Church starts at 9am. What time should a mature Christian arrive?

8:45.

At the latest.

Now, I know, stuff happens.

Kids are hard to organise.

Spouses can be hard to organise.

Yourself can be hard to organise.

Traffic happens.

Mishaps happen.

Nonetheless, you should aim to be on time for church.

Why?

Because it shows that you think that church is important.

Because it encourages those who are leading the service. (I can’t tell you how discouraging it is to begin a church service when there’s few people in attendance, yet they will trundle in during the first ten minutes)

Because it gives you a chance to welcome newcomers to church. (How discouraging must it be to turn up to a new church service and outnumber the regulars?)

Because it gives you a chance to welcome fellow congregants. (How discouraging is it to be in your own church and be on your lonesome)

Mature believers know that their role on a Sunday is beyond just consuming, but that their contributing ministry starts the moment they walk into church.

Arriving at 9:05 and leaving the minute the service concludes makes you a customer.

Mature believers know that more than that is expected.