I loved second grade. It was my first year at St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School—it was the school to attend if you were a total goof (which I was) or if your parents had political aspirations for you (mine did not; they were just hoping I would graduate from high school one day).
The highlight of my second-grade experience wasn’t the uniforms, the weekly chapel services, or even the Taco Bell catered lunches. It was a woman. Not just any woman, mind you. I was smitten by an older, married woman. Her name was Mrs. Ennis, and she was my second-grade teacher.
Our one-sided romance didn’t last long, but the light didn’t fade until she taught me a thing or two about life. Mrs. Ennis was the first person to teach me that God, in His perfect plan, causes healthy things to grow.
How did she impart this significant and unassailable truth? Through three simple ingredients: some dirt, a lima bean, and a Styrofoam cup. Also, she taught me that there was much more than the initial excitement of seeing the first shoot that made its way through the soil. Mrs. Ennis told me that my fragile bean plant needed my continued attention to keep growing.
That’s just how God made stuff. That which He created is good. God then entrusts us to provide intentional and thoughtful care for His creation to ensure continued health.
A church, like everything else divinely created (after all, Jesus instituted the church and is its head), will experience growth when it is healthy. God’s plan for His Church is growth, so that people from every nation, tribe, people, and nation have the opportunity to respond to the gospel.
After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9 CSB
Yep, I am absolutely convinced that God’s plan for His church is growth. Not eventually, but right now. Growth is the automatic result of healthy and intentional care.
What healthy and intentional care does our church need? As a pastor who has served revitalizing churches and as someone who has partnered with pastors of revitalizing churches, here are the top five unhealthy habits that are most common in churches that are plateaued or declining based on my observation.
- Churches are understaffed and overextended. As one pastor told me, “the needs of our ministry are greater than our staff’s ability to minister.” That’s as frustrating as it is avoidable. Invest in people for the purpose of discipleship–raise up new and healthy leaders, not to mollify consumers but to expand God’s Kingdom. I once asked a group to describe our church’s process to disciple someone from the point of conversion to their serving as a Bible study leader. I was met with empty stares and deafening silence. That should frighten us and move us to action, church. Sure, raising up new leaders is slow, messy, and frustrating but it works. Why? Because it’s what Jesus told us to do.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 CSB
What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 CSB
- Copying another church’s ministry model. God placed our church in a unique location, gathered the people in our congregation together on purpose, and uniquely gifted the people of our congregation for ministry. Based on our Father’s special care, why would we want to be a carbon copy of another church? Sure, we can learn best practices that are transferrable to any location (there’s nothing new under the sun, as King Solomon wrote), but let’s live out God’s unique plans for our local body of believers, with His people, and for our neighbors.
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 CSB
- Using insider language. I’m a relative newcomer to my church (I’ve been here a year and a half) and I find that I’m guilty of assuming everybody knows the people I know, everybody understands the theology I value, everybody knows their next step in their relationship with Jesus, everybody knows where the nursery is, everybody knows to ignore the cantankerous guy in the 5th row, and everybody knows where the bathrooms are. Some of those are more important than others (the location of the bathroom may be timely information, but it’s by no means the most critical in this list). Let’s strive to be the friendly face with helpful information. You never know when your smiling face will be the one someone interacts with on their way to encounter Jesus!
Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7 CSB
- Recruiting and retaining unhealthy leaders. To fill critical volunteer and vocational roles within the church, plateaued and declining churches allow “whosoever will” to ascend to positions of leadership and can give the unprepared or unqualified a voice that speaks on behalf of the church – ultimately to its detriment. God’s people need God-honoring leaders who proclaim His glory while pursuing His vision.
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 CSB
- Not investing in the next generation. Every follower of Jesus enjoys the privilege and shares the responsibility of leading the next generation to find, follow, and serve Jesus. Maintaining a familiar ministry model may be comforting to those who have been part of a church family for decades but it may create an obstacle to spiritual health for younger generations (insisting on outdated music, programming based on precedent instead of intentionality, ineffective teaching methods that do not connect with varied learning styles, etc.). I’m of the opinion that churches should devote a significant percentage of their budgets for family ministry, hiring professionals who create environments that are a kid’s favorite place to be each week – all while pointing them to Jesus.
Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me. Mark 9:37 CSB
Since the Lord instituted the church, we should pay attention to everything He taught us about how to honor Him as His bride. Let’s remain faithful as we seek to do whatever it takes to help people find, follow, and serve Jesus.