Putting the WOW in the Church 1
Putting the “Wow” in WOW – 1 Kings 10:4-9
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
6 Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.
7 However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.
8 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
The Queen of Sheba was ‘blown away’ by their attitudes
Every entity understands the importance of controlling attitude & atmosphere
When you’re shopping
· Music
Watching movies
· Music
Watching TV
· Laugh tracks
Live shows, games shows, talk shows
· "Applause” & “Laugh" signs or pay someone to stand and coach the audience.
Awards shows
· Seat fillers
Athletic events
· Cheerleaders
Importance of controlling the atmosphere
Eph 2:2. “Prince of the power of the air”
More than emotions… it is a state of mind
Believers have the advantage:
Enthusiasm: God with-in; God inspired
The Bible tells us what attitudes to have:
Ps 100:1-5
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Eph 6:7. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. NLT
Our attitude is not left up to our emotions
The Right Attitude is a Decision
Ps 34:1-3
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.
1. It begins with the will (God with-in)
2. It flows to the soul (emotion)
3. It spreads to others
“Nothing is as contagious as enthusiasm”
Your attitude affects others
2 Cor 9:1-2
There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. NIV
Even God is moved by your attitude
Deut 28:47-48
"Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.
2 Cor 9:7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Luke 7:31-32
"To what can I compare the people of this generation?" Jesus asked. "How can I describe them? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,
'We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance,
so we played funeral songs, and you didn't weep.'
Rev 3:15-16
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
This is what we decide:
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Rom 12:11 NIV
“Be Happy” – 1 Kings 10:8
· Control the atmosphere
· Create the feeling that good things are about to happen in your church
· Inspire people to join in the excitement
If there’s not excitement in AGF, it’s not because exciting things are not happening;
it’s because we don’t have enthusiasm:
· Enthusiasm comes from inside
· Excitement comes from outside
“He who rules his spirit is greater than he who rules a city.” Prov 16:32
Happy people make more money, have better immune-systems, and are more creative
· Prov 15:13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
· Prov 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
You can master our attitude and master your life
A Harvard Research project and a Carnegie foundation study, both found that 85% of people’s success can be attributed to attitude, while only 15% is due to knowledge, education, technical skill or luck.
The Cos Report on American Business said that 94% of all Fortune 500 executives attribute their success more to attitude than to any other basic ingredient.
According to Lyle Schaeller, one of the most knowledgeable persons in America in the area of Church Growth and congregational life, “The most crucial factor in church growth is the attitude of the members... a common characteristic of growing congregations is that the members are enthusiastic about their faith as Christians, about the congregation of which they are members, and about the life, programs and ministry of that congregation.”