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Posted on November 16, 2007 ...

       A couple of Saturday mornings ago I was in my car listening to an interview on the radio with a corporate executive in a service-oriented industry. Much of the conversation addressed their efforts to leave a good impression upon their customers. Give people quality customer service and you are more likely to gain their loyalty and build a good reputation. The executive used a phrase that I have heard many times, but this time triggered my thinking in a new way. His phrase was: Exceed Expectations. When people utilize a business or service, they naturally come with certain expectations. A noble and attainable goal is for the people in that company to exceed beyond the levels of service that people anticipate.
      My mind naturally went toward applying this principle in our church. After all, it is biblical. Remember what Jesus taught about going beyond expectations: If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Matthew 5:39b-41 NIV
      When folks choose to participate in our ministries, they come with a level of expectation. This is especially true for the people attending our church for the first time. A noble and attainable goal for our congregation is simply to exceed their expectations. Here are a few ideas:

     We exceed expectations when our members initiate conversations with our guests. (In most public gathering places people congregate with little or no interaction with strangers around them.)
     We exceed expectations when the music is well prepared and the soloists/ensembles/choir take the time to memorize their songs. (Folks do not expect the same musical levels as their favorite recording artists, but they deserve our best efforts.)
    We exceed expectations when fellow worshippers are attentive to and participating in the all the worship elements. 
    We exceed expectations when Bible studies and sermons are well prepared, interesting, and relevant.
    We exceed expectations when a deacon arrives at a guest's door that same day with a small gift from our church family.
    We exceed expectations when a hand-written note from the pastor arrives in the mail within a couple of days.
    We exceed expectations when a Sunday School member calls thanking the guest for attending that class or inviting the guest to join their Bible study in the future.

 
    While no church is flawless and able to measure up to a standard of perfection, it is worthy of our efforts to exceed expectations. Please help me in this pursuit? Thanks, Jay