I got another mailing today, the same local church as last time.
This one was another post card; on the front it says “Official Document: Marriage Stimulus Proposal.” I give points for cleverness in the title.
Before I transcribe the reverse side, see if you can guess the follow:
- How many times the word “relationship” or “relational” will be used
- How many times the Bible will be shown to be “practical”
- How many enticing and controversial subjects will be presented
- How many times Christ will be mentioned
Got your answers? Here’s the reverse side:
Turbulent times socially and economically affect us personally, especially putting greater pressure on our relationships. Beginning Sunday May 10th @ 10:15 am Life Pointe Church will explore what the Bible has to say about strengthening our homes. We invite you to join us as we unpack the Marriage Stimulus Package.
May 10th — Special Mother’s Day Celebration
May 17th — Communication: Begin Behind Close Door Meetings
May 24th — Trust: Building, or Rebuilding, the Relational Standard
May 31st — Conflict: Create a Mutual Win
June 7th — Expectations: What Can/Can’t Be Accomplished in Every Relationship
June 14th — Intimacy: The 3 F’s of Great Sex
June 21st — Divorce: Sorting through the Last Administration’s Mess
So much of this looks/sounds familiar. I wonder why…
Contrast this method of “preaching” with the words of James Montgomery Boice in the following quote:
Do you know what is said to be the single most important factor for the growth of a church in California? The size of the parking lot! If your church has a big parking lot, it becomes a big church. So what a church must do, you see, is to get as much land as it can right off the bat.
But what is essential? It is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, because as that is done God the Holy Spirit speaks through that Word to the hearts of Christian people (and unbelievers, too) and provides not only the numbers but the kind of leadership in character and commitment that is necessary if a church is to go forward. When that happens, we can change all sorts of things. The church may be deprived of a lot, but the body, which is the true church, is there and grows.
I do not think it is too much to say that preaching really is an essential means, perhaps even the most important means, of grace. If that is the case, then we should be very careful in our Christian lives to expose ourselves to the best teaching and attend the best churches available.
HT: Cal.vini.st
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