The tension is clear.
Church leaders are working hard, leading smart, and praying much. Then look out on a Sunday morning and see so many empty chairs.
We read the book of Acts and see thousands being saved and wonder what is the missing variable?
We know that healthy church growth isn’t a plug and play corporate formula. It’s a divine partnership between God and us, and the Holy Spirit plays a significant role.
We know the Holy Spirit brings supernatural favor and power. He comforts souls, convicts hearts and breathes life into our weekend services.
But the moment things get practical and pressure rises, that relationship gets fuzzy. How does it work?
How much of healthy church growth is God’s favor and how much of it is your leadership?
Some would say that it’s all up to God. The power of the Holy Spirit is everything. We pray and do ministry, and growth is all about God’s favor and sovereign design.
Others believe God has given gifts and abilities and that we are responsible for using those gifts, learning from others, and remaining diligent in our work. Then God adds His favor to our leadership as we pray.
It’s easy to say there is a mix of the two, but where do you stand on this issue? What is your leaning?
It’s a weighty question, and knowing your bias is important because that shapes how you approach God’s mission.
Let’s look at the extremes.
Neither of these two extremes will accurately represent you, but they give you an opportunity to think about where you land.
In one extreme there are leaders who attempt to “muscle” their church forward. They literally work so hard that they push the ball down the field by brute ministry force. They strive to essentially “make it happen.”
That can grow a church. The downside is that the results don’t usually last, and ultimately that’s an unhealthy approach. The moment you let off the gas, the growth begins to fall off. This leads to the larger question, is that truly God’s design?
On the other extreme, there are leaders who attempt to “miracle” their church forward. They essentially spiritualize everything to the point that it doesn’t seem to matter how much is done by the leaders. God provides all the blessing, and that’s it.
That can grow a church too. (God can do as He pleases.) The downside is that there seems to be little equipping and development of leadership to utilize and multiply the gifts God has given. And the big question is now, when a church doesn’t grow, is that God’s fault? Or was that His sovereign choice?
Let’s get closer to boots on the ground. You’re in a meeting.
What is your approach?
- Design a plan and ask God to bless it?
- Pray and ask God to help you design a plan?
I can’t explain the intricate nuances of how it all works, but this post offers a helpful platformfor thought and meaningful conversation that leads to clarity. Ultimately, leading to church growth through biblical, trustworthy and consistent leadership.
3 elements in the relationship between the Holy Spirit and church growth:
1) God’s Favor and Our Fervor
Nothing of eternal value happens without God’s presence and power, but He chose us to carry out His Kingdom purpose.
The apostle Paul certainly didn’t lack fervor, but he consistently acknowledged God’s power.
One clear way you can know the presence of God’s favor is when the Kingdom outcome exceeds your leadership effort. You give it your all, but the results far exceed your human energy. This is the opposite of attempting to “muscle” your church forward.
Another way to say it is that Spirit energy exceeds sweat equity, but you need both.
God’s favor on your church adds his kindness, power, and blessing to your leadership.
The evidence of leadership fervor is demonstrated through your hard work, dedication, and perseverance. And your passion fuels your calling.
God’s power multiplies the outcome.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8
It is clear that the power comes from the Holy Spirit, not us. However, with that power, there is still much to do. That power was given to us for a reason. We are to be “witnesses” both locally and globally to lift up the name of Jesus.
We do our part and God does what only He can do.
2) God’s Kingdom and Our Responsibility
It’s God’s Kingdom, but we are still accountable to steward our gifts and calling for His purpose.
There is an interesting personality and leadership style difference that impacts how this plays out.
Most of us tend to either over-lead or under-lead – even if just a little.
Over-Lead – Overstepping your authority. This comes from a high-drive mindset to take new territory. You have no problem making fast decisions or taking the reins if things aren’t moving quickly enough. This can be too much.
Under-lead – Holding back your authority. This comes from a high-trust or highly relational mindset. You intentionally give people space, choose not to pull rank, and prefer consensus. This can be too little.
This interesting (and subjective) contrast influences how we intuitively lead. One leader might unintentionally insert their vision over God’s and the other may surrender personal leadership responsibility.
One needs to step back reflect and the other needs to step up and lead.
As church leaders we have been empowered with God’s authority to fully engage in His plan. We have been loaned Kingdom authority (Matthew 28:16-20) to realize changed lives. While nothing about the church belongs to us, we are fully empowered to lead by taking “ownership” level responsibility. We are responsible for leading with love, passion and commitment; and to take full responsibility of our calling.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.
Matthew 6:9-10
3) God’s Sovereignty and Our Contentment
Numbers matter, but they don’t tell the whole story. If our contentment is tied to metrics, we’ll be persistently discouraged.
As a leader it took me a long time to get a grasp of the difference between being a content person and being a satisfied leader.
Scripture calls me to be content, but I was never really satisfied as a leader because there was always more territory to be taken. That didn’t make sense to me, (it felt like I wasn’t content) until I understood that contentment was internal and satisfied was external.
Both contentment and satisfaction are highly connected to how we measure. The fact that one is internal and one is external causes a unique tension.
When it comes to the measurement of church growth, we can become disillusioned without a clear biblical understanding church growth.
Your New Testament theology of church growth and God’s part in this divine partnership can make the difference of whether you sleep peacefully or carry the burden yourself. It shapes your leadership.
My New Testament theology on church growth:
- The church is designed to grow; this is central to God’s purpose.
- We do not decide how large our church will become, God does.
- There will be problems and pressures equal to the progress. (There is always a price for Kingdom progress. Jesus established that on the cross.)
Does church growth matter? Of course, it does, so let’s not pretend we don’t care. But ultimately, God measures by one soul at a time; it’s all about a changed life.
That’s why Jesus gave His life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
