5-Signs your church might SUCK!

July 6, 2010
Leadership Clip to Evernote
14

I was reading a business blog the other day, called "15-signs your business sucks!" As I read it, it became apparent these signs  apply to the church. I have no intention of equalizing the church with any type of business. But rather passionate about finding another missing piece to help my fellow gladiators who are fighting for the Kingdom and serious about making an eternal impact. So it is in that spirit I ask you this question, does your church have any of these (5) signs…

1. You’re not making a profit.

You can be really busy, and still not be able to make an impact. In other words you can’t equate busyness with godliness. You can’t keep doing the wrong things, and hope that one day some how it will make things  right. In order for a church to stay in "business" (doing God’s work for the Kingdom), we can’t just do things right, we MUST be doing the right things!

2. You haven’t talked to a potential customer.

You aren’t involved in the community. You only have Christians as friends, and you are not actively involved in inviting the un-churched to your church. All "holy huddles" die! They do. God has not called His church to just congregate, but to mutilate the gates of hell! That can’t be done just hangin with the homies. Hit the streets & villages.

3. You don’t love what you do.

If you are leading in a church, and you would really rather be doing something else. Anything else! Please go do it. Those who stay in "ministry" just because they can’t find anything else aren’t looking hard enough! Those who hang just to get paid do the church and the work of the Kingdom great harm.

4. You can’t take criticism.

If someone comes to you with an idea, or input that is a  contradiction to what you are doing, and you blow them off! They may be off base, but many times it’s an indication that something is wrong! Don’t be easily offended. That is a sign of pride. Remember what God does to the proud, He "opposes them."

5. You don’t care about your customers.

The precious ones that God has brought to you, you take for granted. You don’t build leaders & try and just maintain a status quo. That strategy has and always will fail. The church is called to be a builder not a manager.

These signs are adapted from a Blog by Michael Bowers. You can see the original blog here: http://michaelbowersonline.com/15-warning-signs-that-your-business-sucks

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://sloan25.wordpress.com Anthony Sloan

    That is probably one of the best ways I have ever heard that put across! Great blog!!

    • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/artiedavis61 ArtieDavis

      Thanks Anthony, I really appreciate that!

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/bknight81 bknight81

    A few additions:

    2a. You aren't engaging (properly or at all) the customers that are coming in door.

    Are your leaders (lay and staff) trained in how to engage visitors and "infrequent" members? Do we try to "sell them" something right off, or do we take time and effort to seek out the Customer's needs?

    5a. You work to take care of "important" or "new" customers and ignore/minimize the rest.

    Your emphasis on certain groups of members leaves others out. Jesus accepted all who genuinely came to him. Review James!

    Just a few thoughts. YMMV.

    • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/artiedavis61 ArtieDavis

      My man Buddy, the "Jedi Knight" speaks much truth, thanks ole friend!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JCDude JCDude

    Whew that's good…thanks for the perspective bro'

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks JC! Really appreciate you stopping by!

  • Cleve Walker

    Great observations. It just goes to show that Kingdom principles really are true in every situation…even so called "secular" situations. I say so called because I believe it is wrong to put artificial divisions between "church life" and social or business situations. Any thing that a believer is involved in should be considered a holy vocation therefore the principles that describe a healthy business should also apply to a healthy church.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      The TRUTH is the TRUTH. No matter what the context! Thanks home town man Cleve!

  • http://www.steve.typepad.com Steve Fogg

    I’d include a sixth and seventh sign.

    6) No one in your community has heard of you. Or to put it another way, if your church closed tomorrow would it be missed?

    7) In our culture in eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia another sign would be your community after a service sucks, eg you give em instant coffee when they could have a latte after the service. You don’t talk to ppl you don’t know.

    Great Post Artie!

  • http://twitter.com/artiedavis/status/20155020695576576/ Artie Davis (@artiedavis) (@artiedavis)

    5-Signs your church might SUCK! http://is.gd/jId9t

  • http://www.bloggingtheologically.com Aaron Armstrong

    Enjoyed these observations, Artie.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks Aaron, really appreciate you dropping by

  • http://allyugadawg.tumblr.com/ allyugadawg

    First, i need to confess i almost got all judgmental on you when i saw the tweet "5 signs your church might SUCK" thinking it was probably another mega church parishioner putting down smaller churches. Clearly i was wrong. Forgive me please.

    Excellent post that really has me thinking about my part in all 5 areas of my church. I’m not a church leader by any means, but i am a church worker & member. And as such, i need to be mindful of the role God has for me in His Kingdom.

    Such a great post-thank you!!

    • Anonymous

      Thanks Ally, really appreciate your honesty and adding to the conversation. Blessings!