Sermon Illustrations
Elder Board Recruits New Member at a Local Restaurant
In the mid-'80s, as a bachelor living in Sacramento, California, I had fallen into a period where I had ceased attending church altogether—for well over a year. If I woke up before noon, it was only to watch the NFL while still under the sheets. One weekend a friend was visiting from the Bay Area. He was a recent convert to Christianity, and he insisted on going to church that Sunday. So he consulted the Yellow Pages and picked a church for us to attend. I very much enjoyed the worship, but afterwards gave little thought to returning the next week.
But that very next Saturday, on another typical night out with my work buddies, I happened upon all the elders from the [same] church where I had attended the previous Sunday. They too were out to see the Briefcase Blues Band (a Blues Brothers tribute band) at Harry's Bar & Grill. There, [eating and drinking] with their wives, the elders spotted me and invited my buddies and me to join them. Long story short: I attended that local church every Sunday thereafter, at first just the morning worship service, but soon the study hour as well, then Sunday evening worship too, and eventually I became a communicant member (of the first church I ever committed to joining).
May I dare suggest to local churches that your future Sunday morning is to be found on Saturday night?
Possible Preaching Angle: (1) Outreach and Friendship Evangelism—Reaching people for Christ doesn't always happen at the Sunday morning event. Sometimes it happens as we reflect Christ in ordinary times and places. (2) Leadership and Integrity—As leaders, people are watching not just what we do publically at church. They also watch us when we're "off-stage" and living ordinary life.