“WHAT WOULD THIS SIGN NEED TO SAY FOR YOU TO BE HERE SUNDAY?”
The question was on the marquee of a Baptist church and captured in the picture here that I also used in yesterday’s Catch. I got to thinking, after I published it, that I would like to hear how some of you would answer this question. So that’s why I’m bringing it back for another day.
One of my most cherished moments as a singer came one weekend when I was speaking at a retreat put on by a popular singles group of about 200 very cool and obviously successful young adults from a downtown Presbyterian church. The retreat was being held at a Christian conference center on the right coast that also runs a very successful 90-day live-in program for alcoholics and drug addicts on adjacent property. It’s a unique pairing where the men do most of the chores around the camp as part of their rehab program, but are always in stark contrast to the shiny happy people usually attending the conference center. Nowhere is that contrast more apparent than when they are included in some of the events that go on at the retreat.
A perfect example was a concert I put on Saturday night after our speaking session was over. When the camp director asked if I wouldn’t mind having the men from the rehab program attend the concert, I enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity.
The first thing I noticed at the concert was that the men – about thirty of them – took the closest seats to the stage and the Presbyterian singles were scattered around the auditorium. I had a feeling that if the men hadn’t been there those seats would have been lefty empty anyway.
The second thing I noticed was how attentive and appreciative they were versus the conferees, who took the whole thing as rather a yawn.
Towards the end of the concert I did a song I knew would resonate with the rehab group. It was the Kris Kristofferson hit “Why Me, Lord?” with the chorus: Lord help me, Jesus/I’ve wasted it so, help me, Jesus/ I know what I am. Now that I know that I needed you so/Help me, Jesus, my soul’s in your hand.
When I got to the final chorus I did what I had done many times when performing this song – I shouted, “Sinners only on the chorus!”
Oh my… you should have seen the contrast! The guys acted like they had been waiting all their lives for this moment. They jumped up and belted out “Lord help me, Jesus…!” while the Presbyterians looked around at each other, somewhat unsure of themselves. There was nervous laughter among them, and a definite confusion over whether or not it was okay to be a sinner.
It is for this reason that I would put up on the church marquee: “SINNERS ONLY THIS SUNDAY,” and just see what happens.
Personally I think the closer church comes to resembling a recovery group meeting, the better off we’ll all be.
What would you like to see on the marquee? Let me know.
John Fischer The Catch 
I like your quote for the sign, john, but I would like to see: “ONLY THE MISFITS WECOME THIS SUNDAY.”
This is my first time to this site and upon reading the question I knew my answer: “No perfect people allowed!” I read the article before figuring out how to post my reply so by the end I guess my comment was not a lot different than the one you presented. I am 43 years old and grew up as a preachers kid, so I guess I still am, but that is my idea of a welcoming sign because it is so far from what I have spent my life feeling about the church: “only perfect people allowed.” If a church can put the slogan “no perfect people allowed” and then really live by it then the non perfect, sinners like myself can walk in, experience life and love in the church, and walk out saying something like “wow, church really doesn’t suck.”
I would attend your church! I’m a sinner, and I know it. And I know that no matter what others think about themselves, they’re sinners — JUST LIKE ME.
How about the sign that you see while you drive “Slow down work in progress”. This sign would cover it all. First we need to slow down and spend time in his word and in prayer. Second, no matter how spiritually mature that we think we are, we are and will always be “Work in Progress”, with Gods help, grace, and mercy.
I love this one. Reminds me of the kids’ musical, “Kids Under Construction.” We are all just that. One line of the song is, “Maybe the paint is still wet; Kids under Construction, God may not be finished yet.”
The sign might say, “We are not a resting place for Saints; we’re a hospital for sinners.” (Not an original quote.)
My friend Troy said that all people in church are sinners. That’s why no one should feel like they are better than anyone else or worse than anyone else.
“FREE LOVE INSIDE”
From Casting Crowns:
But if we are the Body
Why aren’t His arms reaching
Why aren’t His hands healing
Why aren’t His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren’t His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way.
(Or maybe just “Why aren’t His feet going, why is His love not showing them there is a way).
“Our church is a refuge…not a country club”
I like the other comments better than mine!
“If you think you can earn your way to heaven, DON’T come this Sunday!”
No what you are looking for, but the “funniest” church sign I’ve seen personally was in front of a church in Dayton, Ohio whose Pastor had just died. The marquee simply read, “HE BEAT US!” I think/hope that they meant that he beat them to heaven, but it was obviously left open to other interpretations! Word to the wise: Have others read what you are planning to put on the church marqueee before it’s posted!
Oh boy, I have to do the church sign at my church! I’d love to have the guts to put Sinners Only This Sunday…. hmmm
Go for it!
“WHERE MATTERS OF THE HEART MATTER”
“LOST AND CONFUSED? SO ARE WE”
“R U HURTING? WE HAVE AN APP FOR THAT”
“SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET? THEY’RE WELCOME TOO”
Daylene — They’re each terrific. I love the Skeletons’s invitation in particular.
It’s OK… we all sin! Join us this Sunday.
6th GRADE CHRISTIANS ONLY!
I say that because I recently took my boys 6th Grade Discipleship group on a retreat, and it was one of the best events I’ve ever attended. Those kids really knew how to worship and connect with God and each other. Of course, the leadership had a lot to do with that, including the band, lead by Laura Story.
It’s interesting that you mentioned recovery groups and Presbyterians in your article. I go to a Presbyterian Church of America church named Perimeter here in Atlanta, and we have a wonderful recovery program called Celebrate Recovery. The interesting thing is, there’s not a lot of difference between the worship and fellowship there and in the rest of our church. As a matter of fact, if you went to one of our retreats, you would be hard pressed to pick out those who were in recovery. We’re all about the same. 🙂
So, I don’t know about the rest of the country, but at Perimeter, I think most of us realize that we’re in recovery of one form or another – even our sixth graders! And to be honest, I think discipleship is where you learn that. We consider discipleship to be the most important thing we do, and I’d say most of our church is in some type of discipleship group. It’s there that we really learn that we’re all sinners in need of recovery.
But I have to admit, I think you have the best sign: SINNERS ONLY!
We’re all works in progress
All recovering sinners welcome here! I think we are all trying to get over the addiction of sinning with little success sometimes. But with God’s strength and a deep faith we keep trying. By the way I LOVE that song that and Amazing Grace are my theme songs!
wow –such a way to capture their need & ours–Jesus would probably not attend most of our churches these days; if He did it’s only because He loves us–isn’t that what the Great Commission is all about!! Please let us all know what happens–wouldn’t it be wonderful to put a sign up saying “Welcome Home”
“If you stay away from church because of “all those hypocrites,” COME ANYWAY! There’s always room for one more!” :o)
“Jesus Appearing LIVE today.”
I’m eternally grateful that Jesus came for sinners, not the righteous, otherwise there would be no hope for me. “o victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me and He bought me, with His redeeming blood”
“Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36)
Just what I needed to read tonight. No kidding. Thank you, Hans.
“Personally I think the closer church comes to resembling a recovery group meeting, the better off we’ll all be.”
This line from today’s Catch really caught my eye because of an experience I had just a few years ago. The son of my friend had become a heroin addict but finally was able to find help thru a program here in WA state called Drug Court. The addict must apply and qualify to be accepted into the program. They must pay $1000, attend a strict regimen of counseling, drug tests and community service for 9 months at which point they can graduate. I was privileged to be at the graduation ceremony for this young man, an experience I will never ever forget. It was more moving and profound than any worship experience I’ve ever had at church. The graduates are seated up front (like the choir loft) and the Judge and the counselors are also “on the platform”. As each grad is introduced, a picture of them on the day of their arrest is projected on the huge screen at the front of the room. The audience can see this person at their worst on the screen…and at their point of healing right their, live and in person. The counselor speaks on their behalf, giving some history of the journey this person has been on, speaking of the obstacles they’ve overcome and how they are now a new person. Then the grad is invited to share. Over and over again I heard “if it wasn’t for this program and this judge…I wouldn’t be alive today.” Then the Judge speaks. He knows each one by name and we are given the impression that he knows so much more than that…and that he cares deeply for each one. There is much hugging. Yes. These grads are hugging this Judge and he is hugging them back. The addict is thanking the Judge for denying their request to leave the county for a family visit because they realize the Judge knew they were not ready for that freedom..that test. Certificates, Tshirts and little pocket coins are given….but the “best” part is about to come. This recovered addict stands front and center and the Judge is by their side and the Clerk of the Court, in a loud voice, declares that in the matter of State vs. “Sam Jones” we find the charges against you have been fully satisfied and you are free! (Now I know these aren’t the exact words, but this is the profound intention of what was said.) To me, it was a picture of when I, a sinner condemned by my own sin, stand before God in my filthy rags and He sees me in beautiful white robes because of the price His Son, Jesus Christ paid for me. I stand there, free and clear….because of His amazing grace!.
Maybe “you had to be there”…but if you “had” been there, tears of humility would have been streaming down your cheeks along with every other person in that Standing Room Only crowd.
Every one of those grads had experienced a life transformation. Do we see “that” in our churches? Do we get that “real”, that vulnerable? Do we let God be that real and do His work….really? It’s a challenge worth taking!
Fantastic story. Thanks for sharing it!
I didn’t have to be there. You took me there, complete with tears. Thanks.
A church I used to attend always put the same thing on their sign which could be read from a busy city street. “The Bible as it is, for people as they are!” I never liked that phrase because it infers that’s something’s wrong with the Bible. The second part was a little better except that I wondered whether the mediocre preaching was going to leave the people “as they are” instead of helping them to grow in the Lord. Perhaps a better slogan would be “Potluck served Sundays …. Come hungry, drink deeply, and exhale!”
WE ARE A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY: PLEASE BRING YOUR HURTS, HABITS, & HANG-UPS.
It’s safe here. We actually like people.
HELP WANTED: TO BE A BETTER CHURCH
VACANCY: NO ONE HERE BUT US SINNERS.
COME. STAY. BE. PLAY. LOVE. LEARN. GROW. YEARN. FIND.
WE DON’T WANT YOUR MONEY. LET US EARN YOUR LOVE.
I like your idea John, my thought while reading it was “Sinners Wanted: Please see anyone inside to applY” (Don’t worry, we’re all sinners too).
Kevin
Springfield, IL
Jesus will be the speaker at the 9 o’clock service.
“Did you misplace your joy this week? Come pick it up from Jesus Christ this Sunday.”
I haven’t attended a church service regularly for a few years. Recently I realized it has a lot to do with the fact that there’s no opportunity to participate, except for perhaps singing. Only the professional pastors are allowed to teach. There’s not even any chance to ask a question or have a dialog. That’s why I love and have been involved in organic or simple church.
Some churches have small groups where this can happen, and I believe that is really where “church” happens.
I shared this with lots of my church family. We are in the process of developing a ministry plan. I told them we definitely needed to include a Marquee Sign in the plan. Here’s my FAVORITE suggestion for what it should say:
DO YOU WANT GOD TO RECOGNIZE YOUR TOES WHEN YOU ENTER THE ROOM FEET FIRST? THEN JOIN US ON SUNDAY.
How funny is that? And you KNOW God has the BEST sense of humor of all!
I love the crew at Green Oak Ranch recovery program. It sounds like that’s where you were. I wonder how the folks at my church would react to that same song? God bless Christ based recovery programs everywhere!
That’s not where we were, but what is the Green Oak Ranch?
Green Oak Ranch is a Christian recovery program in Vista, CA. My son has been through the program. It is also a campground for community groups & the residents in the program provide the food, maintainence, ect. for the campground. greenoakranch.org is the website.
“taking reservations for heaven today” – stole it from Don Piper’s sermon at our Church yesterday – but had to share – thought it was a great “outreach” line