Question> Are Special Days At Church Goofy Or Biblical?

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Is it wrong or a sin for a church to use special promotions to have big days or to grow the church? For example, Chuck E. Cheese Sunday, Goldfish Sunday, Christmas-in-July-Sunday, Potluck dinners, etc. Are there any examples in the Bible of promotions for church growth?

Profile: Male 18-30 North America

MY ANSWER:

Growing the church was a priority of the church since the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.

At the start of the New Testament church, the church grew after Peter preached an evangelistic sermon.  Three thousand people were saved and added to the church that day.

Acts2: 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

This first church growth movement happened in the streets of Jerusalem.

The second church growth movement happened in Solomon’s Portico or porch.  This was on the temple grounds.

Peter and John preached an evangelistic sermon and again the church grew.

Acts 4:2 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

So the church growth program from the beginning was evangelistic preaching.

Pentecost, a special feast time for the Jews, drew people to Jerusalem.

The subjects of the preaching were not in the church.

When the people were saved they became the church.

So what is true biblical church growth?  Evangelism!

So what is the Biblical plan for new believers?  The church disciples them.

Again – the modern church tries too often to disciple people who need to be evangelized.

Is it OK to have special days or promotions in church so you can have a new reason to invite a friend?

Yes.

Is it wrong to have silly things in the sacred corporate church worship service that is not biblically sanctioned like a Chucky Cheese mouse running around during the service?  Yes.

Is it OK to have pizza afterwards or fun wholesome activates for fun and fellowship and to interest guests? 

Of course it is. 

Respect that the church is the redeemed people saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The worship of the church service should be reverent and with biblical purpose.

Know that the lost are needed to be evangelized by the preached word just like in the book of Acts.

Do not be disrespectful of the Word and worship.

Don’t be more religious than Jesus and not enjoy special days and meeting new people.
Jesus did use a specail feast day to maximize the hearing of the preached word by the Apostles. 

The people enjoyed the feast at Pentecost and was why they were there.  Jesus knew the people would be at the feast so that is why he told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem so they could preach the Good News to them.

Cynics can say they did not have special days in the Bible.

They also did not have electric lights and we usually use them in worship.

Find a balance between biblical fidelity in worship and making church service welcome to non-believers who can come hear the Word and watch "the redeemed of the Lord say so".