Ridgell's Originals

God is the one that gives the increase, so focusing on the desired outcome -- larger, stop declining, etc -- leads to what can be unhealthy decisions. Rather, focus on what God would have your church to do and be, then let Him deal with the outcome. And here is the single most important thing you can do to enable God to grow your church: Jesus.

Some of you think it is a given that a church would be all about Jesus, but let me tell about one that wasn't. It was a church that worked hard, got a lot done, and worked hard to maintain correct doctrine. It was the church in Ephesus and Jesus threatened to remove their lampstand from its place. Ouch. The problem was they had forsaken their first love. They were being unfaithful to Jesus. Check out Revelation 2.

You can build a church with lots of hard work, many programs, and last a long time. You can nail the right doctrine. And not be a church that pleases God. Not if the core -- the heart -- is missing.

Paul knew a lot about what churches should do and not do to let God grow them. He is the one who reminded us that only God gives the increase. He said the core belief, the most important doctrine, the thing that validates our faith, and the place where we should take our stand is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day. It is Jesus. Look at I Corinthians 15.

So why is God not growing your church? Or why are you not as big as you want to be? Why are the people not knocking down your door? Don't evaluate your programs, your staff, your building, or your worship style and structure. At least not first. Start by doing a Jesus check.

I worship at a church of Christ and one the things I worry about is that we work really hard on the first part of that name and take the second part for granted. So I want us to remember that name is not a title but a description.

But aren't those other things important? Only if they are about Jesus. And that's how we get "zombie churches". You know, still moving but not really alive. When the programs, buildings, staff, worship become about us instead of Jesus, God is not going to honor us with growth. And churches have doing that for 2000 years.

The next several posts will talk about some of these other things and how I think they work as tools to honor Jesus and sow seed so God can bless us with the increase. But I will tell you this. If you see a church that is growing and you want to know why... it is not because of the programs, worship, staff, or buildings. It is because of Jesus. And if any of those things seem to really be working well, it is because they have Jesus at the center.

So in any discussion of church growth, the question is always Jesus. Which works really well because he is also the answer.