5 issues that can keep a church from growing

This comes from Dave Kraft.


Here Are 5 Issues That Can Keep A Church From Growing:

ENTITLEMENT – When the body begins to think “this is my church”, it will soon start operating outside the complete power and utter dependency of the rightful owner. It will then lose the Spirit’s power.

ENERGY – The lack of energy stagnates a church. This is not referring to worship. You can worship to your taste, but energy is a part of any movement of God. The church is the body of Christ. Don’t forget…our God is not dead…He’s alive! A church is revived and reenergized when it renews its vision. As a church grows closer to Christ, and introduces others to Christ, it creates more energy for the body.

EXCITEMENT – If you can’t get excited about the Gospel, you’re not looking at Christ close enough. Anyone who can raise from the dead, forgive sins, and reconcile us to God…that’s exciting! When the people who regularly attend the church aren’t excited anymore, visitors aren’t likely to be either. When a body becomes comfortable, it often becomes complacent, and it loses the excitement it once had. It is then no longer attractive to outsiders.

ENGAGEMENT – The body needs all its members. When a few people do all the work burnout is soon to follow. The church shouldn’t depend on paid staff to do all the work, nor should ministry be limited to those with a volunteer title of some sort. If assignments have to be made before people are freed to do the work of the church, over time, the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.

EFFICIENCY – When programs are so structured that even God couldn’t introduce change, decline is imminent. Growing churches are always thinking how they can improve. The cliche is true, the message never changes, but the hearers do. Finding new ways to reach a changing culture with a Gospel that never changes is part of a growing church’s responsibility.

Obviously there are many other reasons; these are just a few I’ve observed. Whenever I work with a church in decline, I will first look for one of these areas as a solution.

+What have you seen keep a church from growing?

Jack White on Austin City Limits

While I don't own any of his music, it seem every time I hear Jack White play I come away impressed.  Below is a link to the PBS Austin City Limits show he did a while back.

Watch Jack White on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

I like that the music is pretty straight forward yet creative.  And it rocks.  Seems like the guy is pretty gifted at what he does, and every time I seem him play it is compelling.

If you're not familiar with his music, I'd suggest starting at the 20 minute mark and watch for about 10 minutes.  Good stuff!