4-Stages of Church Growth

June 30, 2010
Leadership Clip to Evernote
18

1. Let God grow you.

The cruel fact of church leadership is this. You can never lead others to a place you have not yet arrived.  So the challenge will always be, not to learn the newest trend or process, but to become more intimate with God. You don’t want a crowd of babies, but a brigade of warriors begging for a fight!

2. Let God grow others.

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn, as a young leader was that God is the only one that can change someone, I cant! I know it would be super cool to have that power…ZAP> Thou art now a sacrificial giver! Cool, yeah, gonna happen? Not! You do what God has called you to do, and don’t take it personally if people don’t respond the way you expect.

3. Let God grow others through you.

Now, as a leader, it is our calling to hear from & follow God, and challenge others to do the same. So one aspect is this… ALWAYS look for opportunities to replace yourself! You MUST develop leaders around you, if not your church will implode. Not matter how lofty your thoughts are about yourself, you are not the next Rick Warren, or a spiritual machine that can never break down. There will be no greater honor for you as leader, than to replace yourself… Several times over!

4. Let God grow the church.

I remember one point of being so discouraged. I didn’t know why some people weren’t coming, why we weren’t growing as fast as “I thought” we should. God slapped me with these 2 back hands… Jesus said “I will build my church” & “the Lord added to their number daily.” I was quickly reminded this WAS NOT my church. This is Jesus’ church, and He will grow it as He sees fit. My job is to hear and follow Him, like this… “He has told you old man what is required of you, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with Me.”

Are there any others you would care to add…?

About artie: I'm the lead Pastor at Cornerstone, a Multi-Ethnic church in the heart of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Also the founder of the Comb Network.com, a movement to plant Multi-Ethnic, culturally relevant churches in smaller cities. I direct a gathering of small city leader called "The Sticks."

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  • http://www.wesleyhenry.com Wes

    Nope… That about says it. Good stuff! Thanks Artie.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks Wes. Really appreciate you stopping by

  • http://www.kevinyoho.blogspot.com Kevin Yoho

    Artie, I don’t think I have found a more compelling assessment of the stages of church growth than what you have presented here. Really great stuff. A must read. Thank you.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks Kevin. I really appreciate that.

  • http://tomhogsed.com Tom

    I needed this today. Thanks for the post.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks Tom. I appreciate you stopping by.

  • http://www.kevingerrior.com Kevin

    Nailed it Artie

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks Kev!

  • Tyler

    I really love how each stage began with "Let God". That in itself is so true. Let God be God and the rest is history. So many times we try to create our own culture in the church and don’t give God the floor to do His will. Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate it.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      My pleasure my bro.. Thanks for stopping by.

  • http://twitter.com/artiedavis/status/20670478586748928/ Artie Davis (@artiedavis) (@artiedavis)

    4-Stages of Church Growth http://is.gd/jOcoe

  • http://twitter.com/JohnUpChurch/status/20671090686697472/ John UpChurch (@JohnUpChurch)

    RT @ArtieDavis: 4-Stages of Church Growth http://is.gd/jOcoe

  • http://twitter.com/PastorRJSimmons/status/20671275324145665/ Roosevelt Simmons (@PastorRJSimmons)

    RT @ArtieDavis: 4-Stages of Church Growth http://is.gd/jOcoe
    You make great points!!!

  • http://thinkspurlove.blogspot.com/ David Buckham

    Love it! I have been grabbing several your posts and Evernoting them since the Sticks Conference this past year. You have been a huge blessing to me.

    While the focus is church growth, should Let God Prune be added? I know I have gotten "upset" when someone has left, only to see God bring someone else (often a type of 2-for-1 special…1 leaves 2 replace). Often, but not always, the replacements are more active.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Very Honored David, thanks. I have always noticed the same… When someone leaves, or you loose a member or staff person, and you think it’s gonna go down! God brings something better. It reminds me of Job…

      The later was greater than the former! Only God can do that stuff dude!

  • http://twitter.com/RevCraigGommer/status/20672794278756352/ Craig Gommer (@RevCraigGommer) (@RevCraigGommer)

    RT @artiedavis: 4-Stages of Church Growth http://is.gd/jOcoe

  • http://www.derwinlgray.com Derwin L. Gray

    Artie,

    I will saving this blog and using it to teach my staff. Thanks!

    Pastor Derwin

  • Michael Reid

    Bro! That’s 2 gut punches in one day! Awesome and much need post!