Brethren want choirs, fellowship halls for dinners, kitchens, puppet shows in the assembly.

EXAMPLE: Willow Creek Community Church.

Willow Creek Community Church began in 1975 with several apostate members of the Lord's church as an "independent Christian church." They began to meet in a rented theater in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. In 1995, they had mushroomed into a congregation of 21, 000 members. Since Willow Creek is viewed by many as the progenitor of the Community Church Movement, what were the circumstances of their beginning success and what methods did they use?

The plea and methods of Willow Creek, the example church today for many. The members of Willow Creek went into the surrounding neighborhoods and asked people, "Why do you not attend church?"

The response they received was fivefold: "(1) Churches are always asking for money, (2) church services were boring and lifeless, (3) church services were predictable, (4) sermons were irrelevant to daily life in the real world, (5) and the preacher made people feel guilty or ignorant, so they leave church feeling worse than when they entered the doors."

"A new kind of church! If hard pews, boring sermons and rusty hymns have zapped your interest in church, then you've been waiting (your church's name supplied). You'll find electric music, sizzling drama, powerful messages and high-voltage programs for everyone. A new kind of church - shocking, isn't it?"

"Its party time! Join us at North Park Church…., we are hosting a free BBQ and community carnival and, for the adults, a special concert. We'll close the day with a short celebration service featuring a message from an NFL Pro linebacker and a special puppet show for the kids. Please join us for this fun and exciting day…."

Edification is building up.  The scriptures build us up Acts 20:32!  Kitchens, fellowship halls, appreciation dinners etc. do nothing but use the Lord’s money wrongly.

RESULT = Adding to God’s word (Revelation 22:18-19).