Please allow me to remain anonymous. Pastors who must be involved in every members life and who dont delegate ministry usually cannot shepherd a congregation larger than 200. A word to the wise: develop an effective system for tracking attendance. God's kingdom hasn't grown. It is hard to explain everything that happened but here are the three major issues from your list we faced: I was part of the younger church. 10. This is just an average, of course. I've felt like an outsider floating in the midst of a group of insiders. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. But even these fade into the background compared to sermons that don't hit the mark. But if the Word of God remains a distant, confusing, religious relic instead of a sword that opens up areas of my life (Hebrews 4:12-13) for the Spirit of God to change me in powerful and practical ways, then there's a good chance I won't be back. In a good way. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Answers to provide advice and counsel for church leaders. Man-sized vision I know God has a bigger plan for us:). Is numerical growth always a sign of Gods blessing upon a local church? They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 10 Reasons Churches Stop Growing at the 200 Barrier They're not friendly enough. If leaders are more concerned with creating a new addition on a building than they are about meeting the needs of those around them its a recipe for disaster. It must be purposeful in evangelism. He is the author of eleven books and numerous resources, including Dare 2 Share: A Field Guide for Sharing Your Faith. Church expectations We are already hearing the question, When will resume Sunday night church? I told one guy, I hope never. I'll put up with choir robes and stained glass if the sermon is hitting the mark in my soul. Churches that are friendly have a much higher chance of growing than churches that are not. 1. It allows us to feel at peace and gives us respite from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Churches that are friendly have a much higher chance of growing than churches that are not. They grow every year both deeper and wider. But Acts 2:46-47 gives us great insight into how numeric growth takes place: Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. Then, finally, 10 reasons small churches stay small. The coronavirus pandemic has pushed many churches into a more modern approach to services. The proof of it is seen in how the leaders and congregation reject new ideas and freeze out new people. But even these fade into the background compared to sermons that don't hit the mark. How can God reward members with more people to shepherd if existing members are not being challenged to the holiness commanded in the Bible? Join us also for Worship Services on Thursdays at 7 PM, Traditional Service at Sunday 8:30 AM, Contemporary Services at 10 AM and 11:30 AM Sundays. Why Don't Small Churches Grow? (Actually, They Do) At one point in the older churchs history, the Library Committee was at the forefront of a church split. Growth can mean that the traffic flow in the parking lot is more difficult. The process of rejecting newcomers is a subtle one, never as overt as snubbing them. 1. These churches have that new believer smell in that theres always a little edginess in the foyer because its usually peppered with people who dont necessarily look like they should be there. By the way, for help in building a Gospel Advancing ministry go to gospeladvancing.comand take the diagnostic. 10 Reasons Why Small Churches Stay Small (Part 1) - ChurchLeaders "We like our church just the way it is now." While that attitude usually goes unspoken-it might not even be recognized by its carriers-it's widespread in many churches. I could go on, but you probably get the idea. There have been far too many times I've walked through the foyer of a church and NOT been greeted or said hello to or helped to find my way around. I send it forth hoping to plant some seed in the imagination of a pastor or other leader who will be used of the Lord to do great things in a small church. They're not friendly enough. Stand tall. Trust gets eroded. Churches can seem friendly, but when you dig under the surface, a lack of love can rule the religious roost. So why have I stopped reading those posts? Where do you find them? And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. Her first book with Leafwood Publishers,An Invitation to the Table, came out September 2016. (I was an invited guest, about to bring a message to them. And, of course, we need to be organized in our church services, small groups, parking, etc. That is, the church leaders have no vision beyond the 200 barrier. Maybe instead of pushing to get past 200 we should be emphasizing the kind of leadership that focuses on making disciples and planting churches. Free speech in peril: The judiciary to the rescue? Because its not healthy. 3 Surprising Reasons Churches DON'T Grow - ChurchLeaders Trust is a huge factor in motivating people to give. Millennials want to change the world. For a church to grow it must plan to grow. These prayers create room in their hearts for more compassion and room in their lives for more Gospel conversations, and soon they have no more room in their churches because of all the new believers who are growing deep and going wide in the power of God. Ive said it before, and I suspect Ill say it again, and again, and again. Its common for churches to hover around 200 in attendance, bouncing slightly below and slightly above that number recurrently, but not moving beyond that level. I've felt like an outsider floating in the midst of a group of insiders. We also need to be followed up with the visitors who are already believers (Hint: The best person to follow up is the person who invited them to your church to begin with!). Were you purchased for God with Christs blood? Not just the clergy. 1. I am currently being faithful to the ones that are at the Church which are a handful. But these three things are like making a plan on How to have an effective huddle in a football game. It does look different and the nickels and noses crowd has a hard time understanding growth that doesnt bring people into the building. This helps them feel as though they belong. The Top 8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break The 200 Attendance Mark On the other hand when I walk into a church building, am warmly greeted and engaged, my defenses go down and I immediately feel more at home (and that's important because usually I'm there to do the preaching that day! As far as you can tell, youre faithfully proclaiming the Word and living in light of itand yet your church isnt growing. Some leaders dont think about addressing the 200 barrier until the church is at that level which means theyve made no preparation to push through the barrier. Some churches lead people to Christ but don't have an assimilation plan that is robust enough to get these precious new believers clicked into the life blood of the congregation. By the way, the guest preacher shouldn't be doing that job! #10 Poor Discipleship focused on discipling the same 5 guys for 10 years. It's natural and normal, and they're part of our story at Saddleback. I believe this is another point that has elements of the above. In the same way, nothing should replace a Christians study of the Word for themselves. Then give us something positive, encouraging and uplifting. Like me, they want their churches to grow. Tools that will work for us now, while were small. Do We Really Want To Grow? Sermon by James Lee, 1 - SermonCentral And yes, I know this post is called the top FIVE reasons churches dont grow, but I have to throw in the one stopper for church growth, no matter what else is happening. We're often the last to see what so many others see, and once we see it, we can deal with it. Good data is difficult to attain on predominantly . Tools we can use. Too much reliance on junk food and not fueling the body with key nutrition leaves bodies starved for the nutrient dense foods they need. Click here to read our guidelines concerning reprint permissions. The Church of the Nazarene is down over 5% in its US and Canadian membership. Anyone who thinks theyre not is fooling themselves. Return to homepage. On the other hand when I walk into a church building, am warmly greeted and engaged, my defenses go down and I immediately feel more at home (and that's important because usually I'm there to do the preaching that day!). Copyright 2017 by the author or Christianity Today. Period. Pastoral transitions tend to slow down church growth for a while. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Transformation does not occur by more information but rather the application of it to their daily lives. In todays polarized nation, both Christians and non-Christians true colors have shined through on many hot button topics, and not in a good way. Youre passionate about reaching people and equally passionate about the gospel. She and her husband live in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, with their two children, Caleb and Leah. Although I listed this last it really should be first. You know who is . But sometimes fighting fires become the churchs reality and the churchs long-term vision is never clearly communicated. That doesnt mean youre going to wheel in a drum kit or a big screen TV. They presume that if a church isnt growing numerically, it must be filled with self-serving, petty attitudes. The proof of it is seen in how the leaders and congregation reject new ideas and freeze out new people. Although Gods word never changes, societys values are constantly changing. 7 Reasons Churches Don't Grow - The Christian Post Including yourself. ), There've been many times as the visiting preacher I've seen a person or a family with that same deer-in-the-church-lights look meandering in a large church foyer, trying to find their way around. (i.e. There have been far too many times Ive walked through the foyer of a church and NOT been greeted or said hello to or helped to find my way around. When all members are in unity together, life is sustained and the Lord adds to their number. I've felt like an outsider floating in the midst of a group of insiders. Home Contact. It never fails to amaze me just how inhospitable most churches are. Don't let Satan deceive you. That means the sermon is so motivating that people dont leave with a bunch of gee whiz facts, but with a heart-wrenching commitment to live their lives specifically differently in the ensuing days. Pastors are people too and are not immune from sin that may prevent them from experiencing growth in their own hearts. She also teaches at various writers' workshops, such as the Montrose Christian Writers conference. In the process I've talked to countless pastors, church leaders and youth pastors about how their churches are doing when it comes to growth and the reasons for it. Here are three quick ideas: Give the gospel every weeksometime during your church service so your people know that anytime they bring someone who doesn't know Christ, they will hear the Good News of Jesus and have an opportunity to trust in Christ. 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