What is Wildcard Sunday?
Because church is the gathering of believers in Jesus’ name and not just the Sunday Service, we want to reinforce that through a specific practice, namely Wildcard Sundays. Church happens whenever people gather in Jesus name, whether that be at home groups, a backyard BBQ, a hangout at the beach, or a playdate at the park. So we want to remind everyone of what church actually is and take some of the emphasis off of the Sunday Service through Wildcards.
Not a day off
Scripture tells us to gather regularly and not to give up gathering with believers (Hebrews 10:25). Sunday is still a day we set aside for the Lord and for the purpose of gathering with other believers in Jesus’ name. So gather with believers outside of your own family with Jesus, this Wildcard Sunday.
Not programmed
If the church sets up events and programs on Wildcard Sundays in order to fill the time, this would defeat the purpose. Church is not the programs and events developed by the church leadership. Church is the gathering of believers. This gathering in Scripture was often organic, and happened through the moving of the Spirit, not the church organization. We want to emphasize that the organic gatherings of believers in Jesus’ name are also church.
Sunday Worship is still important.
Coming to Sunday Worship is still important. There are group dynamics, the Spirit’s movement, a corporate unity and identity that is lost without the formal gathering of the entire body of believers. Sunday Worship serves this purpose. It is still very important along with home groups and along with organic gatherings of believers. The purpose of Wildcard Sundays is not to get rid of Sunday Worship, but to emphasize that Sunday Worship is one of many different expressions of the church.
What should I actually do during a Wildcard Sunday?
Plan ahead. Check the calendar to see when the next Wildcard is coming up. Plan something with another person in church or even a non-believing friend. Don’t wait until Sunday morning to figure something out. Plan something right now.
Make sure Jesus is involved. Going to the beach with a couple of families is awesome. That is exactly what we want you to do, but if you go to the beach without bringing Jesus, that is not church. Bring Jesus. Make sure to have a set prayer time at the beach or share testimonies at the beach. You could read a passage from Scripture or someone could just share a bit about what Jesus has been doing. You could have someone lead some worship songs. Just incorporate the Lord in some way.
Invite people who aren’t believers or who don’t go to church. Just like you can and should invite non-believers to church, you can invite non-believers to your Wildcard. Sometimes it’s easier to invite someone to the beach with a little prayer than it is to invite someone to a church service.
Do something you like to do. You don’t have time to go surfing or get your nails done? Do it Sunday morning. Just do it with Jesus and do it with other believers.
BLESSS. If you don’t know what to do, remember the BLESSS acronym.
Begin with Prayer - Whatever you do, incorporate prayer. Silent prayer, the NOW prayer, or some other type of prayer. You can begin with prayer, have prayer in the middle or end with it.
Listen - Really listen to each other when people are sharing or even in brief small talk type of conversations. You never know what the Spirit is trying to do.
Eat together - Do a backyard BBQ, or just order pizza. Inviting someone to eat with you is inviting them into your life.
Serve - Do a community service activity or help your neighbor clean up their backyard. Do this
Story - Tell stories about God. Tell stories about what God has been doing in your life.
Show up - Again, Wildcard Sundays are not a day off. Actually get some people together. Actually spend some time together building up the body in the presence of Jesus.