I have seen a number of churches in our area using various means of promoting themselves. Some have used seasonal festivals to attract visitors – offering food, fun, and entertainment. One church invited people who like to sing to come and be a part of their choir. Other churches have placed emphasis on their church being a place of acceptance and togetherness.

What about Knollwood? What message should we use to promote ourselves and make the church look inviting to the community?

An interesting thought occurred to me this past week. The early church was committed to developing and maintaining close relationships (Acts 2:44-46; 4:32). It was a place of acceptance and togetherness, and they shared food with one another. However, the first thing that is said about the church is that “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” (Acts 2:42).

We have no doubt there were physical and emotional needs in the First Century, but the emphasis of the Lord’s church was on the teaching and learning of God’s word. The church stood forth in the community as the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). The Lord gave the church “some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12), not counselors, cooks, choir conductors, and event coordinators.

If the word of God is taught, believed, and followed, the local church will be a place where the emotional and physical needs of the members are met. However, if these things are emphasized while the doctrine of Christ is downplayed, the needs of the members will become more important that the words of the Master, and such a church will eventually become nothing more than a social club. The word of God must remain Knollwood’s emphasis.