Questions to Grow Your Church in 2007

from Pat Morley

Volume 209
December 4, 2006

Growing a church includes adding new believers, growing those believers, and calling those believers to serve. It can be said many ways, but Jesus summarized it well in Luke 6:47: “I will show you what he is like who comes to me (evangelism) and hears my words (teaching) and puts them into practice (service).”

Evangelism, teaching, and service are the three parts of a disciple. This has come to be known as the Great Commission—or “making disciples.” As we teach elsewhere, a disciple is someone who is called to walk with Christ, equipped to live like Christ, and sent to work for Christ.

The central mission of your church is “to make disciples.” As you reflect on your 2007 priorities here are some questions to consider with the leaders of the church who determine direction:

1. How effective are we at adding new believers? What are two or three inexpensive, practical, doable, high-impact changes we could make in 2007 to increase our effectiveness in evangelism? And to get out of the box, do as Steve Douglass, President of Campus Crusade for Christ often does and ask, “What can we do in the next 90 days that can double our impact?” You may just stumble into a great idea!

2. How effective are we at equipping new believers? What are two or three inexpensive, practical, doable, high-impact changes we could make in 2007 to increase our effectiveness in spiritual formation? “What can we do in the next 90 days that can double our impact?”

3. How effective are we at sending new believers? What are two or three inexpensive, practical, doable, high-impact changes we could make in 2007 to increase our effectiveness in service and ministry? “What can we do in the next 90 days that can double our impact?"

Let’s measure our effectiveness with the same plumb line with which Christ would measure. Let’s be diligent in 2007 to make disciples of our men, women, and children. If we do this one thing we will have done the most important thing. And discipleship is the systemic solution to all the downstream effects with which we struggle (e.g., divorce, rebellion, immorality, gossip).

Pat Morley, Ph.D.

Each week, Pat shares biblical insight and encouragement on leading issues impacting men on Man2Man Express with Brian Doyle and David Beguerie. Click here to listen to Pat's latest broadcast.