As a former church planter, current traveling evangelist and lifelong student of church growth strategies, I’m convinced that there are five big reasons many churches never experience the right kind of growth.
I use the phrase “right kind of growth” because church growth that benefits from sucking other church members out of smaller congregations in the area is not ideal. Sure, it does and will happen, but the optimal brand of church growth happens when new disciples are being made and multiplied by the members of that church.
Having preached in tons of churches across the nation and having personally interviewed hundreds of pastors and thousands of youth pastors, I’m convinced there are at least five big reasons why your church may not be experiencing significant growth.
1. Your church is not united in prayer.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” 1 Timothy 2:1-8
When Paul wrote Timothy about building effective churches, he reminded him that priority number one must be prayer. Paul knew that when a church was united in prayer, it will be united for action. As the old saying goes, “Much prayer, much power. Little prayer, little power. No prayer, no power.”
Far too many churches today fail to experience growth through evangelism because they fail to experience God through prayer. The day before his death Jesus himself reminded his disciples in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jesus’ promise to us is that if we stay connected to him through prayerful dependence we “will bear much fruit.” So if you want your church to grow then start praying and get your people praying too!
2. Your church is not fully “gospelized.”
Do you give the gospel every Sunday? Have you trained your people to share the Good News of Jesus in a clear and compelling way? Are your church services, Sunday school classes and small group meetings drenched in stories about new disciples being made and multiplied?
If your answer to these questions is “no,” then your church is not fully gospelized.
To be gospelized means that your people are drenched in Gospel Fluency. They know the gospel message because they hear it week in and week out. If someone put a microphone to their lips and asked them to present the gospel clearly they could because you have helped them master it through relentless repetition. Like Charles Spurgeon, your sermons are always making “a beeline for the cross.” No matter what, preaching on the gospel is your endgame.
If your church is gospelized, it’s because you have adopted the strategy of the Apostle Paul when it comes to church growth and revitalization, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
For more help in gospelizing your church or youth group, go to gospeladvancing.com and take the self-assessment (diagnostic).
