Ridgell's Originals

 I have a lot of discussions with church leaders about growing.  It is usually not phrased that way tho.  Usually, the discussion is more around how to keep from dying.  Churches all over are dying.  There are even lots of people making a living designing programs for dying churches.  Get a better preacher.  Change your worship style.  Join an on-line megachurch.  Get a magic youth ministry program.  

But I have a heart for the churches that want to grow the Kingdom.  Not just keep their kids.  Not attract all the Christians that move into their communities.  Not be the "hot" church that connect with the Christians unhappy with their church.  You know -- swell not grow.

And I better be clear.  I am no expert.  I don't have any can't miss programs.  But I have been in and around churches all over the world for a long time.  So here are three things I think are the key to a growing church.  

Be clear about the mission.  The mission is to seek and save the lost.  Their are a lot of things we do because Jesus did them.  Take care of the sick.  Feed the hungry.  Help the poor.  But that is not the mission of the church.  Lots of other organizations can do those things.  The church is in the business of reconciling people to God in partnership with Jesus.  Mission creep will  kill your church.  Sell all out for the mission.  Share Jesus with a lost world.

Stand on truth.  Be a church that teaches the Bible.  Expect your people to read and study the word of God.  Be clear about what you believe and why.  Have standards that members are expected to follow.  But be sure those standards come right from the text.  The world may despise you.  Your church may not be popular.  You may even encounter persecution.  Certainly there will be hard things said about you.  But I also think there are people in the world that knew there is some truth somewhere that is certain.  Not a truth that changes depending on the current culture.  Truth that endures.  That truth is found in the word of God.  So be clear where it is clear.  Stop spending time trying to make God say what is not there.  And stop trying to explain away what is there.  Be a people of the book.  The Bible is not God.  But it is His word.  The Bible is not Jesus.  But it is where you learn how to follow him.  The Bible is not the Holy Spirit.  But it was written by men guided by the Holy Spirit.  

Call your people to radically follow Jesus.  Listen to the Casting Crowns song "Crazy People".  We need more of those in our churches.  That won't be popular.  You may even lose a lot of people who don't really want to be part of a group that is crazy sold-out on following Jesus.  But when you start expecting that of your people, it changes everything.  That is when marriages start healing.  When addictions start being defeated.  When real community happens.  When lives really change.  

And when you grow.  Really grow.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM