INGREDIENTS FOR CHURCH GROWTH

1. Attitude – "Desire"

   1. There must be a desire to be a great church

   2. Must be willing to pay the price

2. Vision - "see beyond"

   1. We must be able to see beyond next Sunday

   2. At Kadesh-Barnea the 10 spies had no vision

   3. Vision is more important that location, money, talent

   4. Fisherman, keeping only the small fish, threw all the larger ones back, asked why, said, "I only have a 7" frying pan."

   5. Many churches have a 7" frying pan (limited vision)

3. Atmosphere

   1. Mood-setters = song leader, preacher, announcements

      1. Song leading – slow, dull – kills a worship

      2. Preacher – Polar bear in pulpit = icicles in the pew

   2. Most churches are friendly to each other

   3. When a visitor walks in – What do you do?

4. Bible-centered

   1. Sermons, classes

   2. Spend time in study of the word

   3. Church will never be bigger than its Sunday school

5. Action-oriented

   1. We must put people to work

   2. Put people in charge and turn them loose

   3. Involvement is the key to keeping members

6. Unity

   1. Acts 4:32

   2. Tradition is holding us back

   3. Do you want the church to function?

7. Specific goals

   1. A survey can tell us where we are

   2. A goal tells where we are headed - our aim

   3. We need to establish:

      1. A GOAL for the church

      2. Several goals that are specific (countable)

      3. Set time tables and limits for them

      4. Post, announce, and publicize them

8. Praise and encouragement

   1. Barnabas = his nickname, what others called him

   2. What if we were called as perceived?

   3. Discouragement is a major problem in church growth

9. Persistence

   1. Hang in there.

   2. Keep on keeping on.