I recently heard a preacher preach a sermon which he entitled, “Why Churches Don’t Grow.” The main point of his sermon was that some churches don’t grow because they are preaching the true word of God, and people don’t want to hear that. I think he was wrong.
While preaching is the central activity within a healthy church, there are a number of other factors that enter into the equation of why churches do, or do not, grow.
Volumes of books can be, and have been, written on church growth, but what I wish to say in this short article is that I believe most churches grow, or do not grow, based on whether or not they really want to.
People sometimes have the attitude that they like their church just the way it is, and they know that a steady flow of new people coming in will change it. They are right, more people will cause a local congregation to change, but do we have the right to say when a church shouldn’t change anymore, or that it is big enough? If we prefer a small church, do we have the right to keep a church small, just because that’s our preference? Those are rhetorical questions, and the obvious answer is, “no.”
The first century church, as presented in the Bible, knew nothing of stagnation, plateau, or decline. Sadly, those conditions are the norm for multitudes of churches, today.
Many people criticize the idea of a “user friendly” church, however, we need to understand that while the message of a healthy church doesn’t change, the way that message is packaged may very well need to change, and the methods by which we attempt to attract people to us definitely need to change. The spitting, stomping, sweating, and shouting method of preaching doesn’t capture the ears of people, as it did fifty years ago. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with that style of delivery, but it’s not the way people listen today. Today, people have shorter attention spans, and the preacher who doesn’t realize this is not nearly as effective as he could be. Think of the difference in the way televisions programs, and their commercials are presented. There was a time when programs had one sponser, and a talking head would hold up a product and talk about it for one to two minutes none-stop. Today, there are more sponsers, shorter viewing segments and much shorter commercials, presented with a lot of action. Before you say, “Well, that’s the world,” let me remind you that it is the world we are trying to reach for Christ.
Churches that are too inwardly focused will not grow. For instance, Sunday School classes are great units of close fellowship, but that’s not their primary purpose. Sunday School is also the growth arm of a modern-day local church. It has been determined that the majority of people who attend a Sunday School class as much as six times are very likely to become members of that particular church. On the other hand, people may attend the worship service for months and months and never become members.
New Sunday School classes grow much faster than older established classes. I believe a Sunday Class that is 3 years old, or older, has become as large as it will ever be, unless it reorganizes itself for new growth. This reorganization usually requires multiplying the class into two classes, then becoming involved in a definite plan for growth.
The reason churches don’t grow is really not because people just aren’t interested in church. They are just not interested in the kind of church they have been offered. There is a hunger in the heart of people for knowing God and for being a part of something that they believe to be totally worthwhile and relevant to their present-day life situation.
I’m wondering if perhaps churches do not grow because people’s hearts are not converted, because they’re going for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with Jesus Christ
I’m wondering if churches grow or not due to God’s will for that church.
Thank you for your comments. I would quickly agree that in the final analysis it is the Lord God who adds to the church, whether it be daily, weekly, or with some other frequency; however, I am going under the assumption that the church in question is a Bible preaching / teaching church. I doubt there is a church anywhere where some people do not have some wrong motives for their attendance. I can’t imagine that it would not be God’s will for a true Bible teaching / preaching local church to grow.
The bible says in Matthew that we are the salt of the earth and therefore I think if christians life styles are not acceptable and they are not living right this can cause the church not to grow. It prevent people from coming, also, if the pastor does not believe in deliverance and other factors like spiritual warfare( or is dealing with it on the surface) then the church will not grow. Sometimes it starts from the leader.
I think laziness, selfishness, and people not answering their callings. There are not any servants.
Good point, Joey.
i have no comment on church growth, other than the fact i want my church to grow. it seems to me that leadership in most churches have there own agenders and don’t have a common vision for church growth. the few people they have, have not received there vision or are on the same page. i want us to grow in nimbers and spiritually. any info you pass it on to me,
thank you
I agree, Randy. Certainly, all of our agendas ought to be aimed toward reaching people for Christ. One thing I have found, is that getting the congregation to catch the vision that the Lord has given me is usually a process that happens over time. It requires a consistent reminding, and it must be backed up with Scripture. I think most pastors are at least 2-3 years ahead of their congregation, where vision is concerned. I pray God’s blessing on your ministry.
I started attending a church last Easter — not Baptist. The style of worship appealed to me, and we were warmly welcomed, but it became apparant something was wrong internally.
I learned that the history of this particular church was rocky, and hopefully, all the negativity was in the past and a new day had dawned. However, the church is continuing to lose members and those of us who are left, are worked endlessly, trying to hold things together. I have given until I have nothing left, and my family is discouraged. I’m beginning to wonder if God has removed Himself from this church and nothing can save it. I was very positive in the beginning, but now, I am almost certain it is doomed to close its doors. The building is nice, the grounds well-kept, the people and priest are friendly, but yet, nothing seems to work. This church is a well-estabilished denomination, and not a fly-by-night “feel good” church. If this church closes its doors, I just don’t think I have the energy to look for another, and possibly go through this again. I’m beginning to dread Sundays, whereas I used to look so forward to them. This is a very puzzling and disheartening situation.
I am very sorry that you are going through this ordeal, Sharon. I, of course, only know what you have told me, but I wonder if there aren’t some particular things about this church that is contrary to the revelation of Scripture, therefore, God will not bless it. Are all the people in leadership positions Godly people? For your family’s sake, as well as your own, I encourage you to find a place where, once again, you can be excited about worship. There are many really good churches out there, but they have to be sought out. Don’t join too quickly. Be a visitor long enough to learn some things about the inner-workings of the church, the biblical convictions of the leadership, and the overall personality of the church.
To the newcomer, what has the most impact? The welcome received at the door or the minister at the front preaching his sermon? I would say that more impact is made in a warm welcome. The pastor could be having an off day and might preach a poor message. It happens. Is the pastor a pulpit hugger? What is the attitude towards the youth in the church? All to often, the slogan “Today’s youth, Tomorrow’s leaders” is forgotten. Anyone of those 2 & 3 year olds that are in the church now could , in 20 or 30 years time, be your pastor or even the president of your country. The older people are the foundations but the youth are the rooftops of the church. NO community, Christian or non-Christian can survive without youth. A young person is a tomorrow leader. All to often this is not forgotten but ignored and generally the person most responsible for this is the pastor of the church because he is scared to acknowledge future leaders.
Well said, Brother.
I Believe being a pastor now a days is very hard job. People expect for the pastors to do everything. Most Pastors work overtime in the ministry. I read on one of the previous comments about ” not enought people who want to serve”, i have heard people said” i just give whatever time i have “Left over” and thats the time i spend in church”. So how do you overcome that? Who do you work with if thats the attitude people have? Now a days Church is not a priority in the american culture. People find reasons not go to church. We have mega churches who offers entertainment( the lights, the music,pretty people on stage doing worship)(dont get wrong all of that is good ) 15 minutes preaching and most of it is just to make you feel good, but when you leave out the door you leave empty. How do you know if you are in the right church or not? How do you measure a church success? Is it by how many people go or is it by how many people have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit? Im confused???
Eli, I don’t think you are confused, because you are certainly asking the right questions. I think being a pastor has always been a hard job, one that requires the Holy Spirit to keep a fire in the preacher’s heart for the work. Many people today do not give much of themselves to the Lord’s work through their local church, because they have come to see it as something they have “hired” others to do. Of course, this is wrong. The only hope of overcoming that is to keep reminding folks from the pulpit, and in small group studies, that everybody has a responsibility. As to how to know if you are in the right church, the first question one should ask is the doctrine question. Is the doctrine being taught and preached biblically correct? Then, one should ask about the vision of that local congregation. Does there seem to be a desire among the people to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, and is there a desire to reach outsiders with the gospel? If the answers to those questions come up, “no,” then in my judgement, you are not in the right church. Only then should a person ask the question that most people ask first: how do I fit into this church? I’m sure you know the answer to your last question. God bless you and thanks for your comment.
Brother Don thank you for your response. Thank you for writing this blog which has been a blessings