Your church isn’t growing.
Maybe you’ve felt it. The same faces every Sunday. Seats that used to be full.
It’s easy to blame the culture, the times, the neighborhood. But often what holds a church back is quieter, closer, and more fixable than we think.
And almost every one of them has a remedy we can see in the life of Jesus.
Here are ten.
1. One Person Trying To Do Everything
Jesus had all authority in heaven and earth. And what did He do? He chose twelve ordinary men and sent them out to do the work themselves.
If the Son of God shared the ministry, no one person should carry it alone. When you see a leader drowning, that’s not a problem to complain about. That’s an invitation to lift.
“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out.”
— Mark 3:14
2. A Cold Welcome
Jesus stopped for the people everyone else walked past. The woman at the well. Zacchaeus in the tree. The children being shooed away. He made outsiders feel seen.
You don’t need a title to do this. You just need to notice the person standing alone and walk toward them.
3. Forgetting the Young
When the disciples pushed the children aside, Jesus was indignant.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.” — Matthew 19:14
He made room for the next generation. If your church’s kids or teens feel like an afterthought, maybe you’re the one who’s supposed to show up for them.
4. Choosing Talent Over Integrity
Jesus spent three years forming His disciples’ hearts before He ever sent them to lead. He picked humble fishermen over impressive résumés.
Gifting can build a platform. Only character can hold it up. When we raise up leaders, we start where Jesus started: on the inside.
5. Guarding the Past Instead of Reaching the Lost
Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost,” and He broke with tradition to do it, healing on the Sabbath, eating with sinners, going where the religious wouldn’t.
The church exists for the people not yet in the room. Comfort is a poor reason to stop reaching.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10
6. Words That Inform and Entertain But Never Transform
When Jesus taught, people were amazed, because He taught with authority, and His words went straight to the heart.
The Word of God was never meant to just fill our heads or entertain. It’s meant to change us. If we leave church the same as we came, something’s been lost along the way.
7. Making the Building the Mission
Jesus cleared the temple when the house of prayer became about comfort and commerce. And then He sent His people OUT.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” — Mark 16:15
A church is a launching pad, not a fortress. The mission was never to keep the doors open. It was to go out through them.
8. No Path From Visitor to Follower
Jesus didn’t just gather crowds.
He said “Follow me,” and then walked people step by step, from curiosity, to commitment, to being sent.
A healthy church helps people take the next step. If you see someone stuck at the edge, maybe you’re the one to walk with them.
9. Letting Conflict Fester
Jesus gave us the way through offense: go directly, and seek to win your brother back. And He prayed that we would be ONE.
Unspoken hurt and quiet division poison a church from the inside. Reconciliation is holy work, and every one of us is called to it.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” — Matthew 18:15
10. Forgetting That Growth Is God’s Work
Here’s the one that holds all the others together.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5
Every single thing on this list is just pruning and tending. We plant. We water. But only God gives the growth.
The healthiest thing any of us can do for our church is to stay deeply connected to Jesus, and let Him do what only He can do.
Just For You
Maybe you read this list and one of them wouldn’t let you go. One gap you kept picturing. One face. One need.
Don’t rush past that.
Because here’s the truth we don’t say often enough: the church isn’t the pastor’s job. It’s ours. All of us.
And often the surest sign that God is calling you to help somewhere is simple. You can see, more clearly than anyone else, exactly where the help is needed.
That pull you feel isn’t criticism rising up in you. It might be a calling. God has a way of giving certain people the eyes to see exactly where He wants their hands to go.
You are not too small. You are not unqualified. You are not “just” a member.
You are the church. And if you can see the gap, maybe, just maybe, God sent you to fill it.
Go be the answer to someone’s prayer this week. 🙏
Inspired in part by Geoff Surratt’s “Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing.” The reflections and Scripture here are my own.
You’re going to LOVE what’s coming NEXT!
Unlock every Revelation the moment it drops.
Go DEEPER into Scripture than ever before.
Get full access to the complete archive.
Love you guys. 🙏
If this BLESSED you, share it with a friend and bless them too!
I have a few more. Forgetting the faithful over time in the effort to focus on only the "new" or your favorite group for interaction. Last week a couple who has served in our church for over 20 years-sound system, VBS, worship team, small groups -cried as they told us they were leaving. She was quietly pushed out of worship team with no communication. Nothing mentioned, nothing shared she was doing wrong. Just showed up one Sunday when on schedule and told "oh we forgot to tell you, X is now going to do keyboards".
I will point out that "growing" while ignoring the faithful doesn't result in either a healthy church or a growing church-just one that turns over and over and over.
Definitely something to think about. It comes down to living it out. One person with a fire is all it takes, one person's passion/fire for the Lord can change as the fire can be lit to become a bigger fire. God will take care of the rest. The church will grow (even if you try to slow its growth). I must emphasize growth isn't everything; small churches have its merit, close-knit fellowship like no other. I used to think my previous mega church was the best. I now think it is far from the truth. I saw signs everywhere, from sunday schools to bible study groups. The small groups weren't multiplying as they're supposed to because most of us lived lukewarm Christian lives (myself included). I'm now fully devoted. God literally led me out of that church and confirmed my current church is where I belong to. He spoke to me the first day I set my feet in the sanctuary of that church. I broke down in tears and cried for a few minutes.