“Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me” (Luke 9:48).
“Welcome” is a biblical word rich with a rich meaning. It is more than a smile and a handshake. It is more than what happens during the “welcome and announcements.” If we reduce a welcome to a greeting, we clearly have misunderstood the meaning of welcome.
When Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes this little child,” He didn’t mean “whoever greets … whoever shakes his hand … whoever puts on a friendly face ….”
A welcoming church is the fertile soil in which all people can experience change and growth through the power of gospel of grace.
