“What do we have to do to grow the church?”
“How can we grow the church?”
These are probably one of the most frequently asked questions amongst church leaders. That’s because most congregations are growing older and declining. The growth of the church is literally a matter of life and death for most congregations.
However, these are absolutely the wrong questions for the church to ask.
Jesus doesn’t ask the church to grow. God doesn’t call the church to grow. This doesn’t mean growth isn’t important. Growth is vital. Without growth, churches die.
However, growth is the byproduct and the result of a congregation where God is at work. Growth isn’t the goal of the church. Growth is the byproduct of a church where God is at work.
“…and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3)
The question congregations ought to be asking is, “How can our church be a blessing to our neighbors?” “What do we need to do to be a blessing to our community?”
When God begins to bless the people in our community through our congregations, our congregations grow.
Praxis: Faith in Action 