THE PRIMARY PRODUCT

Someone was telling me recently of a family trip during which they stopped at an Arby’s restaurant. They went in to order only to find out they were out of roast beef. What do you think was happening? Many customers were walking out. Some people may go to this restaurant for a chicken sandwich, french fries, or some other item. However, most people go to Arby’s for roast beef.

That is something that probably happened by accident. They had been busier than usual, the delivery truck was late, or some other reason could have been to blame for the lack of roast beef. What if McDonald’s quit selling hamburgers? They still sell french fries and cokes, but no hamburgers. How long will they last? Even if they keep enough of their french fry customers, what would happen to their stock? To their profits? How many new stores would they be opening? How successful would they be?I doubt they would exist for very long if they were selling only the “extras.” Selling hamburgers is their business. They exist for the purpose of selling hamburgers and making a profit. The french fries, shakes, and cokes are all extras that center around the hamburgers.What if the church quit preaching the gospel? What if we quit evangelizing? Would we grow? Would souls be saved? The gospel is the church’s primary product. We exist to spread the gospel. If we provide only the “extras” our future is in serious jeopardy. Often we get too caught up in the “extras” and programs that we forget our main goal and purpose for existing. We should be focusing on the primary product, not the extras.18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:18-20). If we are not evangelizing, we are failing in our mission. We may be doing great works in benevolence; we may be well known and well liked in the community; but if we are not sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world, we are not successful.
As we go through this holiday season, and prepare for the beginning of 2008, may each one of us share in the elders’ commitment to focus on evangelism; doing it, not just talking about it.

Ephesians 3:10-11 “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
--Lamar