Common Barriers to Growth

Why some congregations don’t grow:

1. Not bringing friends to church. We pray, we ask, we pressure, we motivate, we emphasize the importance but members (including myself) still do not bring friends to church. For many, it is understood that the services are not designed for unbelievers or the people they know from work. Perhaps on occasion we need to offer at least one service designed with our un-churched friends in mind.

2. Clinging to tradition. Traditions are actually founded and rooted in success. Something becomes a tradition because it works. Because it works, we repeat it over and over again. Perhaps we understand that our purpose will never change but our methodology will be ever changing. We may need to do one of three things: Reaffirm it, Refine it, or Replace it.

3. Trying to appeal to everyone. We can’t! It just won’t work. We listen to the radio stations we enjoy. We more often listen to those stations that play the songs we like. Maybe we should define our target (the lost), and then do everything we can to hit that target with the Gospel.

4. Being program-oriented rather than process-oriented. Having many programs may look impressive, but unless there is a specific plan for helping members grow, its easy to just end up attending classes. Maybe we should develop a process that stays with people for life and helps each mature spiritually.

5. Fearing growth will ruin fellowship. Some fight growth because of fear. We need to find ways through smaller groups to grow larger as a church while growing smaller at the same time. This may be with Bible classes, small groups or ministry groups.