July 21st, 2026
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Just Show Up!
I don’t know where I first heard it. It’s been a quote I’ve used so long that it may be my own. It’s not based on research. It is based on my experience. Here it is; “Nine tenths of ministry is just showing up.”
If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, you must show up. If you want to encourage your church family, it is difficult to do so if you are not there when they get together.
Actually, this statement is true of almost every endeavor in life. If you want to make the most of your educational experience you must show up. In fact, at school, if you miss too many days or have too many tardies, the school will give you detention or, if it gets too bad, retain you at the same grade level for the next year. If you don’t make it to your job, your work won’t get done. Your boss will get frustrated. Your fellow employees will become resentful and you may find yourself on permanent unpaid vacation.
If you fail to show up at home, your spouse will wonder what you’ve been up to. Your chores at home will be left undone and your children will not receive the direction and encouragement that you need to give them. Space and time do not allow me to show you the numerous other obvious examples that apply to this “showing up” principle.
The writer of Hebrews understood the value of just showing up.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Much of Hebrews is about encouragement. If you read these words, you see that a big reason for us to “just show up” at church gatherings is for encouragement and accountability. We need each other. We need to see each other. We need to get together for the purpose of worshipping together, praying for each other, speaking to each other and more.
We do not come out of some fear that God will get us if we don’t. We do not come just so we can feel like we’ve done our religious duty for the week. We do not come because there’s nothing more important today.
We come because we need the fellowship. We come because we want to encourage the family of God. We come because we love Jesus Christ and want to honor him. We come because, without us, our ministry will go unfulfilled and we will miss amazing opportunities. We come because the most valuable moment of our week is worshipping God together with his family. We come because “nine tenths of ministry is just showing up.”
Yes, you can watch the preachers on TV or online. You can pray at the lake while you are fishing. You can read your Bible and pray at home. You can find many substitutes for church attendance, but none of that compares to the ministry that happens when we worship together with the family of God. People are not perfect. People will fail you. Some people will frustrate you, but that is why they need you. You could make the difference by just showing up. Attending church services is a joyful and exciting experience. If it is not, you need to ask yourself what your expectations are. Are you looking to be entertained? Are you seeking your own comfort? Or are you looking to be used by God? It really is about your expectations and personal attitude. You can’t complete that final tenth if you don’t do the first nine. Find God’s joy in your heart by committing yourself to your entire ministry.
This Sunday we will continue our series of messages in the theme The Dedicated Church Member; Outwardly Focused Christians with a message titled, Worshipping with God’s People based on Acts 2:41-47 & John 4:21-24.
I hope you will be there to share in the day. Bring your friends and family and see if you can complete the other tenth of ministry when you get there.
Showing up with you,
Jon
Just Show Up!
I don’t know where I first heard it. It’s been a quote I’ve used so long that it may be my own. It’s not based on research. It is based on my experience. Here it is; “Nine tenths of ministry is just showing up.”
If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, you must show up. If you want to encourage your church family, it is difficult to do so if you are not there when they get together.
Actually, this statement is true of almost every endeavor in life. If you want to make the most of your educational experience you must show up. In fact, at school, if you miss too many days or have too many tardies, the school will give you detention or, if it gets too bad, retain you at the same grade level for the next year. If you don’t make it to your job, your work won’t get done. Your boss will get frustrated. Your fellow employees will become resentful and you may find yourself on permanent unpaid vacation.
If you fail to show up at home, your spouse will wonder what you’ve been up to. Your chores at home will be left undone and your children will not receive the direction and encouragement that you need to give them. Space and time do not allow me to show you the numerous other obvious examples that apply to this “showing up” principle.
The writer of Hebrews understood the value of just showing up.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Much of Hebrews is about encouragement. If you read these words, you see that a big reason for us to “just show up” at church gatherings is for encouragement and accountability. We need each other. We need to see each other. We need to get together for the purpose of worshipping together, praying for each other, speaking to each other and more.
We do not come out of some fear that God will get us if we don’t. We do not come just so we can feel like we’ve done our religious duty for the week. We do not come because there’s nothing more important today.
We come because we need the fellowship. We come because we want to encourage the family of God. We come because we love Jesus Christ and want to honor him. We come because, without us, our ministry will go unfulfilled and we will miss amazing opportunities. We come because the most valuable moment of our week is worshipping God together with his family. We come because “nine tenths of ministry is just showing up.”
Yes, you can watch the preachers on TV or online. You can pray at the lake while you are fishing. You can read your Bible and pray at home. You can find many substitutes for church attendance, but none of that compares to the ministry that happens when we worship together with the family of God. People are not perfect. People will fail you. Some people will frustrate you, but that is why they need you. You could make the difference by just showing up. Attending church services is a joyful and exciting experience. If it is not, you need to ask yourself what your expectations are. Are you looking to be entertained? Are you seeking your own comfort? Or are you looking to be used by God? It really is about your expectations and personal attitude. You can’t complete that final tenth if you don’t do the first nine. Find God’s joy in your heart by committing yourself to your entire ministry.
This Sunday we will continue our series of messages in the theme The Dedicated Church Member; Outwardly Focused Christians with a message titled, Worshipping with God’s People based on Acts 2:41-47 & John 4:21-24.
I hope you will be there to share in the day. Bring your friends and family and see if you can complete the other tenth of ministry when you get there.
Showing up with you,
Jon
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