4 Pastors: Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing

Regularly I read something on a blog, a website, or in another book that makes me want to read more.  That was the case with the book below:  I read the “Ten Things” somewhere and soon bought the book on my Kindle.  I’ve finished, and am posting a few of my notes here with the hope of inspiring a few others and especially my pastor-buddies to read more.

Evernote/Book Notes/Surratt, Geoff.  Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, MI; 2009.

Trying To Do It All
Specifically referring to the pastor, Geoff suggests that pastors try to ‘do it all’ for one of several reasons:  the Lonely Martyr Syndrom; the Hired Gun Disease; Corner Cutting Disorder; or Rejection Aversion.  Pastors SHOULD share the load for many reasons.  Geoff states, “…your job as a pastor is to preach the Word, model a godly lifestyle, and teach the people what they need to know to do the work of the ministry . . . Anything you are doing beyond that is wearing you out and getting in the way of others fulfilling God’s call on their lives.”  The chapter ends with four steps for giving ministry away.

Establishing the Wrong Role for the Pastor’s Family
This chapter is much about realizing how easily it is for spouses and families to be ‘swallowed up’ by ministry.  Significant sections deal with the pastor’s own marriage.

Providing A Second Rate Worship Experience
In this chapter, Geoff offers ten easy ways to improve your work experience:  Ask the Hard Questions; See Your Services through the Eyes of the First-Time Attender; Improve Your Music; Update Your Technology; Overhaul Your Preaching; Get Creative; Do Everything on Purpose; Pay Attention to the Clock; Warm Up Your Atmosphere; and Make Your Sunday Service the Most Important Thing You Do.

Settling for Low Quality in Children’s Ministry
Lesson 1: It Matters Who’s on Your Team; Lesson 2: It Matters What You Do; Lesson 3: It Matters What the Parents Think; Lesson 4: It Matters That You Know What Your Families Expect.

Promoting Talent over Integrity
A compromise on character for the sake of talent will never pay off.  Geoff provides some thoughts about how to know if a talented leader has integrity or not.  Also present in this chapter are some good ideas about how to recover when there has been a lapse in integrity.

Clinging to a Bad Location
Should a church build?  Sell and relocate?  Use an existing empty building or partner with another church?  How can a church know if it has a bad location?  These questions are explored in this chapter.  But what if none of the above are feasible or have positive responses in the current situation?    You’re not dead in the water.  There are a number of options, beginning with the important questions about God’s unique call to your community.

Copying Another Successful Church
This chapter is pretty self-explanitory; while affirming the blessing of learning principles, methods, and insights from the greater body of Christ, Geoff makes it clear that it is foolish to rely upon or copy the strategy of another church; in other words, we can ‘learn without leaning.’  What are your strengths as a leader?  Build a team that allows you to play to your strengths, and gathers others who make up for your weaknesses.  ”If you want to see your church grow, find the passion that God plantd in you hyears ago and use every resource you can get your hands on to change your corner of the world.”  Think through questions like:  ”Why does your church need to exist if there are already other churches in your community doing a good job of everything your church is trying to do?”

Favoring Discipline over Reconciliation
An overemphasis on discipline rather than a proactive intentional strategy that incorporates reconciliation will impede a church’s growth.  There’s not a downplay of the need for biblical discipline and confrontation, but rather a careful presentation of what it might look like with an emphasis on mercy, grace, and restoration.  In fact, four basic situations for discipline and how to handle each are offered in this chapter.  Discipline ought to promote spiritual life instead of death.

Mixing Ministry and Business
Some pastors choose to build a business while in ministry.  Others are forced to work bi-vocationally because resources are limited.  How does one draw appropriate boundaries around financial opportunity and ministry?  What are the do’s and don’ts of a second income?

Letting Committees Steer the Ship
This is the final barrier mentioned that hinders church effectiveness and growth.  Time to step up and lead, pastor!  To start with, you must have clear vision from God.  If you don’t have it, get it.  Then build your teams, cast the vision, get input, and invite them to create the future with you.  ”A confident leader with a compelling vision will take a team to places they could never get to on their own.”  ”Teams and boards that are well led and loosely held can be an indomitable force.  Teams that are weakly led and tightly controlled will be an endless source of headaches and confusion.”  So “keep the vision fresh, the team on mission, and the path clear.”