Growth Barriers

1. When it comes to moving a church forward, being proactive is the name of the game. You have to make a decision right now not to let your church or ministry get stuck at any point. 
a. We must learn to adjust when needed so we can move through growth barriers.

2. We must ask ourselves the right questions to stay on course.
a. In his book, “The Purpose Driven Church”, Rick Warren explains the right and wrong questions to ask in dealing with growth.
i. The wrong question:  How do I get my church or ministry to grow?  Starting with this question can lead to wrong, even dangerous, conclusions.  Here is a tip that will take a lot of pressure off of you.  

1. You are not supposed to grow your ministry.  You make bad decisions when you think that the growth is completely dependent on what you do or don’t do. Such a mind-set often leads to trying to grow a church at any cost.  If you find yourself slipping into that kind of thinking, re-examine your priorities. Remember why you became a minister.

ii. The Right Question:  What is keeping the church or ministry from growing?  

1. Healthy organisms grow, and that includes our church.

2. If there is stagnation setting in, our job is to identify the barriers and remove them.

3. The question is supported by making two important decisions.
a. First, God wants to grow our church.  

Matthew 16:18 we must know without a doubt that it is God’s will for us to continue to grow, thereby expanding his kingdom.

i. 2 Peter 3:9 God is being patient for mans sake.  He doesn’t want any to perish.
ii. God is on our side.
iii. As we grow criticism will come. “Jealously."

b. Second decision is that we want to see our church and ministries grow.
i. If thinking about the next phase drains you, be encouraged!  God will not give us vision without supplying what we need to fulfill it. 
ii. We are not to give out before his job is completed.

c. As a leader I am saying, “Whatever it takes!” Whatever it takes within God’s will.
i. That’s why He called us!
ii. Knowing in our hearts that both God and us want the church to grow, nothing can stop us.

4. Some barriers we must contend with.
a. Space:  (share space)
i. We just can’t keep packing them in. 
b. Self-development.
i. A ministry or church cannot outgrow its leader.
ii. In the book "21 irrefutable laws of leadership", John Maxwell defines the Law of the Lid.
iii. When the lead pastor isn’t growing.

1. The church stops growing, when ministry gets stale, and/or the staff and volunteers stop growing.  The passion for ministry wanes.
iv. Have a plan for praying, studying the word, reading good books, attending conferences, and having great friends to call upon.
v. Become the best possible leader you can be.