As we know, sometimes church (and life) can just feel like a collection of programs designed to facilitate different acts of worship to God. Although this in itself is not a bad thing, there is a danger that lurks behind this mindset.

What happens sometimes is that we get so focused on keeping the programs running that we can forget about caring for the people the programs were meant to serve in the first place. What happens when heartbreaking news happens over the weekend, and we have to shepherd the people through reacting to this on Sunday morning?

Do we try to just fit a hurting congregation into our normal programs? Are we willing to put everything we’ve planned for aside to minister to a present need?

When I look at the ministry of Jesus, I am both encouraged and convicted.

Encouraged to see how Christ was willing to stop everything to minister to a woman who reached out and touched the hem of His garment.

Convicted to realize how my reaction might have been to think “Ministering to this woman was not part of the agenda on this journey.”

Now, you might be thinking that there is no way we wouldn’t have helped this woman, but I see little snippets of this all too often.

A child is crying and the mother is overwhelmed, yet the father sits focused on the sermon hoping she will solve it by taking the child out of the auditorium.

A musician is clearly struggling with their heart from a tough day, yet rehearsal goes on as if nothing is wrong.

A group of believers is heading to lunch after church, yet they pass a homeless person asking for food without missing a beat.

Yes, I know this might seem like I’m throwing stones, but each of these are specific situations where I was the culprit.

These are just some thoughts I’ve been having lately. I hope it causes all of us who read it to think through this: “Are we willing to break our programs to care for people?”

Thanks for reading.