March 11th, 2020

First impressions mean everything.

When you walk into a business how you are treated in those first twenty seconds makes all the difference in the world. That initial moment is revealing. Questions are answered. Do they care? Will my needs be met? Will I have access to all available benefits? Are they just looking for numbers or do they genuinely care for me?


The first twenty seconds are a game changer for any business. Those precious seconds will mean the difference in the customer coming back or never walking through your doors again.


Even deeper than that there is plenty of research that suggests that judgments based on facial appearance plays a powerful role in how we treat others and how we get treated in return. Think about it. Your body language plays a critical role in a conversation. Your presentation and facial expression matters. Just ask any husband and wife. Those dynamics are real and powerful.

What happens when people are visiting your website? People will judge your website in matters of seconds. What they see matters. In, clutter here, sloppy there, and they will be gone forever. What you value matters. Is your marketing shabby? If you don’t care why should they?


Does any of this have an impact on the church?


You bet. The first twenty seconds a visitor or family walks through the doors of your church building will leave an everlasting impression. Will they connect? Will they leave and never come again? We should sit up and take notice. Souls are at stake.


A few things we all need to consider as a church-family:


1. Image means everything.


2. A golden opportunity.


3. Jesus is the reason.


Image means everything. Even more than the looks of our building the visitor is immediately impacted by your body language and facial expressions.

Do you want friends? Well, you must have a friendly spirit (Proverbs 18:24). That spirit is expressed in your body language. The words you speak will be impactful (Proverbs 25:11). The timeliness and choice of your words will be critical (Proverbs 15:23). Choose your words carefully. Maintain a caring and friendly disposition.


This may be the last time you meet this person.

​Whether or not this is their first visit or just a one on one meeting, this is a golden opportunity. Value that moment. Think of Philip in Acts 8:30 when the Holy Spirit pointed him in the direction of the Ethiopian eunuch. He ran! What joy! What eagerness! What an opportunity! He didn’t want to waste any more time. Relish the opportunity and give your visitor or guest your full attention (Psalms 118:24). Redeem the time (Colossians 4:5).


Jesus is the reason!

This is why the church has come together! Jesus is the connection. Be thankful and joyful (Colossians 3:17). Jesus is the standard for why you do what you do. Jesus expressed the greatest joy ever in fulfilling his Father’s will to rescue the souls of humanity (Hebrews 12:2). He was and is the greatest example of a grateful attitude. He honored God without complaining. So on those days when you would rather not pull your own weight or feel a tinge of complaint or feel a little down, think of Jesus. You are introducing them to the light that shines brightly in you, right?


Twenty seconds in comparison to say 60 minutes may seem unworthy of our attention. But those precious seconds can leave a lasting impression. As the Lord’s church we should and can give those powerful moments our best effort. Let’s remember that image means everything, that we are presented with a golden opportunity, and that Jesus is the reason.


Bruce