But I can't find in Scripture where we are counseled to make a service attractive. Nor can I find where Paul says to bring non-believers into the meetings of believers. Obviously we all know that in fact he says precisely the opposite.
we don't have to make it attractive, but there's nothing wrong with making it fun. and you probably know, that you usually have to spend a lot of time witnessing to a person to get them to come to a church. most problems i had getting people to come to church was that church is "boring." making it fun is usually how you get them to keep coming after they've made the decision.
as far as outreach, that's a big advantage of the megachurch. having the monetary backing to do some serious outreach ministries. sending people to other countries, to the inner cities, to operate food banks, etc. not to mention, as you're speaking of paul, is reaching out to people where they are. how many of the megachurches broadcast nationwide, sometime of them internationally? with a society that is largely glued to the TV, television outreach can be a huge ministry.
megachurches definately have their place.
"we don't have to make it attractive, but there's nothing wrong with making it fun. and you probably know, that you usually have to spend a lot of time witnessing to a person to get them to come to a church. most problems i had getting people to come to church was that church is "boring." making it fun is usually how you get them to keep coming after they've made the decision.
as far as outreach, that's a big advantage of the megachurch. having the monetary backing to do some serious outreach ministries. sending people to other countries, to the inner cities, to operate food banks, etc. not to mention, as you're speaking of paul, is reaching out to people where they are. how many of the megachurches broadcast nationwide, sometime of them internationally? with a society that is largely glued to the TV, television outreach can be a huge ministry.
megachurches definately have their place."
I used to agree with everything you wrote. I don't anymore because I don't find these patterns in Scripture. I don't find any evangelist in Scripture doing anything except calling people to repentance...I am not sure that is the same thing as reaching people where they are. It is true that Peter spoke to thousands at Pentecost, but I think the analog to that is open air preaching such as done by George Whitefield, not broadcast. I might be convinced by that if the content were truly hard core, but that seems not to be the case most often nowadays.
In terms of making church fun, I don't think the early church was "fun" at all. I don't think it was fun to listen to Jonathan Edwards. I think it would have been terrifying, as indeed, most of Scripture is terrifying. But I think it also leads to sanctification for believers.
Certainly attending church and having fellowship ala Acts 2 is "fun" but I think the fun we are talking about is things like rock bands, smoke machines, film clips, lots of pop culture references, etc. I think that is grossly unbiblical. The first century analog would be having gladiator fights at church because well, you know, a good gladiator fight always brings out the crowds.
A final point is being lost on all this, and it is the most important one.
Church is not really about us and our needs anyway. It is about bringing glory and honor to the Lamb. If we keep our eyes on that, and not focus on ourselves or the seekers, we would do a much better job.