North End Church of Christ

By: Clarence DeLoach

The New Testament emphasizes that the quality of our life is proportioned to our commitment to excellence. The late Vince Lombardi, celebrated coach of the Green Bay Packers, once said, “Gentlemen, the quality of a man’s life is directly proportioned to his commitment to excellence.”

It is so easy for us to become complacent and comfortable in our mediocrity. Content to be just average, we never rise above mediocrity.

We can never improve upon the divine elements in the church; her sure foundation, her cornerstone, and her mission. But, we are constantly challenged to improve and strengthen the human element.

Are you committed to the excellence of this congregation? There are four groups of members who strengthen the church and are thus committed to her excellence:

FIRST, ATTENDING MEMBERS. You can count on them to be at every service possible. They put the Kingdom first (Mt. 6:33). They don’t allow trivial, mundane things to interfere. Their spiritual interest in meeting Jesus and His people is greater than their normal aches and pains. They too, work hard all week and could use the ordinary excuses –but the difference is–they are committed to the well-being of the church.

SECOND, INFORMED MEMBERS. They are in the know. They have an intense desire for knowledge (I Pet. 2:2). You will find them in Bible classes. They “hunger and thirst for knowledge” (Mt. 5). They delight in His statutes (Psalm 119:16). The word to them is like “honey in the mouth” (Psalm 119:103). They love to hear it taught and expounded.

THIRD, CONSISTENT MEMBERS. They practice in their lives what they profess with their mouths. They believe on Monday as well as on Sunday. They practice in the shadows as well as in the sunshine. They praise His name in the meeting place without profaning His name in the market place. Such consistency in life speaks eloquently so the world can hear what we are trying to say.

FOURTH, SUPPORTING MEMBERS. A church is strong or feeble–not in proportion to its enrolled members–but in proportion to the supporting members. The tragedy in every church is her list of inactive members. But involved members support her with their time, thoughts, prayers, energy, and money.

Are you committed to the excellence of the church? Do you belong in all four categories?