The document discusses how some churches have adopted branding and marketing strategies focused on creating consumer-driven "brand experiences" to attract members. This approach risks making the church's message and identity dependent on trends rather than Jesus Christ. True spiritual growth comes from discipleship, obedience to Christ, and transforming people's lives, not from marketing techniques aimed at fulfilling felt needs or gaining market share.

1. Billboards, Banners & Brands How to Quit Marketing The Church

2. Billboards, Banners & Brands How to Quit Marketing The Church Michael Roberts Director, Global Brand & Design Strategy Focus on the Family

4. The Brand Promise TRUE MEADINGFUL DISTINCTIVE

5. Brand Experience

6. Creating Brand Loyalty Purchasing the Experience of Brand

8. Harley Davidson

10. The Rise of the Branded Church The Christian as Consumer

13. Saddleback Church Brand Personality: Rick Warren Brand Promise: Purpose Driven Christianity Attendance: 20,000 SADDLEBACK CHURCH

14. Willow Creek Community Church Brand Personality: Bill Hybels Brand Promise: Comprehensive Christianity Attendance: 23,000 100 ministries that meet a wide range of needs

15. Lakewood Church Brand Personality: Joel Osteen Brand Promise: Your Best Life Now Attendance: 45,000

16. Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 1 Corinthian 3

22. Billboards, Banners & Brands How to Quit Marketing The Church