Ministers Blogs
“What is keeping the Church from Growing?”
Categories: EvangelismLike plants God has designed the church to grow. It grows when it has the right environment for growing.
Notice 1 Cor. 3:6, tells us, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”
So, what is keeping our congregation from growing? Well there are at least three things that prevent a congregation from growing. There maybe be other things, but I believe they would all fall in one or more of the following areas.
First, population of people. If a congregation does not have people, it will not grow numerically or relationally. The church needs people. We are in the people business, saving the lost and keeping the saved, saved (Lk. 19:20, and Eph. 2:10). Many congregations are not growing because the population of the area has declined. For example, in the Parkersburg area when Camden Ave. was at its largest the community’s population was also growing. For the last several years the area has seen a population decline. In the 1960’s the population of Parkersburg was over 45,000. Today the population of Parkersburg is around 29,000. This decline is going to influence the congregation in a negative way. On the other hand, if one would look at communities that have a growing population, then often the church in that area is growing as well. The population effects church growth.
Second, and connected to the population, is the economy of an area. This also effects church growth. People go where the jobs are. If an area has no good paying jobs, then they leave the area looking for work or if they cannot leave, they are forced to make whatever income they can, which is usually less. This influences the church because people will not have the financial resources to give to help support the work of the church. When the church is in a low-income area, it is harder to maintain a church building, support the minister, do evangelistic works, and mission efforts. Although some might argue that we really do not need money to do the Lord’s Work, to preach, teach, and minister to people; maybe there is a truth here, but the reality is we do live in a society that is money based and it can greatly influence the growth and work of the church. After all, it is hard to keep the lights on, repair a roof, or print gospel literature when there are no funds to do such work.
Finally, another essential part of church growth, is spiritual teaching and Christian living. A congregation can have hundreds, even thousands of people, it can be rich, and have members who are great givers in the congregation, but if the preaching and teaching of the church are not scripturally sound and its members are not living by the truth of God’s word, then the church is dead spiritually. Remember the example of the church in Laodicea, Rev. 3:17, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Sin to the church, is like throwing weed killer on one’s garden it will destroy everything it touches. Sin is described in Mark 7:20-23 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 as those things that are contrary to the will of God. So, for the church to grow, we must stop sinning and live obediently to God. Jesus states in Luke 13:5 unless we repent all will perish. We must also understand that repentance is not just about helping the church grow but being made right with Almighty God.
What do you need to repent of? (Part 2 of this article will continue in next week’s bulletin)
God Bless,
Mark T.
