Think about the furnishings of the tabernacle: there was the altar of burnt offering, the laver, the table of showbread, the lamp stand, the altar of incense, the ark of the covenant, and the mercy seat. These were holy, and very important items in the Jewish system of religion.
There are really no such holy items under the New Testament system of religion and worship, but Paul says that we are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16) and Peter, that we are a holy priesthood as Christians (1 Pt. 2:5). The only physical things of absolute necessity for worship are the bread and fruit of the vine (see Mt. 26:26-29) and the Word.
My intent is not to develop some interesting parallels between the OT system and the NT, which would be interesting and profitable, but to think very practically from a different angle. I want to consider the furnishings of the church building as sort of an object lesson to impress upon our mind’s some simple but significant concepts.
THE FRONT DOOR
The front door of the church building is the main access point of our facilities. Members should wear out these doors (Heb. 10:25) not merely of necessity, but of opportunity for giving glory to God, encouraging their brethren, and growing in Christ.
The front door should also be a very warm and welcoming place for visitors. Visitors must be made to feel welcome upon arrival. A smile, sincere greeting, and kind instructions concerning where they or the kids need to proceed, will go a long way.
But we cannot wait around and merely hope visitors will come! Invite friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers to come to services. The more we invite, the more they will come! The beginning of a new Bible class, the start of a sermon series, or some other church event, can be an extra good time to invite someone.
How will you make better use of the front doors?
THE BACK DOOR
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The back door of the church building is also very important. While we want to keep the front door open, the back door needs to remain firmly secured (not literally). It really doesn’t matter how open the front doors are if folks funnel through the front and go right out the back. That reminds me of the time my dad and I forgot to put the oil drain plug back in after changing the oil!
How do you keep people? The short answer is you make them feel loved! Yes, quality teaching and preaching and many other things are extremely important, but if we have not love, we have nothing (see 1 Cor. 13:1-3) that will hold people. The power of love is stronger than locks! It is easy for one to slip out the back door unnoticed. Our love will greatly hinder others from even having such a desire.
How will your love prevent some precious soul from slipping out the back?
THE FOYER
The foyer is where Christians “greet one another with a holy kiss” (Rom. 16:16), or a warm handshake anyway. It is also where Christians meet visitors and have an opportunity to make a vital first impression. The first few seconds a visitor is in our building is so critical as to how they will perceive the church, and whether or not they will return. Warmly introduce yourself to visitors and tell them how glad you are to see them. Show genuine interest in them. Make a connection if possible.
How will you better use the foyer of the church building?
Next week we will plan to give consideration to the auditorium, fellowship building and classrooms. Meanwhile, watch the doors and make use of the foyer!
Daren Schroeder
