I would add that we really need to study how Jesus reached people. Today we say if it draws a crowd, it must be of God. Where is that in the Bible? In fact, the bible says completely opposite.

Madison Avenue says if it sells, it must be working. Jesus constantly whittled down his followers and challenged folks. He had the Mad Man of Gadara ready to follow him. This man would have been a great one to build a crowd. Jesus told him to stay home and tell others what happened. The rich young ruler wanted eternal life. Jesus didn’t invite him to his next service and get him to respond to the invitation. Jesus cut to his heart, said if you really are serious then go and sell everything and come follow me, and the man went away sad.

The modern preacher would push Jesus out of the way and say, “Don’t worry, Mr. Ruler, he is expecting too much! Let’s come to the altar and worry about all that later. Allow me to lead you to heaven.” So what if he never gets converted. You would have a life long church member on your hands, and the tithe alone would be worth it.

Jesus had a huge following in John Chapter 6. He could have planted a church. Instead he revealed their motives and the response was verse 60– “this is a hard saying” and verse 66, “many of his disciples went back.” Jesus also cut through excuses. –‘first let me bury my father’ said a “prospect”. Jesus turned him down. “Let the dead bury their dead.” was his response. Did not Jesus take the Greeter’s Ministry Course?

Jesus is not looking for numbers. Especially when the numbers are just that. The numbers speak for themselves. The majority of those making decisions cannot be found a year later. But the initial response is certainly impressive, well, at least to the other brethren.

Jesus is not willing to lower the bar and water down the gospel just because few today respond. Lost people do not come to church.  A bank robber is not looking for the police.  We are guilty before God and naturally run from the light.  Christians are supposed to be the light and bring it to the dark world.   We are not supposed to darken the church so the lost don’t run away.  Lost people should not be too comfortable in church. “Saved people” shacking up should not be too comfortable in church. We are supposed to be training THE CHURCH to GO OUT AND DISCIPLE and I believe you do not adjust your church or your message to cater to the LOST!!!!! The church is supposed to be different, it is supposed to be a breath of fresh air, it is supposed to bring conviction, and it is supposed to feed the saint. TO GO YE.

Jesus will not change his approach and Jesus is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. I really think we are mesmerized by large audiences and it appeals to our pride and our flesh. The end times says the majority will be lukewarm and ungodly. See 2nd timothy chapter 3. This describes America. This describes American Christianity. This describes the majority of our converts. What is it going to take for us to get our eyes off the crowds and what we think works, and get our eyes on Jesus and realize that America has a serious problem?

And it starts at the church house from the top down.