On this day in 1939, the National Football League’s attendance exceeded 1 million in a season for the first time.

That’s a lot of sports fans, especially in 1939. But these days, with 31 teams and huge stadiums, the NFL’s attendance totals about 16 million for a season or about 1 million each week. And just think how many people are watching on TV!

As impressive as those numbers are, however, consider this: on any given Sunday, there are more people at church than at NFL games. That’s right. According to studies, 44% of adult Americans attend church regularly, so that would make about 65 million every week. How about that, sports fans?

Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (see today’s verse). He was talking about people, not buildings. Christ’s church includes all people who trust in him as Savior, all over the world. So it’s HUGE.

Unlike pro football, you won’t find vendors, cheerleaders, scoreboards, or referees in a church service, and you won’t need a ticket. But you can find excitement. Nothing could be more thrilling, for example, than to hear God speak through his Word and watch the Holy Spirit transform lives. And best of all, everyone wins. The champions in football and other sports are soon forgotten as we look to find new winners and heroes, but what happens in church lasts forever.

Hebrews 10:25 says not to neglect meeting together, “but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of [Christ’s] coming back again is drawing near.” Makes sense.

See you in church!

Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it (Matthew 16:18).

To Do

This Sunday in church look at people, especially those you know well, in a different way. Think of how God has changed their lives. Thank God for his great work and for his church.

Also on this day

This is Human Rights Day.

1830—Poet Emily Dickinson was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.