Madison Avenue has become a symbol of the advertising industry since the 1920's. Advertising is a huge business involving print, television, radio, the Internet, and much more. Any business that wants to grow takes it's advertising very seriously. The Church is no different.
What exactly is the greatest advertising strategy for the local church? Is it a big sign out front? Is it having ads in the local paper and on the local radio station? What about mass mailings? All of these are wonderful tools, but they pale in comparison to Jesus' plan for advertising. He said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34,35). Love -- so simple, yet, so powerful!
We can have the most impressive signs, the best articles in the papers, the most interesting commercials on the radio or television, and the largest quantity mass mailing in history, but without love, it means nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). If you want to give your local congregation the greatest advertising boost it can have, just love your neighbor as yourself. As John, the Apostle, approach the end of his life, it was said that he had to be carried about on a litter. At that point in his life, considering all the things he could have said, he would always preach the same five word sermon -- "Little children, love one another!"
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