some summer evenings to invite other church members into your home for dinner. Be broad with your invitations, welcoming members from every stage of life. And as you eat together, ask good questions that lead to rich conversations.
Ask someone to meet regularly for discipleship
One of the best ways to bless or be blessed by another church member is to spend prolonged time together (Prov. 27:17). Whether you desire to invest in someone or hope for someone else to invest in you, consider asking another church member to spend regular, intentional time together. This could include reading through a book of the Bible, praying for one another, discussing a Christian book, etc. The goal is simply to get together, openly discuss the things of God, and apply these truths to your lives.
Schedule play dates with other families
It can be difficult for mothers of young children to find time to interact with other moms, especially during the summer while all the kids are out of school. Try to knock two birds out with one stone by scheduling playdates with other church families this summer. Meet up at a local park with other moms so you can have gospel-centered conversations while your kids burn some energy. If you receive our Fisherville Kids Newsletter, you likely have already seen some dates planned out in advance. Or, if you want to plan some additional dates with others, a great place to do this is in The Women of Fisherville Baptist Church FaceBook group.
Invite other church members to join you for enjoyable activities
Think of it as play dates for adults. While you’re getting out of the house this summer, consider inviting other church members to join you for whatever activity you may be doing. Whether you’re going to see a movie, taking a hike, spending the day at an amusement park, learning how to garden, or simply going out to lunch, consider inviting a church member to join you. You may find that doing something enjoyable together provides an opportunity to have godly conversations.
Join a Sunday School class if you aren’t already in one
Many of our church members benefit from participating in a Sunday School class. These classes are not only outlets of faithful, biblical teaching. They are also a great way to strengthen your connection to other members, making it harder to slip through the cracks of church life. Consider joining a class if you haven’t already. You can find a full list of available classes here.
Spend time praying for other church members
One of the best ways to cultivate love for another Christian is to spend time praying for him or her. As you consistently bring someone before the Lord, the Holy Spirit grows your affection for that person. Consider using your extra time this summer to strengthen your prayer life for fellow church members. Keep a list of ways you can be praying for others, and then encourage them by telling them that you’re praying!
Find one tangible sacrifice that you can make for the good of another church member
You could take a meal to someone in need, babysit for parents who desperately need a date night, begin serving in children’s ministry, assist others with something you’re skilled in (auto or home maintenance, financial knowledge, etc.), visit a shut-in, or call a missionary. The applications are endless! The goal is simply to show the love of Christ by blessing another church member while expecting nothing in return.
This list of how to be people-oriented this summer certainly isn’t exhaustive. There are a whole number of ways you can creatively invest in your fellow church members, but hopefully this list is a good place to start. Consider trying to implement even just two or three of these recommendations into your rhythm this summer. But try to stretch yourself. Perhaps you already do some of the things on this list well. If that’s the case, then try to implement something new. The goal is not to perfectly accomplish each thing on the list, but rather to continue strengthening the muscle of investing in others.
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