Orginally published on Monday, September 13, 2004 at 10:29 AM
by Todd Rhoades
Did you know that the growth and health of your church has little to do with your physical location? Church health specialist Dr. Thom Rainer recently studied 13 mediocre congregations that grew to become vibrant, healthy churches without changing pastors. To his surprise, he discovered that there was little correlation between location and growth. “One of the surprises was that the location of a church had almost nothing to do with the struggles and subsequent breakout of these churches,” Rainer said. “Some of the churches have great locations demographically, but others have lousy locations.”
So what was the biggest break through then, for these churches? According to Dr. Rainer, they all had an outward focus. "If there is any one basic lesson, it is to lead the church to an outward focus. The great majority of churches in America are focused on their own needs and desires."
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Post Your Comments:What I think many pastors, church planters, and leaders forget is that God designated the church as a place where He communicates with His people. It is not a club or a social setting that should be tailored to accommodate the interests of man. Rather, it is a place where the activity should cater to the heart and desire of God. It doesn’t mean we don’t witness, extend ourselves to the lost, and show love in its various forms. It does mean I’m not looking at social trends and cultural shifts to dictate how our church worships God. Those things are helpful in terms of our witnessing.
Ask yourself this question: What kind of Christian is not a seeker? Sometimes I think we’re moving the ark with the people’s approval, but without hearing from heaven (1 Chron. 13:2)
the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. our father sacrificed one for the good of the many. world missions starts at your front door step. internal conflicts promotes external conflicts which clouds who he really is. isn’t it really all about him and not us.
The church is people. Period. It is made up of people who are connected by salvation, love for God and each other. With that in mind, location is really a matter of “Let’s get together.” Our culture seems to dictate to Christians that church is a building and thus location seems to take center in our thinking. What I have learned is that people will join a church not because a building is on the corner - it is first because someone loved and cared enough to invite them along. Relationships build a church - not location.
My church was started in my living room. I hope this is a proper response, and that I am making a little sense this time of the evening. It’s been a long battle, and I am just exhausted. I tried too hard to please people, though my love for the Lord was geniune. It appears my focus was off, because some things needed to be done, yet I felt such a burden in trying to do them. I knew I had faltered, and the guilt was tremendous. Yes, Satan had a field day, he knew I loved God, yet I stood on a road called compromise, not knowing it meant failure, shame, guilt, and divisions of all kinds. Now I am street ministry, and am still trying to comeback to where I fell. I feel it’s taking so long, there are many distractions. I know God is merciful, and gracious. Pray that this street ministry will be a better way,and without compromise. Pray success, because nothing is fulfilling until you have fulfilled that that the Lord has ordained. God Bless
Our society has become one concerned convenience and amenities then purpose and loyalty. This mindset has greatly effected the church. People select churches just like they would select the location of a new home. Many people shop around for the best bargain in church membership. Is there a gym? What about childcare? Do any prominate people attend? attend? How long are the services? Is it located in a good neighborhood? None of these questions concern the integrity of the ministry nor its spiritual effectiveness. These elements have become of little importance to a society who demands convenience over relevance.
It is a shame that the only thing we hear about is Church growth and not minister growth or how to spiritually grow your church, it’s all about numbers. I am frustrated because it seems the church growth gurus have done one thing, forgotten that the spiritual nature of the church is prime and that the numarical is secondary. Paul never addressed how to get a bigger church, ten ways to maximize your attendance why? Because the churches focus was not to be growth but Jesus Christ and him crucified and resurrected. The believer who is mature will reach out to the lost, the church that is mature will grow when God sees that it is being a faithful stewart of the gifts given to it. But nowadays we are obsessed by this notion of growth and in its attempt to do so it leaves Jesus behind. Nowehere listed is prayer, Bible reading, devotion, dicipleship its all enterainment and appeasment. Remember the church is not ours to do with as we please it is Jesus’s body and we must get his permission to do anything!
I as a prospective church planter will make it a priority that the congregation is a spiritual fellowship not a club, that is a place where the worship of the Lord (its style, music, and preaching)is placed before him in prayer and is under his direct leadership not the whims and passions of a depraved world that is passing away.
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