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Stunting Church Growth

October 27, 2009 in Church, Evangelism with 3 Comments

Bovina Bulletin Board

Bovina Bulletin Board

I’m going to be upfront here. I think if we are pursuing church growth, we’re pursuing the wrong thing. It’s the trap of the business model to which we’ve succumbed. Church growth stems from the need to grow an organization, which has a budget that must be met. The more members a church has, the more contributions it will receive. The more the more the contribution, the more that can be done.

The New Testament says nothing about growing churches. Jesus taught, repeatedly, that the kingdom will grow, but its growth would be the natural product of kingdom living. Churches grew because people were spreading the gospel (Acts 8:4). Growth was the effect, not the pursuit. God is the one who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6).

This being said, something is wrong if churches aren’t growing, including mine. I think many recognize this, so they pursue all sorts of gimmicks to fill pews. Sometimes the gimmicks work, but more often than not they don’t. Part of the problem, in my estimation, is that we’re pursuing the wrong things.

Nevertheless, there are some sure fire ways that churches are keeping themselves from growing. If God is the one who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6), and our churches aren’t growing, then I can’t help but think that God is looking at what we’re doing and holding back, as if to say, “Wake up!” The question is…Will we?

So this brings me to a bulletin board I saw Sunday at a small church in the rural community of Bovina, TX. They hosted a great youth rally on Sunday afternoon. We really enjoyed being there.

As we were registering, and kids were filing in, Tisha called me over to look at a bulletin board in the hallway of their foyer. On it was an overweight, devilish looking figure standing in front of hellish flames. The devilish figure is lecturing through a series of bullet points. The bullet points were:

  • It’s not my job.
  • Let the preacher do it.
  • It never worked before.
  • We might offend someone.
  • We don’t have the resources.
  • We’re fine the way we are.
  • Let’s call a meeting.

At the bottom, in quotation marks, is “That concludes my presentation on time-tested, sure-fired statements that will stunt church growth. Any question?”

I’ve heard all of these statements before, interestingly enough, used in a number of different ways. I hope you’ll take some time to digest this bulletin board message. It speaks loudly and clearly about the mindsets of many Christians. Think about it. Over the next couple of weeks, I plan on writing about each of these bullet points.

Moving Forward

July 14, 2009 in Christian Life, Evangelism, Faith with 1 Comment

It’s time to move forward. As God told Moses and the Israelites at Horeb, “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. Resume your journey…” (Deuteronomy 1:6-7, HCSB), so also is it time to move on and away from what’s gone on here for the last several days.

This morning I was reading through Acts 6 and I was struck by the life of Stephen. He was one of the “seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” selected to tend to the Grecian widows who’d been neglected in the daily distribution. He was also described as “full of faith” (v. 5). Still later, we read of Stephen as “full of grace and power…performing great wonders and signs among the people” (v. 8). He met formidable opposition from those of the Freedman’s Synagogue, but “they were not able to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (v. 10). Ultimately, his history lesson of Israel’s rejections of God’s prophets over the years, which culminated in the rejection of the Messiah, got him killed. But what a compelling argument he was for the faith of Christ!

The guy chosen to “wait on tables” (v. 2) apparently had much more to offer. And he did. Inside of him was a heart for souls. His ministry was about meeting the needs of others. If by food distribution, so be it. He offered food that met physical needs, but he was also willing to serve food “that lasts for eternal life” (John 6:27).

Service, in whatever form, is mighty ministry. Jesus boldly proclaimed the “living word” with passion and urgency; yet, washing his disciples’s feet was no less ministry, and no less significant.

Like Jesus, Stephen wasn’t a one talent man. His selection for a specific work didn’t mean he wasn’t fit for anything else. In a sense, I think it helped groom him for more. Unfortunately, it seems to have been a life cut short, but like others who have gone on before, “though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).

Good News

April 7, 2009 in Evangelism with 0 Comments

You can tell whether people are serious or not by how they respond to things. James was put to death; Peter was imprisoned by Herod, but the Lord would rescue Peter (Acts 12:1-11). Peter would venture to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. At her house many had gathered to pray (v. 12).  Peter knocks on the door and Rhoda, a servant girl, responds to the rapt at the door. She recognizes Peter’s voice and in elation runs to tell the others that Peter was back. She was so excited that she didn’t even let him in. She left him standing there outside the gate!

The group that was gathered didn’t believe Rhoda. They responded with, “You are out of your mind…It is his angel!” (v. 15), but “Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed” (v. 16).

Sometimes the news is so good that you can’t but go run and tell others. Poor Peter was left standing outside as Rhoda sought to convince the group of what was so. I think Rhoda’s excitement about Peter’s arrival said a lot about her that is good.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a similar joy and quickness to share the good news of Jesus with others?

Evangelism

February 27, 2009 in Evangelism with 0 Comments

In my files are stored away a number of different quotes that I have collected over the years concerning different subjects. Several months ago I discovered one that I used in a lesson on evangelism. I  know nothing of the one who said it, nor do I remember exactly how I got it, but it goes like this: “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread.” Such us true because “evangelism” is the spreading of good news. Where to find bread is “good news” to a beggar.

We shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus would use “bread” in a number of different analogies. What can compare to his “bread of life” analogy in John 6: living bread, bread from heaven, the bread of God, bread of life? It was powerful imagery!

Every so often, I find myself in discussions with others about what Italian food restaurant offers the best bread as an appetizer. Right now, Romano’s Macaroni Grill is on top of my list. That on several occasions I have found myself in the middle of such discussions, that were not started by me mind you, tells me that bread has an amazing appeal to our appetites. It’s good! If you, too, have a thing for bread, and I mean good bread, then the news of what you can get at Romano’s Macaroni Grill  is good news.

But the good news of the living bread of Jesus is better. In fact, it’s an unfair comparison, but hopefully it might help us see what we can get in Christ, one beggar to another!
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