Not like you stayed up too late watching SNL and so you didn't feel like getting up in the morning. But that you are never excited about it.
Maybe you feel as if your church has lost their way or their relevancy.
Or perhaps you have lost your way and a church is a place you feel shame.
Maybe you've grown cold because of relationships. Either someone has hurt you or you feel alone for some reason.
Maybe you're too busy. And church has become just another thing that you have to do.
Regardless of your reason, there will be a time when you aren't excited about going to church.
I have been all over the spectrum when it comes to being excited about church--from feeling like I'm going to spontaneously combust to rather chewing my fingers off.
There are legitimate reasons to be excited or unexcited about church.
But what do you do when the excitement has left?
1) Change your attitude.
Your attitude is something that you have the power to change. When I'm not excited about church, it's because of me. I lose vision of what the church is here for and what it means to Jesus. Are you using the church, instead of allowing the church to use you?
2) Realize a church is people not a building.
The church is a gathering of people. If you realize that it's not an address, it's a whole lot easier to have the desire to go. Buildings don't motivate people. But realizing that a gathering of people isn't the same without you might.
3) Get connected.
You might not be excited, because you have no reason to be. You show up to church, but that's about all you do. You aren't invested. The reason why the gathering of people might not seem any different if you weren't there is because your going doesn't change anything. Join a small group. Volunteer. Get there early to talk to people. Do something!
4) Change your connectivity.
Change how you are serving. It's easy to burn out. Very few people are called to be middle school Sunday school teachers for forty years. If you are, then you screwed up big at some point in your life.
5) Take a break.
Maybe you have reached the point of burn out with serving or with your small group. You need to take a break. Take a month or two off. Don't be afraid to tell the person in charge, because they should understand.
6) Bring your own friends.
Ever wondered why you go to the movies with friends? Because it's fun. Going to church with friends makes a huge difference.
7) Do something loving for someone in the church.
Do something kind for someone and see if that doesn't get you excited about going the next week.
8) Pray for people by name.
The church is a gathering of people, so the easiest way to get excited about the church is to stop focusing on buildings and start focusing on people. Pray for people that you know by name. You will bless them and it'll humanize the church for you. You'll understand that it's not just about what you want and how you feel.
9) Forgive.
It sucks to be hurt by someone in the church. But it happens. The church is a messy place because it's made up of people. Unfortunately, it stings about a billion times worse when someone hurts you who is supposed to love you. So forgive them. It's difficult. If you are struggling to forgive someone, pray something like this..."God, I'm struggling to forgive her, so I'm going to have to borrow some forgiveness from you for that person. I'm not capable, but you are. Please forgive them."
10) Leave the church.
You don't leave a church because you aren't excited about what's going on. However, there is a time to leave a church. Don't do this without lots of prayer and seeking the wisdom of someone who can walk you through it.
What do you do when you're not excited about church?
1) Change your attitude.
Your attitude is something that you have the power to change. When I'm not excited about church, it's because of me. I lose vision of what the church is here for and what it means to Jesus. Are you using the church, instead of allowing the church to use you?
2) Realize a church is people not a building.
The church is a gathering of people. If you realize that it's not an address, it's a whole lot easier to have the desire to go. Buildings don't motivate people. But realizing that a gathering of people isn't the same without you might.
3) Get connected.
You might not be excited, because you have no reason to be. You show up to church, but that's about all you do. You aren't invested. The reason why the gathering of people might not seem any different if you weren't there is because your going doesn't change anything. Join a small group. Volunteer. Get there early to talk to people. Do something!
4) Change your connectivity.
Change how you are serving. It's easy to burn out. Very few people are called to be middle school Sunday school teachers for forty years. If you are, then you screwed up big at some point in your life.
5) Take a break.
Maybe you have reached the point of burn out with serving or with your small group. You need to take a break. Take a month or two off. Don't be afraid to tell the person in charge, because they should understand.
6) Bring your own friends.
Ever wondered why you go to the movies with friends? Because it's fun. Going to church with friends makes a huge difference.
7) Do something loving for someone in the church.
Do something kind for someone and see if that doesn't get you excited about going the next week.
8) Pray for people by name.
The church is a gathering of people, so the easiest way to get excited about the church is to stop focusing on buildings and start focusing on people. Pray for people that you know by name. You will bless them and it'll humanize the church for you. You'll understand that it's not just about what you want and how you feel.
9) Forgive.
It sucks to be hurt by someone in the church. But it happens. The church is a messy place because it's made up of people. Unfortunately, it stings about a billion times worse when someone hurts you who is supposed to love you. So forgive them. It's difficult. If you are struggling to forgive someone, pray something like this..."God, I'm struggling to forgive her, so I'm going to have to borrow some forgiveness from you for that person. I'm not capable, but you are. Please forgive them."
10) Leave the church.
You don't leave a church because you aren't excited about what's going on. However, there is a time to leave a church. Don't do this without lots of prayer and seeking the wisdom of someone who can walk you through it.
What do you do when you're not excited about church?
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