Wake up call this morning, presented by Sheldon Clowdus…
So, you want to grow your church pastor?
Put down the latest church growth book. Cancel your trip to that church growth conference. Stop trying to emulate the megachurch down the road or across the state.
Open your bible and reacquaint yourself with the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ. Know it inside and out. Preach it boldly and plainly.
It worked for Paul.
Bold words from an unemployed pastor (looked him up on LinkedIn). Looks like he has time to try planting a church, to see just how easy it is!
^ Todd Tolson, I agree those are bold words from Todd Rhoades, but they’re true words. I can’t help but wonder what bothered you so much about the truth that you felt compelled to be rude. By the way, my “wondering” is rhetorical.
not popular but true regardless of who it’s coming from – currently employed pastor
John Maxwell did a teaching @1987 that still rings true. He enumerated 10 myths about growth: location, education, communication, denomination, etc. After citing different ministries where these were not barriers, he gives the one reason why churches stop growing: when the cost is too high…financial, personal, professional, etc
I am not sure that it’s as relevant (Todd’s status) as it is his comment. Obviously preaching has a lot to do with a church’s growth. However, I know a lot of great preachers whose churches don’t grow much numerically. I suspect other factors are in play. Ones like leadership, focus, and people sharing with other people come to mind. And that is just a few.
Brad, unless someone…anyone…is a Pastor, who actually has to (gets to) deal with people, and has the privilege of LEADING a local Church, I don’t think they’re qualified to say what will or what won’t grow a Church. Sorry if you think that’s rude.
By the way, the reason Sheldon’s comment is ridiculous, is because Jesus Christ physically embodied the Gospel, and people walked away from Him ALL THE TIME!
Tedd – I don’t know how many unchurched folks you talk to on a regular basis, but the Gospel is pretty popular with the ones I talk to. Think: Parable of the sower & the seed. 75% of the folks represented received the “Good News” with joy (It’s Good News for a reason!). Now, it’s true that only 25% became fruitful as a result. All I’m saying is that I don’t typically run into people who confuse the Good News as Bad News. Now, the way the Church shares it these days can come across as Bad News…but that’s another post for another time.
Sam – I agree. There’s SO much more to Church growth than preaching.
Todd you are missing the point of what Sheldon is saying, simply that the gospel is power, it is the only thing that can bring real transformation and that is true growth, not numbers. I’m not saying that numbers are wrong but they are not the sign of real transformation and growth. And while I hold to contextualization, I take what Sheldon is simply saying at face value, that the gospel and not conferences, books, techniques, style, methods and the like, is described by Paul as the power of God in life transformation.
As to whether or not he is qualified it should be evaluated this way: Is he qualified in WHAT he said.
As to the never churched people I live the gospel to it’s not that popular. It’s not so much about how we share it, it’s really about us not living it. And without bad news, good news has no context . . . but that’s for another post for another time.