Church Growth
This past week our Associate Pastor, Aaron Gable, gave me an article on how to break through barriers of growth. The article got me thinking because frequently I get asked about the “secrets” of Rock Bridge’s growth. So I thought I’d share some of the thoughts I’ve learned about church growth.
1) God wants churches to grow!! A lot of people think that if a church is growing then the Pastor never challenges the people, ‘waters down the Word’, or that the church is totally about consumerism and is completely compromising God’s standard. How funny that we question something that God created to grow when it actually does grow!! The first church grew by 3000 people in one day! Jesus’ dream for the church was always to be continually expanding. Therefore, we have permission to ask and expect God to grow His church and fulfill His dream!!Â
2) There is a price for growth. Rick Warren says it best, “It’s not about you.” The church is not about you or me; the preacher or a denomination — the church is about Jesus Christ, His purpose, and His glory. So the price for growth is pride, egos and personal agendas.  It is easy for a church to become weighed down by people who have their own personal preferences and agendas … and the hard part people really don’t see it as their personal agenda. However, anytime the church focuses more on anything but Jesus and the people He died to save, growth becomes difficult.
3) The pastor cannot do it all. From Day One our church has been committed to making sure that I have enough time to pray and prepare messages and manage the big picture/vision of Rock Bridge. Many times pastors get weighed down with doing all the counseling, all the weddings, all the funerals, and all the hospital visits. I’ll say it again, the pastor cannot do it all!! If a church expects the pastor to be Superman and do everything, then the church is not expecting to grow. Whatever your pastor’s limit is (and every pastor has one), that is where you church will stop. If your pastor can effectively minister to 100 people, then your church will have about 100 people. For some it may be 150-200 … but every pastor has a limit — but his limit should not be the limit to the church’s growth!!
4) Vision + Passion = Commitment. People want to be committed to something significant (we were created for it!). People are attracted to big visions and passion. What has a bigger vision than the church? What is more significant than God’s church? There is more passion and vision and thus commitment at most college stadiums on Saturdays in the Fall than most churches year round … and the church is celebrating AN EMPTY TOMB!! I have a rule of thumb … if I can’t get passionate about what I’m preaching, then I shouldn’t be preaching it; if I am not passionate about where I believe God to be leading our church, then I shouldn’t be leading the way!Â
5) Prayer + Boldness = God’s presence. The order here is important. Prayer must take first place in the church. Pray until God gives you something to be bold about and the boldness to do what He wants you to do … then watch Him show up and then people will show up to encounter Him! This is the area God is working on me the most right now. True prayer is admitting humbly that you can’t do it but acknowledging that God can … this dependence and faith moves the heart of God to respond, to move, and to show up. People who are seeking God will go where He regularly and faithfully shows up … and that should be the church that He created.
6) Make mistakes and learn from them. The first implication is that you’ve got to take risks in order to make mistakes. I’ve made so many mistakes as a pastor, preacher, and leader. Most mistakes are not fatal, but all mistakes are excellent teachers.  God in His sovereignty has appointed the church to carry His message into the world. The church is composed of redeemed sinners … thus guaranteeing that mistakes will be made. Sometimes I think the church grows almost inspite of ourselves … but that way God gets the glory … and to be honest if I could adequately explain the reasons behind church growth, then it probably would not be of God. I am humbled and amazed at God’s work and desire for His church to grow and storm the gates of Hell … even more amazing is that He uses the likes of me to play a small role in His work!!