The BRO Code for Christians

Pray before you panic.

It is cheaper than worry and far better company (Philippians 4:6).

Read your Bible before you read your phone.

The Word first, the weather second, the group chat a distant third.

Go to church when you don't feel like it.

Especially then. That is usually the Sunday the sermon was written for you.

Forgive quickly.

You have been forgiven for more. Grudges are heavy luggage on a long trip.

Say grace in restaurants too.

A short one. Your fries will survive eight seconds.

Serve at church without being asked.

Stack chairs, make coffee, hold babies. The whole place runs on volunteers.

Keep your word like it matters to God, because it does.

Let your yes be yes (Matthew 5:37).

Give first, then budget.

Generosity is a habit you build on purpose, not with whatever is left over.

Welcome the visitor in your pew.

Say hello, learn their name, ask them to lunch. That is how most people stay.

Memorize a verse a week.

Start small. "Jesus wept" counts, but only for the first week.

Pray with your family.

It feels awkward the first week. By the second month, the kids remind you.

Keep a day of rest.

The lawn can wait. So can the email. Six days is plenty.

Share your faith with kindness.

People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Give thanks in everything.

Even the flat tire. Especially the flat tire, once you meet the man who stopped to help.

Invite someone to church.

Most people who go started with someone who asked.

Don't be one person on Sunday and another on Monday.

Faith that stays in the church parking lot is a costume.

Don't gossip and call it a prayer request.

"Just so you can pray about it" fools nobody, least of all the Lord.

Don't judge the family with the loud kids.

At least they came. Yours were loud once too.

Don't skip Scripture because you're busy.

Five minutes with the Book beats fifty with the feed.

Don't treat church like a restaurant you review.

You are there to worship, not to rate the coffee. Although the coffee could use some prayer.

Don't use your faith as a weapon.

Truth in love, always both (Ephesians 4:15).

Don't let a church hurt keep you from God.

People fail. He does not. Find a good church and try again.

Don't pray only when you're in trouble.

He would love to hear from you on the good days too.

Don't argue theology in the comments.

Nobody has ever been won over by a reply thread. Call them. Buy them lunch.

Don't take the Lord's name in vain.

Not even when you stub your toe on the pew. Especially not then.

Don't leave before the last song.

The parking lot will still be there. So will the traffic.

Don't forget the widow down the road.

Pure religion looks a lot like a casserole on her porch (James 1:27).

Don't borrow tomorrow's worries.

Tomorrow has enough trouble of its own, and it has not even arrived yet (Matthew 6:34).

Don't be too proud to ask for prayer.