Church Growth

"I know that growth is important and matters to God. However, if we’re not careful, it can consume our souls and become an idol that competes with our ultimate calling as ministers." - Facts & Trends

"A new film tells the story of the 'fastest-growing church' in the world, an underground, persecuted Christian movement in a country known for exporting radical Islamic terrorism." - Fox

"According to 'State of the Online Church,' led by Saddleback Church’s Online Campus Pastor Jay Kranda, 59 percent of churches have seen physical growth since launching an online ministry." - Christian Post

"A new study from Exponential by LifeWay ... gives a clear picture of the state of Protestant churches in America today. Most have fewer than 100 people attending services each Sunday (57%), including 21 percent who average fewer than 50. Around 1 in 10 churches (11%) average 250 or more for their worship services." - Christianity Today

Challies.com: I often hear about pragmatism, but rarely have I spoken to someone so sold out to its principles.

Reformation21: ". . . the Church is called 'the body of Christ' in Scripture. When a church becomes preoccupied with 'body growth' it becomes susceptible to a temptation to employ 'cultural steroid enhancement.' But the inevitable side effects are soon manifested . . .

"The authors of Theology Matters: Comparing the Traits of Growing and Declining Mainline Protestant Church Attendees and Clergy surveyed 2,225 churchgoers in Ontario, Canada, and conducted interviews with 29 clergy and 195 congregants. The paper is to be published in next month’s issue of the respected international journal, Review of Religious Research." The Guardian

This shiny oversized card explained the top ten reasons why people don’t go to church. It employed a strategy right out of the church growth handbooks that has become wearying to me. It is Church Growth 101, but such a strategy as never occurred to Paul or the Apostles.