Are You Trying to Sell the Liver Meal?

April 7, 2009 in Communications,Growing Strategies with 12 Comments

liver mealAs I was driving out of town recently, I noticed this sign out in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. The sign has been out front of the restaurant for quite some time. As you can see, they’re advertising a liver meal for $2.99. Fortunately for all of us, it’s an “everyday special.”

It seemed odd to me that Kentucky Fried Chicken would be promoting a special on liver. I thought Kentucky Fried Chicken sold chicken. Apparently there’s a high demand for liver in this area of the country. I can’t imagine any other reason why, among everything else on their menu, they’d choose to promote their liver special.

If I had to list some of the things the church “does right,” I’d suggest our “chicken” might include being:

  • a place to find new life
  • a place to find your purpose
  • a place to receive unconditional love
  • a place to find forgiveness
  • a place to heal
  • a place to find community
  • a place to help others
  • a place to change the world

I think our chicken can be pretty tasty. But, to be honest, I sometimes get a little fed up with churches that promote the “liver” instead of the chicken. For example, I’ve seen too many churches promoting things like car washes (saw another one this weekend), bake sales, political agendas (in today’s news), theological agendas, boycotts and business meetings. And then there are the more subtle dishes of liver that sometimes get disguised as ministry programs. They may start on target, but they end up just being a drain on people’s time and energy and not really encouraging people to eat chicken.

That’s just my opinion. You don’t have to agree with it. I would suggest, however, that you need to identify what your “chicken” is and make that your everyday special. Instead of promoting the liver special, “do something right” that’s going to help people meet Jesus and experience a new life in Christ. People don’t need our liver–they just need to see life change.

Take a look at your weekly bulletins and platform announcements and newsletters. Study your programs and events on the ministry calendar. Are you really pointing folks to Jesus and helping people take their next steps toward Christ? Or…

Are you trying to sell the liver meal?

12 Responses to “Are You Trying to Sell the Liver Meal?”

  1. Michael Morris April 7, 2009 at 10:11 pm #

    I had to laugh when I saw the sign, but your thoughts are right on. I think churches start selling the “liver meal” when they start focusing on the people who are already there, instead of realizing that there is a hurting world searching for hope. Thanks for sharing this Tony.

  2. Danielle Hartland April 8, 2009 at 9:15 am #

    this post made me throw up a little bit.

    1. i hate the thought of liver.
    2. i hate the thought of “liver.”

  3. Danielle Hartland April 8, 2009 at 9:17 am #

    also, i just twittered something that made me think…

    the liver is also the organ that is most likely to kill the body.

  4. Matt Bowman April 8, 2009 at 9:41 am #

    Tony,
    A natural follow-up post should have something to do with “Eat More Chicken”

  5. Mike Kjergaard April 8, 2009 at 12:06 pm #

    Hey Tony,

    Love your blog and I’m really enjoying “Killing Coakroaches.”

    I’m pretty sure the “Liver Meal” involves chicken livers. It’s hard to believe, but I guess some people find them delicious.

  6. RevTim April 8, 2009 at 2:59 pm #

    Ummm…. chickens have a liver. ;-P I’m sure it’s chicken livers they are selling.

  7. christy April 8, 2009 at 5:04 pm #

    they have always sold chicken liver meals. had a dog that loved them!

  8. Johnathan April 9, 2009 at 8:17 am #

    Dude….I’m a freak….I love chicken livers from KFC!!!

    Great Post.

  9. Jenni Catron April 9, 2009 at 8:00 pm #

    Love the application.

    BTW – I’ve never seen the liver meal in Nashville… maybe they only do that in SC??

  10. brad cooper April 10, 2009 at 7:45 am #

    That’ll preach T-Mo… thanks for your wise counsel…

  11. Marilyn April 10, 2009 at 9:47 am #

    I’m a little confused. Might the KFC be selling CHICKEN livers? Also, I think the church needs to have a theological stand, agenda or no. I completely agree about the car washes, bake sales, CHURCH SUPPERS, etc.

  12. christy April 10, 2009 at 10:23 am #

    I do think your application is correct, and the church is guilty of loosing focus. If we were really preaching the gospel, wouldn’t see the “outcasts” and the “undesirables” being attracted. Seems we do a better job at attracting other believers than we do at attracting the unbelievers. Jesus was just the opposite. His life and his message attracted the non religious and the outcasts and the undesirables. It offended the religious. Seems like we are doing a great job at marketing to the religious now. And of course, when I say we, I don’t mean you or me . I mean some other church. :)