Home Pastors Articles for Pastors If You Checked “Yes,” Then Your Church is Struggling

If You Checked “Yes,” Then Your Church is Struggling

Often in church leadership, we get so busy working “in the church” that it becomes harder to work “on the church.” We’re so focused on making weekends happen and caring for people that we lose perspective on whether we’re seeing a difference in our community.

The reality is, as church leaders we can be consumed with lots of activity, but lack focus on pushing us forward. Sometimes it’s hard to see if we’re making any difference and slipping into irrelevance.

Here are a few early warning signs that your church might be struggling to fulfill its full redemptive potential.

More memories than vision.

A sure sign that your ministry is slipping into atrophy is when you pine for the “good ole days” or you look back fondly on what happened years ago. If what has happened seems better than what is going to happen … you may be slipping into irrelevance.

Is the view in your rear view mirror bigger than the one in the front window?

No sacrifical giving to next generation.

No one else is going to pass on the message of Jesus to the next generation than you and your leadership. If you can’t identify the areas where you are preferring the next generation over your generation, then you might be creeping toward your demise.

Does your senior leadership team actively support and resource ministries with younger generations?

Never say no.

A sure sign that a church has lost its way is that it’s lost its ability to discern what activities push it toward its mission and which don’t. The end result is a church with a lot of activity, but no progress. Busyness does not equal effectiveness. Churches with clear vision are defined more by what they avoid doing than what they choose to do.

When was the last time your leadership decided against a good idea to pursue the great one?