Specifically Read: Christ-likeness: Focus
Quality programming, facilities, and technology can attract people to your church. Dynamic preachers or leaders with charismatic personalities can draw people in. Spectacular children’s and youth ministries especially appeal to families.
What a church offers can make a difference on people’s impressions about the church and even the Lord. Offering what people want might get them there which then provides opportunity to point them to Jesus.
Problem with Trying to Attract People by What We Offer, i.e. Our Programming
A church concerned about Christ-like character has to keep the focus on Christ, lifting Him up, not themselves. A subtle shift can occur in churches where the focus goes from Christ to themselves and what they have to offer. So much time and effort can get consumed with building bigger and better that leaders can soon put less and less attention to nurturing their own walks with the Lord. When that happens, it is so easy for spiritual heart disease to set in — pride, greed, jealousy. Attention gets focused on self and how we look, more than on the Lord.
The problem is not necessarily with the programming, facilities, technology, or personalities. God uses a variety of means to draw people to Himself. And, we should be concerned with the quality of what we do … that we are giving our best to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). But, for Him to get the glory, we need to keep the spotlight on Him.
The Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide includes the content on this page and suggests three things we need to avoid that subtle shift from focusing on the Lord to yourself and what you offer as a church.
Also Read:
All Posts about Church Growth:
- Church Purpose That Leads to Church Growth
- Church Growth Outgrowth of Church Purpose
- Everybody Has a Part in Church Growth
- Church Growth & the Great Commission
- Trying to Attract People to Your Church by Becoming Like Them?
- Trying to Attract People to Your Church with Grace?
- Trying to Attract People to Your Church by What You Offer?
- Trying to Attract People to Your Church Through Manipulation?
- Trying to Attract People to Your Church by Watering Down the Truth?
- Church Growth & God’s Power
- Power of the Gospel & Church Growth
- Power of the Gospel, Not Entertaining
- Power of the Gospel, Not the Messenger
- Power of the Gospel, Not Swayed by What People Think
- Grace to Grow
- Grace to be a Growth Agent
- True Church Growth & Health: Reliant on the Holy Spirit
- Collaboration in Church Growth Efforts Possible with Spirit
- Competence, Conviction & Confidence in Church Growth
- Growth Because of His Name
- Growth When All Done in His Name
- Growth in His Name Came at a Cost
- Prayer Essential for Church Growth
- Praying for Church Growth
- All Spiritual Gifts Needed for Church Growth
- Perspective Toward Each Other’s Part in Church Growth
- Not the Time to Think about Church Growth?
- How Resurrection Power Helps with Church Growth
- Attacks Against Church Growth
- Attacks Against Church Growth Need God’s Protection
- Our How-To Book for Church Growth
- An Example of What It Takes for Growth and Spiritual Health