Posted in Church Growth on August 1, 2007 |
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I was reading a pastor from “down under” (Mark Edwards) today and thought some barriers his blog underscored were note worthy.
It seemed to me that the number one limiting factor on this list is either the pastor or things that the pastor can control. I find that incredibly important because in my experience I am the number one growth barrier at our church.
If we are going to grow to any particular number there are a five things I need to be thinking about (and I think about these all the time):
- Is my spiritual life in order (are the spiritual disciplines in my life producing fruit)?
- Is my family life in order (am I spending quality time with each member individually and creating time for corporate family time)?
- Do I have relationships with pre-Christians (am I personally building friendships with people who are far from God)?
- Have I taught the “church” to value hospitability and be welcoming?
- Have I created a place for people to connect and get cared for (I hope God only adds as many people as we are able to care for)?
The barriers that are on the list below are just that, barriers. Barriers can be overcome. It is important to say again that if anything is going to change at the church I pastor, the change will usually be me. If you are going to change anything at your church the change will likely be with you.
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