Shouldn’t Every Church Try To Grow? (The Quick Answer Is “No”)

Nowhere did Jesus, Paul, or any of the disciples even hint that striving for greater numbers should be a goal of Jesus’ followers.

The question in the title happens so often I’ve come to expect it.

When it’s time for the Q & A at the end of a talk about the value of small churches, someone will ask “but shouldn’t every church try to grow?”

For many years I responded with “of course, but…”

My answer is much more simple, controversial, and monosyllabic now.

“No.”

The room goes quiet. Maybe there’s an uncomfortable chuckle or two. They’re sure I’m about to back off my answer with an “I’m kidding” or a “not always.”

But I let that two-letter word sit in the silence, first.


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What Should We Try To Do Instead?

“No, our churches shouldn’t try to grow,” I explain as the air comes back into the room.

“Churches should try to honor God through worship, strengthen relationships through fellowship, go deeper through discipleship, help the needy through acts of kindness, and reach the community through evangelism.

“If there is also numerical growth, we should be ready for it, adapt to it, and restructure for it. But I’ve come to believe we shouldn’t try to grow.”

I’m not critical of those who ask the question. For years I asked it, myself. And it’s such a common theme in church growth circles that it’s hard not to think along the lines of numerical growth as the goal of every faithful pastor and church.

But numerical growth is never seen as a goal in the New Testament. Nowhere did Jesus, Paul, or any of the disciples even hint that striving for greater numbers should be a goal of Jesus’ followers.

Sure, it’s possible to read numerical growth into the New Testament text, but it doesn’t come naturally from the text.

Numerical growth is a wonderful byproduct of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism, but it’s a terrible goal. A fine servant, but a harsh taskmaster.



Jesus Grows It When We Make Disciples

Certainly, over the last 2,000 years the church has seen massive numerical increase. In many places today, there are levels of church growth that are astonishing.

But historically, every genuine move of God that produced numerical increase was the result of churches trying to honor God by going deeper, not because they were trying to get bigger.

Conversely, we all know of far too many examples of pastors and churches whose obsession with growing larger has caused them to compromise on the very principles the church should be standing for.

In short, trying to grow doesn’t bring lasting growth. Making disciples does.

So, no. The church should not be trying to grow. After all, Jesus didn’t tell us to grow his church. He said he would build it. And he has.

Jesus will grow his church when we make disciples.

Faithfulness to the process is our calling. The results belong to Jesus.


(Photo by woodleywonderworks | Flickr)

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