Almost exclusively we have come to depend on the pulpit and church buildings to do our teaching for us. We invite the public to our buildings by billboards, radio, TV, phone calls, letters, newspaper, tracts, and ads in phone books. We tell them they are welcome, the preacher is superb, the building is well heated and air conditioned, the seats are cushioned, yet, they still don’t come.

Why should they come?! They don’t share our love for the church. A preacher, a sermon and a church building are the hardest products in the world to sell a sinner. Even the few that come are often bored because they don’t understand the mystery of salvation in Christ.

We need to stop giving priority to “church building evangelism” and go out where the people are and teach them. A person may attend worship services a dozen times and never hear the one sermon that moves him. But talking with him personally, a Christian can focus on his needs in the first few minutes of discussion.

Jesus did not say, “Bring them in.” He said, “Go teach and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). For one who has been truly converted to Christ and becomes a disciple, worship is the natural out-pouring of love and gratitude. An Elder once told me to preach on the importance of people “coming to church.” I declined, saying that if we can convert them to Christ, they will be at every service.

Paul said the love of Christ “compelled” him (2Corinthians 5:14). He said that he labored more abundantly than all, yet it wasn’t him, but a realization of the grace God had toward him (1Corinthians 15:9-10).

Helping others come to this same realization is the only work you can do in this life that has eternal value.