Hanging out in the lobby after church is one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes it backfires – when that incredibly awkward conversation seems to never end and no one rescues me. But most of the time it’s great

And then every once-in-a-while I talk to someone and it reminds me why we do what we do.

That happened this past week. I noticed an older gentleman, probably close to 70, hanging around the lobby. He kept shooting glances my way while I was talking to a family so I wondered if he got drug there by his grandchildren and absolutely hated it. Or was he some kind of teetotaling former pastor that couldn’t believe I taught what the Bible actually says about alcohol. Then he came up to me. I gulped and braced for impact.

“I just want to thank you,” he said as he shook my hand and I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve been in churches my entire life and for the first time I heard the Bible in a way that I could actually understand it. For once I’ll be glad to come back to church next week.” At about that time his wife came up and joined us – a lady I have seen at our church many times in the past. And here’s the kicker: for several months now she’s been putting her husband down as a prayer request – that he would come to church with her and get back into a relationship with God.

Mission accomplished.

That reminded me of several things. First, that is the reason we teach the Bible for transformation not information. Big difference. Second, being “culturally relevant” doesn’t have an age limit. Sure, we are going to reach mostly the younger crowd. But God’s Word and worship of Him presented in a way that makes sense will reach far greater than our human goals and targets would suggest.

And that’s why we do what we do.