Pre-Sunday Tailgating!

Are you a tailgater? I mean do you look forward to the atmosphere of the pre-game in the parking lot as much as you do walking through the gates and watching the game? Even if you aren't physically at the game doesn't it make for a better experience if you meet at someone's home or in a local wing joint to anticipate or share feelings about what you all think the game is going to be like? Real tailgaters know that on any given day the weather conditions may challenge their commitment to this pre-game activity but the real fans usually just fight through the circumstances, put on some extra layers or bring the rain gear and show up, because going into the game just isn't the same unless you've started things off together outside of it. Later when they recall the game to friends they tell as many stories about the tailgating circumstances as they do about the game itself.

Have you ever wondered why sometimes when you head to another event on Sundays there isn't the enthusiasm you experience with football and tailgating before and after the game?
Church might be one of those places. You get to the parking lot running a little behind to find one of the last spots and run in after the service greeting has happened (1-2 songs into the service) and you walk out afterwards, not too long after the service is over wondering, why it isn't the WOW you experience at the game? You know that being in church on a Sunday is the right place to be but something's missing and you can't figure it out. While I don't want to mislead anybody to believe that attending church or having a relationship with God is primarily about feeling and emotions I'm not ignorant to the fact that we are created with them and they do come into play when we determine whether we will enthusiastically return to any activity physically or in our minds.
Have you ever considered the impact that spiritual tailgating might have on your Sunday morning?
I'm going to boldly suggest that you aren't giving Sunday at church half the chance to be the pinnacle of the day that you desire for it to be as you are a football game. I'm saying that most of us aren't spiritually tailgating during the week as we think about Sunday morning at church. We let ourselves believe that we don't need to...or that we can just show up on Sunday mornings and flip a switch because we are a fan. After all, what more could God be wanting us to know or do than just show up? We watch sportscenter religiously to get the latest stats and injury reports about our teams so we will be a tuned in fan when we get to the tailgate and the stadium on Sunday, but we haven't asked God what should be on our hearts when we walk through the doors at church Sunday morning. We haven't asked the pastor what they'll be preaching about next week so we can read for ourselves some of the scriptures they might be using and so God can be working on our hearts before we get there. We haven't stopped to pray for the pastor, sound technicians or the other leaders in any of the services (Childrens, youth or primary) so they can be used by God's power to deliver inspiration that they don't have on their own. We haven't prioritized our schedule to join a small group that we can meet with in the middle of the week to pray, study and support each other in, so when you see each other on Sunday morning we don't feel so disconnected and don't have anything to say.
In the same way tailgating makes the football game itself a total experience, meeting with God in prayer, reading His love letter to you and doing it with other fans of His during the week, makes Sunday morning all He intended it to be in our hearts.

In closing I want to ask you if knowing ________ (Insert your favorite player....for Indy's sake I'll say Peyton Manning) said he was going to be at your tailgate before the game next week would you be sure you showed up? How cool would it be to meet him in person and hear him tell you how he and the team were preparing for their next opponent, or better yet have Him reveal to you how you can make a difference on the team by giving you an assignment?. I know I'd be stoked! One on one time with Peyton! Wow! How much more interesting would that make watching the game from the stands on Sunday? Our Heavenly Father tells us that whenever and wherever we call out to Him He is ready to listen and help us prepare for whatever life brings us to Monday - Saturday...not just Sunday. In His playbook (Rev 3:20) he tells us "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
The God of eternity wants to meet with us and others to tailgate before Sunday morning. Are you in? I've heard and know that His tailgates are the total experience when it comes to a relationship with Him and His church.

Huddle up!