In November, I purchased a starter kit of essential oils and joined a group of very encouraging people. This choice led to a more non-toxic way of life, which has changed many of my choices on a daily basis. Saturday, I attended a vendor fair at a local nursery. At first I thought to just sell my books, but after some thought, I decided to share oils as well. By the end of the day, I posted photos in my oil group and received encouragement.

The Problem

However, one of my comments during the day gave me reason to pause. I stated I wanted to share how oils have changed my life, which immediately caused an almost audible pause in my conversation. Why am I willing to share about oils but not about my faith and the change it’s brought to my life? As I considered it, I came up with several things my oil group does that encourages its members to tell others about essential oils that many churches lack.

1. Resources for New Members

When was the last time you went to church and had someone ask you what your daily routine is for Bible study? However a weekly question in the oil group is what our daily oil routine is. Besides this, basic beginner information can be found in the photo albums. Some churches have classes for new believers, but many don’t have anything available.

2. Personal Contact

Most churches can be impersonal crowds of people where you can enter and leave without having any personal greeting other than a designated person at the door. New people have no clue where to get questions answered or who to contact when things go wrong.

3. Admit Issues

In our oil group we’ll easily admit when we’ve had a bad day or don’t feel well, and we’ll say what we did to overcome or ask for suggestions of what to do. How often do we admit failures in the church setting or ask for help?

A couple of weeks ago, several men from church went to a retreat. From what I heard, during that time men were able to let their guard down and share with one another, but that’s a once a year event–not a weekly thing.

4. Testimonials

With oils we’re encouraged to share how they’ve changed our lives, or an oil will be posted, and we’ll be asked to share how we’ve used it. Growing up, I remember Sunday evening church services where the song leader would ask for testimonies, and people would share how God had answered prayers. This thankful attitude should be the norm.

Solution:

Oils may make my life easier and healthier, but it’s Christ who’s sealed my eternal state. Eternity is so much more important than day to day. However, Jesus should influence my daily life. Yesterday at church someone shared this definition for worship: “responding to all God is with all that we are”. That is what life should be–a responding to all God has done for me with every bit of who I am.

My challenge to myself and to you is to build the community of the church just like my oil community. We need to encourage one another to build each other up to love and good works. That means asking those hard questions and being free to share when we’re struggling. It takes a humility to say, “I can’t do this on my own.” That’s the exact heart God is looking for.

When I truly think on what all Christ has done for me, I am awed and fall to my knees in thanksgiving. That’s when I should be shouting from the mountain tops, “Guess, what Jesus has done for me!” What’s one thing He’s done for you this week? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.