What Can We Learn from the Fireworks Display?
I am really proud of Nashville’s fireworks display…being one of the top 5 in the country! It’s always an awesome sight!
Top it off with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and it’s just really something to behold.
Friday night, we got together with a couple of friends to eat some ribs, chicken, burgers, dogs, watermelon, homemade ice cream…OMG – I’m gaining more weight just writing about it! We also decided to watch the Nashville fireworks on NewsChannel 5 instead of actually fighting the traffic (and spending gasoline) and the over 100,000 people to go downtown.
The display on the station’s HD broadcast was amazingly good! It was really very close to actually being there. We pumped the sound of the broadcast through my friend’s surround sound system, and the explosions and symphony were just incredible.
As I look back today at all the preparations made for celebrating the Fourth of July, I look at our churches and begin to wonder. What if we put that much effort and yes, cash, into our presentation of the Gospel, would we be attracting more and more people in to hear that good news?
There are some who would say, “just open the Bible and preach the Word and people will be drawn to it.” I certainly don’t argue with that totally. BUT, I will say even Jesus was resourceful and innovative in His presentations.
One time he preached on a mountain; one time he preached from a boat; another time he miraculously provided enough fish ‘n chips for over 5,000 from one little boy’s happy meal…I could go on and on.
Suffice it to say, Jesus wasn’t buying into the “stand in the same mold and preach it the same way with the same stuff every time” method…even back then!
In today’s world/culture, we really need to be innovative in how we present the greatest message anyone will ever hear. We also need to be innovative in helping people grow spiritually as well.
Our greatest challenge in doing this would be having enough resources…a constant battle it seems. Unfortunately, the cost of innovation can be pretty high. Look at the Nashville’s fireworks…they didn’t just light a pack of Black Cat firecrackers and toss up a few sparklers did they? Still, I heard the comment, “out tax dollars going up in smoke.”
But, look at the notoriety Nashville has received off the vision of making this one of the absolute best displays in the country. Many years now, the event has been broadcast nationally giving Nashville incredible exposure. In turn, this has brought many people to the Music City, who spend millions of dollars that has more than paid back whatever the cost of the fireworks show has incurred.
As churches, we’ve got to be willing to invest in order to bring in people…and then present the awesome news of Jesus Christ in such a way that makes people say what a lot of people said about those fireworks – WOW!
Sure, we can be innovative for free sometimes. But not all the time.
So, if you want your church to be that innovative place where people come away going, “WOW, that was awesome…I’ve gotta have what they’re talking about”, then let’s be faithful to support the work God has called us to and be excited when we see our church spend resources in an effort to reach more and more for Jesus!
Tags: NashvilleFireworks, Vision
Tremendous post! I had posted on this issue recently, and received a couple of good comments. But, I thank God for the thought and time that went in to how you wrote on innovation in the church. You have very clearly communicated, in much greater depth, one of the passions of my heart, and that is to see Christians be willing to put everything they have into one thing……delivering the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every way possible.
Thanks again for a well written post.