Win Them with What?

“What you win them with is what you win them to.” The grammar may not be conventional but the truth is irrefutable. Every church faces the same challenge- for what will our congregation be known. The answer will be the result of the evident priorities of each individual assembly.
Most churches have a stated mission and a presumed mission. They may not be the same. The mission that people recognize is the one that is emphasized by practice, which may not be the mission that is written. Some churches are known for music. Some are known for the Sunday School program. Or as in my case some time ago an active and growing youth group. But consider the effect of these ministries.
What are the expectations of someone who is drawn to a church because of its music? Any change in that ministry is liable to breed discontent.
What about a church that emphasizes Sunday School? Children may advance and not like the new teacher. Why would parents want to come anymore?
Our former church had a vibrant youth group. Many high school kids attended the group gatherings. But regular worship services do not follow the youth group pattern so very few ‘youth group’ kids ever attended church. Even those who made a profession of faith. That was unsettling.
Today families are attracted to ‘home school friendly’ churches.
There may not be anything wrong with any of these ministry emphases but what we win someone with is what we win them to. And if music, Sunday School, or youth programs, etc., are the appetizer, that is what many people will expect for the entree. These folks will probably not stick around waiting for dessert.
Sometimes a particular doctrine becomes the focal point. That will produce an astigmatism or spiritual myopia. The vision is hindered by the largeness of the one doctrine and the seeming insignificance of others.
No one doctrine should take precedence. Churches built that way have restricted their ministry. Paul exemplified to the Ephesian elders the need to preach the whole counsel of God. He charged them to be shepherds to all the flock. He says in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the church is the pillar and ground of truth. Every local fellowship should be a monument to and platform for Truth. Nothing must be more important in the perception of all that the church stands for the Scriptures. The hard work of Bible exposition and consistent Biblical preaching must be the primary basis for all other ministry. Complementing that chief concern will be the loving labor of each elder to know and care for the sheep. Even those who have strayed from the fold. Or those who may be thought of as black sheep, the ones who are not like all the others
A church may have wonderful music, a class for every age, enthusiastic youth leaders. What we must win people with is the age old maxim that we preach the Word. And that we obviously love all those who come to listen. If anything rises above that calling card the church is in danger.

An Obituary We Can't Wait to Read

Based on information we have received from the Apostle Paul we surmise that the Flesh and all its cohorts have died. Starvation may be listed as the cause of death. In his letter to the Roman Christians, chapter 13, verse 14, Paul reports that no Christian is permitted to provide for the flesh. It is our conclusion that without food and shelter Flesh has died. According to recent testimonies Flesh had been residing in whomever he was allowed. Flesh had built a reputation of bringing defeat and was most famous for prohibiting Christians to grow while he fed quite regularly. We also note that this death by starvation was the deliberate and willful act of Flesh's host. Flesh leaves no known survivors.