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Why Do Some Churches Have Problems Growing

Why Do Smaller or Medium Size Churches Sometimes Have Problems Growing?

Why do some smaller or medium size churches have problems growing? There could be many reasons, but I want to focus on one in particular...Introversion.

Immediately the picture that probably comes up is some old church in the bad part of town filled with a sea of gray hairs singing old hymns, with a nice old gentlemen in the pulpit who could be anyone's beloved grandpa quoting from the King James' Bible. Well...yes this is a very good picture of a church that has lapsed into introversion somewhere in the past. But this picture is too easy and unhelpful to the average church that is filled with a mix of people and has programs and activities as part of it's culture, but is unable to grow. How about them? They want to grow, they even want to reach out and evangelize, but nothing seems to be working.

Well it could be that there is a sub-culture of introversion, even if the rhetoric is different.

It could be that everyone is too tight: everyone knows everyone (and everyone's business).

It could be that your service is too far over the head of the average Joe (or Jane!): Does the song service last for an hour? Are transitions in the service explained so that everyone can participate, or do you just expect everyone to know and be on board with what's going on?

It could be that people are too relaxed: things have gotten sloppy and unprofessional, because it's just "the gang" and they "know your heart." You might here inside jokes or personal references from the speaker on a semi-regular basis, which make the visitor or "fringe" person feel unwelcome.

Many people think being too inwardly focused means they don't do outreach. And that the cure for this introversion is to do outreach. A church can do outreach and still be inward focused. Could not outreach, or at least being outward focused, also contain the idea of looking inward and examining how your church's culture translates to the visitor, the lost, the broken and needy?

It's all about the atmosphere (or sub-culture) within the church. What is the true goal? Is it to reach more people just like you and get them to join your church? Is it to reach any kind of people and then expect them to act and function just like "the core?"

The goal should be:

1. connect people to Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Our ultimate goal is at all times, to see the Kingdom of God break though into a person's life and see salvation, healing, and fullness come upon a person.

2. Create an atmosphere within your church that is open and welcome to all different kinds of people

Core and non-Core, Privileged and Poor

Republicans, Democrats and politically uninterested

Leaders, Followers and the Unsure

Those broken and enslaved by addictions; those struggling to reconcile a past filled with abuse; those struggling to live life of integrity and Christ-likeness in today's business world; parents whose children are rebelling and running toward a path of destruction...you fill in the blank!

Most people's fears would usually crop at this point with cries against "watering down" or concerns about "irrelevancy." Quite the contrary, the Bible can be presented in all it's controversial fullness and it is by nature relevant to everyone. That is God's design and purpose for His words in the Bible. We get to know Him through His message to us

3. Make sure the message is relevant to the average human experience.

The average Joe doesn't walk into church wondering "whatever happened to the Jebusites????", or have a deep burning desire within them to discover the deeper meanings of the four points of the Golden Altar in the Inner Court (Holy Place) of the Temple. We live in a world where people are hurting and have real problems...and they need real answers from God. The visitor needs to be able to come in and have a great chance at connecting with God on their level.

posted: 10/13/2006 08:56am by ericschall View: Backlinks, Permalink Total Views: 1636 ShortURL: http://christianblog.com/9615 Category: Church	Print This Blog Entry
Blog Tags: church, growth, introversion, relevance,
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Author: ericschall
Location: Lakewood Ohio USA
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Blog Entries: 15 (archive)
Blog Comments: 4

My Biography:

ministry background: after graduating from college with a b.s. degree in education i went on staff at a larger church (1200+) called dayspring assembly as an intern for a year. it was during this time that i met my wife in church. when the internship was done we got married... view full biography

My Testimony:

i made the decision to give my life to jesus when i was in jr. high. though i didn't really comprehend what that meant, thankfully god did. i moved in 9th grade to a place called circleville, oh. we started attending a very traditional church, and everything went downhill from... view full testimony

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Our church is a small one. We have a mixed congregation. Most are probably ages 40 and up. We seem to have trouble attracting youth to our church. Here is the usual progression. We get some young children to attend Sunday school regularly but as soon as they hit their teen years they are drawn to other places. How can we hang on to them? One of things we are exploring is upgrading our worship service and adding a Power Point presentation and some contemporary Christian music to it. As I said, we are a small church. At this time we don't really have anyone but our pianist and organist who play instruments. We have a small choir but most members are older women. We want to incorporate newer contemporary Christian music but it is difficult without the talent and resources. Another question that has been brought up is that if we do incorporate the Power Point and the newer music will that drive the older members away? We have a core group of older people who are extremely resistant to change. Any suggestions would be very welcome and of course as always prayers are welcome as well. Thank you.

Posted 11/15/2006 02:05pm
Author: scarletcape

i have attend little churches and big ones and I don't see anything wrong with a small church but you are right that a no growing one is bad. I think the biggest thing is the word of God has to be taught in its entirery in the church. No function or understanding can replace the pure word of God.

Posted 11/15/2006 02:24pm
Author: bonnald

2. Create an atmosphere within your church that is open and welcome to all different kinds of people

This is a tough one...

If you keep it traditional, the 20-30 somethings get bored as the "need" to be entertained. Go the other way and the contemporary music and theatrics drive the older ones right out the doors.

Problem is no one under 40 can afford to "support" a church. They are financially strapped by a financially crushing mortgage, 2 car payments, and 5-15,000 in unsecured debt. They don't have a commitment to a tythe, but remember the older ones, yep they have the money. Now what???

In Christ,
GreyBear

Posted 11/15/2006 06:15pm
Author: greybear

Don't make the mistake of thinking that just changing a few methods is the cure-all. If you want to begin to draw more people in especially the younger demographic, I would target two areas specifically.

One: Relevant teaching from the Word. Explore the themes in Scripture that deal with real life, particularly what pop culture focuses on only show what Jesus thinks about these issues. And do it in a loving, knowledgeable, rational way. Some themes are: sexuality, relationships, parenting, finances, etc.

Two: Go get them, don't wait for them to come. Find ways to connect in your community that will have meaning to those you are trying to reach. It's all about relationships. Be out of the church shining as a light. Don't look to the pastor to invite you to do ministry.

And yes I would also update your service to a contemporary style, but don't do it radically swift. (except basics like some multimedia and visitor-friendly presentation)

In response to Greybear,
Your points are valid, but it is possible to do church in a relevant contemporary way that appeals to all ages. Of course there might be one demographic that responds most, but through smaller connections in the church people can feel like their needs are being met. I know you were just bringing up a point to discuss and not advocating what seems to be true in the churches today, but we must find a way...the racially and generationally fragmented church in our country is inexcusable.

Blessings! and thanks for the comments

Eric

Posted 11/16/2006 07:26am
Author: ericschall

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 3:6-11 KJV)

Posted 11/16/2006 02:32pm
Author: divantuber

Absolutely true divantuber! You make a marvelous point to call us back to the truth that only God can cause growth, both personally and within the church. "I will build my church..." (mt. 16:18)

However, it is not wrong to strategize and apply the principles in His word in light of giftings, demographics, local mission, etc. Relevance is something that Paul was concerned with as well in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Jesus taught with his audience in mind when using parables...all of these are things that we can apply as we serve and trust in God to bring about growth.

thanks again!

Posted 11/16/2006 02:44pm
Author: ericschall

You have great points about the changes that small churches make inorder to grow...may i add more?

Some of the small churches in country is made up by group of family...which is equation to a lot of debate and divisions on issues that are major to minor..and cause the church to deal with those issues rather than issues about growing..etc etc.

then the church ends up like a political duel...and "slowing" the pace of the growth...yes we should be more focused on the growth but some of the leaders of the church are afriad that their "powers in the church" will be lost and disagree with reaching out to the community or do local missionaries... of course they dont do by speech like "I dont want the church to grow"...but by actions like missing sunday worship service purposely...basically implying that i am important so you (the pastor) should come and beg me to come to church... ..all sorts of things happen... and this lead the pastor to have no power...and cause the church to be stalled in growth...

thankfully my small church has experience slow but progressive growth from 60ish three years ago to 120ish this year...(regular sunday worship attendence)...this step was hard and long...it has also had many verbal fights and backstabbing...it is not easy to grow a church that really does not grow and have each every person protecting their own interest...-basically memebers being selfish-

also...those goals are good goals to have but i believe the most important thing is that the indiviual of the church's body must grow spritiually and must grow closer to God..that is the key... if the church doesnt grow and have issues here and there...then hold that "growth" thought...and be more focused on indivual's relationship with God...and make it, in a sense, better... .than see the church in a period time...there would be new people coming in even though the church hasnt reached out in the community... .i guess im trying to say is that...church body must be healthy..then it will be blessed by God who will provide the numbers...and numbers shouldnt be the first thing in churches should concern...but make sure that each of the churches member are close with God... .then the church will grow naturally... .well you know what i mean...by God

lets flip the situation...the church has grown but by the wrong ways...there is a huge church there where it became humongo 6 years ago...they used to attract youth by going to fun places everymonth...they built other buildings like the gym and etc... .i went to their youth one year..and it had nothing to do with God...instead it was a playground..-not to critize, but in truth-... basically, the church's body really didnt have "God" first but had numbers first... now the church is in dismay...the youth is horribly "weak in christianity" (they come to chill) and the congregations are split on many issue...senior, and junior,and youth pastors resgined... .i guess... not putting God first makes the foundation weak...and in sometime...it will break...

just to add...now our church is plannin for new fellowship hall...and will start an afterschool program next year!! =D

Posted 11/24/2006 07:11pm
Author: unusualteenchristian

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