Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2 KJV
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV
There is a serious malaise in the church today. Attendance. But the question hanging on the lips and hearts of many church leaders is this, “how do we get people back into the seats where they once happily sat individually, or in family units?” The church is not a business, but there is nothing wrong with learning their useful lessons which have stood the test of time, and with positive results. Here are some successes taken from the business world.
Advertising your best characteristics unashamedly, and in the most public ways. Newspapers, magazines, radio and even local TV. The local church is a good way to bring people together while preaching the gospel in a gentle way. It can help heal fractured communities and society by uniting separated neighbours.
Talk openly and freely in general conversations about the church you attend. Don’t be afraid or ashamed or reticent in ‘talking up’ the best parts of your church. Your neighbours can easily see the genuine article, and will equally see right through the apologetic person. Done properly, talking about your fellowship does so much good, but the opposite is also true if you are shallow, if you speak about your pastor or leaders in a negative way.
When the verse says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good”, it suggests that the person you are talking to must give it a try. There is no benefit in talking about church, but keeping your friends at a healthy distance in case they get offended, affected, ‘contaminated’ or convicted by the Holy Spirit of their wrong, sinful, lifestyle.
There is one sure way to get the Word of God across to the general non church goer, and that is to get them under the sound of the gospel, so I make no apology in using the verse in 2 Tim 4:2 where it says, “preach the Word”, even if you don’t feel like listening, but something has happened to society during the past few years. We all have the need for a ‘fast fix’ on just about anything from hamburgers to church attendance. I can get a burger quickly, almost without effort and the experience is over in an instant. Why can’t we have that with church? Trouble is, our eternal future takes more careful thought than some shallow consideration.
It is important that we find our full and complete salvation. Oh, there’s one of those words we have trouble with, ‘salvation’, but why? I can hear some of you say, ‘and who says you have the right way?’ That’s very presumptuous. Surely there are many good ways to salvation and heaven? It’s a very common argument, and one I have heard often, even from good, well founded Christians who are sure of their salvation. You see, it is counter intuitive that if there is a God, and He is good, He would make it easy to gain true salvation. Therefore, since the Bible really IS the Word of God, we have to consider these important following verses:
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
However, Jesus has the final say and His words still cause a problem today. He is either the Son of God, or a charlatan. The choice is yours. Your free will is also given, courtesy of this same person. Worth remembering!
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
The answer to the biggest questions in life, who am I, where did I come from, and where am I going, is Jesus Christ! We seem to have come full circle on the question of how to get more people into church, and catch their interest. Do you think the question has been answered, even in part? If you think you have an answer to this serious question, please feel free to add your comments.
