10 stupid things that keep churches from growing

Geoff Surratt has written a great book called, "Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing: How Leaders Can Overcome Costly Mistakes."

Here's the list of ten stupid things, and my comments under each one.

1. Trying to do it all.

Our desire is to reach everyone for Christ. The reality is, however, that we have a specific niche in the body of Christ. We have a specific calling. We can't be all things to all people. God has a role for us as a church family. Our role is to provide a balanced, Pentecostal message that appeals to the culture we live in.

2. Establishing the Wrong Role for the Pastor's Family

John Maxwell states, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." One "stupid" thing that churches do is to have the bar raised so high concerning the expectation levels of the pastoral leadership and their family that they either crash and burn or become ineffective.

3. Providing a Second Rate Worship Experience

Worship is huge in the culture we live in. People want to experimentally connect with God. Second rate doesn't necessarily mean unprofessional, but uncaring, sloppy, apathetic. All worship must be run by prayer and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

4. Settling for Low-Quality in Children's Ministry

What is the way to reach the community we are moving to on 183rd street? Reaching families. Reaching the children in those family.

5. Promoting Talent Over Integrity

We must also emphasize character over giftedness. Always.

6. Clinging to a Bad Location

Moving to a spot right on highway 80 helps!

7. Copying Another Successful Church

We must be Stone Church. We must be ourselves. We can't be Parkview church or Family Harvest. We must be ourselves and seek God's continual will for our lives.

8. Favoring Discipline Over Reconciliation

Our church is a hospital for the hurting, not a prison for the offenders.

9. Mixing Ministry and Business

Some folks read and pay attention more to the church constitution than God's Word. Our focal point must always be, "how does this encourage and promote ministry," rather than, "is it in the budget," or "how does it fit into church policy"?

10. Letting Committees Steer the Ship

If there is was a "stupid" thing to prohibit church growth - it is this one. Committees are the "death rattle" of a church that is dying. We must continually stress participating in ministry (life groups and ministry programs) rather than sitting around a room talking about what must be done.

May God help us to side step and avoid these 10 major mistakes!