Returning to the Church’s “Core Business”

I’m going to make an assumption about you: you like to read. Why else would you be reading this blog that has no TikTok clips, YouTube videos, or CGI? While some bemoan the fact that readership appears to be declining, Pew Research reports that 75% of Americans read at least one book in 2022, and on average, we read 12 books a year. (That means for all those who only read one book last year, there are others among us who read a whole lot of books!)

As an avid reader, I’ve bemoaned the loss of so many bookstores in recent years. It’s tempting to blame Amazon for redefining how we purchase books (or purchase anything, for that matter). Admittedly, I like the convenience of Amazon’s one-click purchase and having immediate access on my Kindle. But I still prefer to walk into a bookstore, “test driving” a book and skimming through it before I head to the sales counter. But, alas, the brick-and-mortar bookstore seems to be disappeari …

NOT SO FAST! If bookstores are declining, why is Barnes & Noble doing so well? Barnes & Noble is growing in sales.

The answer is simple. Barnes and Noble is returning to its first love: books. Imagine that: a bookstore that sells books! James Daunt, the CEO of Barnes & Noble, has led the company to revamp what they sell. They are removing things that “don’t belong in a bookstore.” No more blankets for sale. I’ve noticed that, while my local Barnes & Noble still sells vinyl LPs, the music/DVD section is a tiny fraction of what it once was. They still offer games, but the footprint dedicated to games is much smaller. Some stores are gaining up to 4,000 square feet by removing these other items. What’s in the space now? Books! [Source]

Barnes & Noble is doing well because it has returned to its first and main business. The company has returned to the heart of why the company started in the first place: books.

We need to return to the heart of Christianity: the cross of Christ. In fact, without the cross (and the subsequent resurrection) there is no Christianity.

Churches don’t bemoan the loss of sales like a retail outlet, but many of them worry about the emptiness of their pews. Why are these churches dying? Maybe it’s because we’ve gradually increased our focus on minor differences in the interpretation of doctrine … clinging to old-fashioned ways that are more about the tradition than the message … railing about the godlessness and rampant sin in our culture rather than lovingly and gracefully pointing people to something infinitely better.

Let’s return to our “core business.” Preach Jesus. Preach the cross.

  • “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved” (1 Cor. 1:18).
  • “I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).
  • “He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

It is good to keep our doctrine in check. It is good to frequently evaluate our methodology to ensure we are reaching and communicating in the best way possible. But in it all—and over it all—must be the message of the cross. Without the cross, there is no point to our doctrine or methods. Without the cross, we are without life and without hope.

The church is no retail outlet. But we can learn from one such outlet and return to our “core business.” The cross. Let’s make the main thing the main thing!

“As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

Subscribe to this blog at the top of the page! And spread the word by sharing this post with others.

For a printable version: click here.

This post supports the study “Jesus died for Me” in Bible Studies for Life and YOU.

Podcast

Join Lynn Pryor and Chris Johnson as they discuss this topic:

https://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/bsfl_adults/BSFL_ADULTS_SPR23_U1S5.mp3

Give

Subscribe to the Daybreak Devotions for Women

Be inspired by God's Word every day! Delivered to your inbox.


More from Lynn H. Pryor

  • featureImage

    You Don’t Die When You Die

    Jesus made some unusual statements. Consider what he said to a woman named Martha: “The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25). If you take that statement at f…

    4 min read
  • featureImage

    When the Dangers Outweigh the Benefits

    We get excited when something new comes along that improves life—and we have just such a resource! It makes pots and pans last longer. It reduces the threat of bacteria in winemaking. It resists co…

    4 min read
  • featureImage

    Helping Others See Jesus

    I’m a museum guy. I’ve written about this before, but while others go to the beach, I go to a museum. (Beaches aren’t air conditioned.) I love history, and I like learning. So there. When it comes …

    4 min read
  • featureImage

    The Deadly Side of Curiosity

    Newsflash. If a snake bites you, do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go straight to the hospital. You’d think a snake expert would do that. But noooo. Karl P. Schmidt was a world-renown herpetolog…

    3 min read
  • featureImage

    When Your Seas Are Rough

    I am an expert when it comes to boats. Well, except for cruise ships. Or speed boats. Or actually any boat with a motor. Come to think of it, kayaks are not in my area of expertise either. But a ca…

    3 min read

Editor's Picks

More from Lynn H. Pryor

  • featureImage

    You Don’t Die When You Die

    Jesus made some unusual statements. Consider what he said to a woman named Martha: “The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25). If you take that statement at f…

    4 min read
  • featureImage

    When the Dangers Outweigh the Benefits

    We get excited when something new comes along that improves life—and we have just such a resource! It makes pots and pans last longer. It reduces the threat of bacteria in winemaking. It resists co…

    4 min read
  • featureImage

    Helping Others See Jesus

    I’m a museum guy. I’ve written about this before, but while others go to the beach, I go to a museum. (Beaches aren’t air conditioned.) I love history, and I like learning. So there. When it comes …

    4 min read
  • featureImage

    The Deadly Side of Curiosity

    Newsflash. If a snake bites you, do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go straight to the hospital. You’d think a snake expert would do that. But noooo. Karl P. Schmidt was a world-renown herpetolog…

    3 min read
  • featureImage

    When Your Seas Are Rough

    I am an expert when it comes to boats. Well, except for cruise ships. Or speed boats. Or actually any boat with a motor. Come to think of it, kayaks are not in my area of expertise either. But a ca…

    3 min read