A well-seasoned, self-confessed “church addict” who has tasted both the joy and pain of being a church pastor recently completed a humorous yet painfully honest book on the ten most common mistakes pastors make that keep their churches from growing.
Pastor Geoff Surratt, who had pastored a small, rural church with under 100 members and is now part of a megachurch with over 10,000 attendees on a given Sunday, shares his insight in his latest book Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing.
Before diving into the top 10 mistakes, Surratt made sure to clarify that the purpose of the book is not to point out the flaws of fellow pastors, but to offer them perspective on what could be hindering their churches from growing.
“I want to be that friend … the one willing to point out the unzipped zipper, the broccoli between the teeth, the glaring mistake that others can’t or won’t bring to the struggling pastor’s attention,” Surratt offers.
But why is he qualified to “point out other people’s mistakes,” readers may ask.
Because he has committed all ten of the mistakes highlighted in the book, he readily admits.
“My role is not brilliant guru bringing down wisdom from the mountain, but rather experienced fellow traveler,” Surratt says. “When I point the ‘stupid finger’ at you, three fingers are pointing back at me.”
Out of the 10 mistakes he covers, the most common and the first to be addressed in the book is “Trying to Do it All.”
A comical quote at the bottom of the chapter page cleverly conveys the problem that pastors often find themselves in: “Just because I’m the janitor doesn’t mean I can’t perform your wedding.”
“Pastors tend to default to doing everything themselves rather than working through people in the congregation,” Surratt explained to The Christian Post. “They take on a lot of different hats and wind up overworked and underproductive because of that.”
When Surratt was the pastor at Church on the Lake in Texas, a small church with less than 50 people when he took over, he was simultaneously the head pastor, Sunday school teacher, bookkeeper, worship director, administrative assistant, groundskeeper, maintenance man, and janitor for a time.
“As I look back on my time at Church on the Lake, I can’t help but wonder what I was thinking,” Surratt confesses. “Trying to do all (or most) of the work themselves is the number one stupid thing pastors and leaders do that inhibits their church from growing.”
Not far behind is stupid mistake No. 2 - “establishing the wrong role for the pastor’s family.”
The pastor’s wife, Surratt highlights, often picks up odd jobs around the church that no one wants or that haven’t been filled. Too often, the pastor in “pursuing God’s vision” will put ministry before his family and without asking for his wife’s opinion will dump church work on her.
A subheading in the chapter called, “How to Destroy Your Family,” lists five “stupid ways” a pastor or ministry leader can destroy their family while chasing after God’s vision for the ministry.
Throughout the book, Surratt reveals intimate details about how his “destructive path of ministry” nearly ended his marriage. But at what he calls the lowest point in his marriage, the two were able to rebuild their relationship and it has become progressively better over time, Surratt says. Continue >>
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I think there may be an 11th.... The bad jokes told from the pulpit.... :-)
Oh I recognize the Pope alright. How can you miss someone who wears a tall funny looking hat?
A friend of mine posted on his facebook page...
Jews don't recognize Christ.
Protestants don't recognize the Pope.
Baptists don't recognize each other in the liquor store...
Now there's humor with a point!!!
*groan*
I had a Bible college prof that told us about David's motorcycle. He explained that David's Triumph was heard throughout the land.... Talk about loud mufflers....
DP,
I'm waiting for the punch line...
Daniel,
You're driving me crazy! It would be best if I steered clear of you for a while. I'm gonna head back to the hood, yo!
Do keep track of how many of them go "huh???". That's where all the fun is. :D
You did know that King David had a motorcycle....
DP: That was LOLOLOLOL! I'm gonna call all the students in my Greek class in college and use that one! :)
Why are you treading on me? Someone else has already accused you of being over inflated! I thought it was a little low. If you follow that up enough you would be shocked....
Face it...puns are where the rubber meets the road. :-)
Oy. You auto be ashamed of yourself. You know I'm growing "tired" of these puns. LOL.
"one accord" greek = "honda"
salt,
It is truth.
Forgiven,
You said "In Acts 20 Paul calls the elders of the church at Ephesus to him. Paul then charges them to "take heed to yourselves and all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Paul continues to say the same elders "To shepherd the church".
That does not necessitate that bishops and elders and pastors are the same thing. It could be that the elders were doing the work of a pastor or bishop (or vice versa) due to lack of qualified people or because that is their calling. I know a number of pastors who are prophets (or is it prophets who are pastors?) Either way, we see that prophets and pastors are not the same thing, but that God sometimes uses them together. I have seen that the office of prophet and evangelist a lot of times go hand in hand. It doens't mean they are the same thing. I've seen evagelist/teachers and pastor/teachers and apostle/pastors. Though used together they are still different offices and different anointings.
weekend,
Pardon my terseness, but that is a really stupid question. How about this....
Where does it say that pastors are are among the Church past the time of the early Christian church? I don't see that in my Greek New Testament.
Or prophets, teachers, evangelists. What I am getting from you is a preconceived religious indoctrination that has no merit. Such as the saying "prophets don't call themselves prophets" even though Isaiah did, as well as Jesus Himself. Such false indoctrination is what ends up leading people where they shouldn't go. Don't read into the Bible that which is not there. Because everything in the New Testament could be argued that it was only for the people of that time.
"Here's the only reason that church's don't grow.
1. Not preaching and teaching the whole Word of God. "
I know plenty of churches that preach and teach the whole Word of God that do not grow. The problem comes in that they don't live it. Faith without works is dead.
teddy, genuine spiritual growth yes, but if that were to occur in some churches it may very well cause them to lose numbers, but I believe God's desire is genuine growth and not numerical growth. But there is a high probability that genuine spiritual growth will lead to numerical growth.
Here's the only reason that church's don't grow.
1. Not preaching and teaching the whole Word of God.
But I think there is a difference between and apostle and the Apostles. The Apostles were limited to those initial 12 men who Christ handpicked to be His Apostles and then Paul whom He called on the Damascus Road and their are some who question as to whether or not Matthias was genuinely called of God to be one of the Apostles. What all these men had in common was they had a direct physical encounter with Jesus Christ and they were specifically called of God to the position of Apostle with once again the possible exception of Matthias.
From Strong's Concordance, apostolos from G649, a delegate, specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Jesus Christ("apostle")(with miraculous powers):-apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
Prophet: And where in the Greek does it say that Apostles are among the Church past the time of the early Christian church? I don't see that in my Greek New Testament.
weekend,
I looked at the Greek translation.
Prophet: Where in Scripture do you find your definition of "Apostle"?
psst. im was being sacrcastic by the way. just didnt want anyone to think i was a heathen.
salty,
hey! that was supposed to be a secret! you want everyone to give everything? next thing you know people will start getting a conscience. then heaven will be overcrowded. and not to mention what this world would be like if christians actually did give all of themselves to God. all the love and unity. gives me the heebee jeebies just thinking about it.
nololady,
I agree. I remember when our church wanted to get rid of our 'beloved' organ in exchange for a keyboard. You should have seen the controversy that created! Oy! But we still mix hymns in with our more contemporary music as well. And I do love some of those hymns. My favorite is "In The Garden".
Jester: LOL! I love your list. I would make a couple of revisions. I would change 2) to lack of giving, but in reality there is a lot that can be done to reach people even with a lack of money, but if people don't have a giving heart, forget it.
Also, right after "too much open-mindedness" I would add "too much close-mindedness" which is partly why some churches will only do hymns from hundreds of years ago. In order to make room for that one, the church can keep the hymns. I went to a church for a while that always started worship with an old hymn and every song afterward was a mix of more modern songs.
Prophet wrote: "Apostles merely means "one who is sent" or "ambassador". Who are our apostles today? We call them "missionaries"."
Yes, this is how I understand this, also.
Although, some think of the miraculous gifts the first Apostles/second had when they hear apostles.
Prophet wrote: "Yes, since they were called bishops, I just figured he was talking about bishops. Otherwise the word "elder" would have been used."
In Acts 20 Paul calls the elders of the church at Ephesus to him. Paul then charges them to "take heed to yourselves and all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Paul continues to say the same elders "To shepherd the church".
Also in 1 Peter, he writes; "The elders who are among you I exhort...Shepherd the flock...serving as overseers.
All three greek words are used to describe the eldership. I do not see any distinction in the NT between an elder, bishop or shepherd.
Titus uses the term bishop as meant for overseer seems to continue the teachings of elders being overseers and shepherds.
jester,
I like your list. LOL. The first one says it all though. What is the figures on how many Christians are proactively witnessing? Probably around 1%? God didn't tell us to make wonderfully engaging programs that make Christianity more "fun", so that people will want to come to our church. God told us to go to the world and make disciples. You want a fun church? Fast and pray and ask God to have a move in your church that will leave the world in awe of His glory! Then people will want to stay. Unfortunately, the church is dead. It's stagnant. It's lost it's savor.
Getting rid of hymns wouldn't hurt either. LOL. Just kidding.
heres my list of 10 stupid things that keep churches from growing
1. lack of witnessing
2. lack of money
3. lack of intelligence
4. lack of spirituality
5. lack of love
6. too much gossip
7. too much open-mindedness
8. too much back-biting
9. not enough unity
10. hymns
To expound on the subject of apostles. Apostles merely means "one who is sent" or "ambassador". Who are our apostles today? We call them "missionaries". I know that will get the RCC in an uproar. They think that apostles hold some highly esteemed position as being special. No, they are just one of the five tools that God uses. In a way, they are special though, in that they are the ones entrusted to bring the Gospel to those who have not yet heard, and to establish churches in those places. And, true, they were the first to be utilized. But that's a no-brainer. Of course they were first (actually, second. prophets were around before apostles, but that's not the point). Apostles were the ones that Jesus sent to the unsaved and to foreign countries. And since there were no churches in those countries at the time, there could be no preacher, teacher, or evangelists....could there.
Apostles are no more revered than pastors or evangelists. Take away one of the five-fold ministries and you're left with an incomplete church.
Forgiven,
"I do not like to assume, but am I to assume you see Titus as referring to bishops not elders?"
Yes, since they were called bishops, I just figured he was talking about bishops. Otherwise the word "elder" would have been used.
weekend,
"Care to share the names of any modern-day Apostles, Prophet? I'd like to see the Scriptural reference where they got their "training."
Thanks in advance for the biblical names."
They get their training from the same place that pastors, prophets, evangelists and teachers get their training. From the church and from fellow apostles. Since there is no scriptural reference as to where any of these ministries received their training, we can only surmise.
FSNL,
Forgive me, but I am not sure what you trying to say...are you expounding on a thought that came to you or are you suggesting I have believed a lie?
My comment was to the necessity of fellowship on both the smaller and larger scope, both having emense benefits.
Prophet,
I do not like to assume, but am I to assume you see Titus as referring to bishops not elders?
Acts 20 Paul calls the Ephesian elders to him and refers to them as overseers and tells them to sheperd.
As I read Acts, on the day of Pentecost 3000 new believers (and those being added day by day after that) were in need of teaching and training before they could adaquately go back to home lands and estsablish churches. These folks not only were in need of training and teaching, but they were in need of food, clothing and shelter. Although, they were meeting from house to house, they were also meeting in the temple, a much larger setting to accomandate more believers together in one place. Both a vital necessity for the building up of the body.
Hello weekender
Concerning the Ephesian 4 ministries (apostles, prophets etc..) as a pattern for church growth and planting try the organization New Frontiers International based in England but involved in churches across the world, here's the home page see what you think of the leadership part...
http://www.newfrontiers.xtn.org/
BW
Steve
saltnlight: You are a very fortunate man.
No, I am a very fortunate woman.
Reading through all ths "advice" seems so out of place for our congregation, and I think I understand why. The first paragraphs attach the author to a megachurch of 10,000 members. I belong to a "meager-church" of 600-700 souls. We haven't changed location (and are in the middle of nowhere), offer everything we can with what little we got, and, oh yes, preach the same message of forgiveness and peace in Christ for what seems like generations.
Smyrna deja vu.
Care to share the names of any modern-day Apostles, Prophet? I'd like to see the Scriptural reference where they got their "training."
Thanks in advance for the biblical names.
There are apostles even today.
forsaltnlight: Agreed. No scriptures after the book of Revelation, but not all Apostles wrote scripture and I think Luke is the only writer of the NT who was not an apostle. But, Luke wrote more like a historian.
1) 1 Peter 5:1-2
To the elders among you, (then calls himself a fellow Elder) .... be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care serving as overseers.
2) forsaltnlight: you said "Apostles were appointed by Jesus while on earth. All were appointed, with the exception of the Apostle Paul, before His ascension."
Barnabas, Junias, Andronicus are all called apostles. A less direct reference is that both Thessalonians starts off as coming from Paul, Silvanus(Silas), and Timothy. everything is we, we, we 2 Thessalonians 2:6 "6nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ WE might have asserted our authority.
So, clearly not all apostles, except Paul, were appointed before the ascension of Jesus
salt,
I hear that. I, too, believe that that day is not too far off.
In Titus I see no reference to elders.
Same with Ephesians.
From what I've gleaned from a number of different sources, the first century church didn't meet in a church building like we do today. They met in homes. Each "house church" had a pastor and elders. The pastor ministered the Word, and the elders also helped in that as well as helping with the adminstrative duties. Each city had a bishop that oversaw all the "house churches" who had the responsibility of maintaining the purity of the Scriptures in those "house churches".
Hi fsnl,
Snuck right in there. ;-)
Well, Paul calls for the Ephesians elders and then calls them overseers and then tells them to shepherd in Acts.
Paul then refers to elders as overseers in Titus.
In 1 Peter, Peter refers to the elders as Shepherds and overseers.
" episkopos" is the greek word for bishop.
No, pastor, elder, and bishop are different offices. But I would like to know how you come to the conclusion that they are the same.
Prophet wrote: "Pastor "poimen" shepherd, pastor
Elder "presbuteros" the order of elders, or presbytery. Taken from "presbeuo" a representative, an ambassador."
Also, episkopos meaning overseer.
Aren't these terms all basically referring to the same ministry/office?
Forgiven,
You said "Wouldn't the reference to pastor be elder?"
Pastor "poimen" shepherd, pastor
Elder "presbuteros" the order of elders, or presbytery. Taken from "presbeuo" a representative, an ambassador.
"It sounds like the only part that is lacking is you doing it."
Saltnlight: In organized religion it means showing up every Sunday and wed. night. If your not in "church" then your backslid and hell bound. I am very fortunate to work in an office with the majority of coworkers being like minded believers. Most still attend "church" every Sunday & wed night.They know me, pray for me, support me, and I do the same for them. So for me my coworkers are my church. We have some of the best discussions and learn from each other. We lift one another and even disagree in love. Because we are friends, and I know they love me for me I have all the good of the church with very little of the back biting that goes on. Hope this answers your question.
nolalady,
I think you may be addressing me? I think it depends on if we're talking miracous gifts or gifts according to each's faith? The Apostles by way of laying on hands imparted gifts to those that did not have the ability to pass to anyone else.
If you really want to know how to have a First Century church in the Twenty First Century, check out "ALL THINGS NEW" by John H. Boyd. Google it!
forsaltnlight: Just curious what is your understanding in the Word of God that apostles were only in the first century. I do think that the issue is not so cut and dry as you say. I also wonder what special gifts you are talking about are no longer with us. Since in many places the discussion of gifts was spoken of in terms of the larger body and not just the Apostles.
fsnl wrote: " My Mom is a Pentecostal,"
My mom is an atheist, now that's a tough room to be in! ;-)
shooter, everything that I said is 100% scripture, supporting by multiple places throughout the bible, not just one Scripture here and there taken out of context. However, if I am slammed because I am scripturally wrong then I have no problem with that. The only thing I think I could possible be slammed on is the fact that I am a woman speaking to men, but I am speaking under the authority and biblically sound teaching of my pastor husband.
shooter,
No giving or throwing, just curious to what you believe "not forsaking the assembling" is referring to? means?
Nicely done, nolalady.
We do understand, though, that the Apostles in the first century church were a rare group of Apostles no longer with us today with such special gifts.
nolalady: Thank you,thank you, thank you. beautifully said, but you know your going to get slammed don't you?
The people in the pew are just as guilty as is the pastors. People want to put the pastor on a pedestal and many pastors like being up there. I spent 20 years in organized religion and found trouble on both sides. In one particular church there was a dominate family who ran everything and ran out more than one pastor, one because he had adopted children. This is a small town and I think half the people in it have been in and back out of this church. I tried more than one church and more than one denomination. Then I just gave up because they're pretty much all alike. Now please don't give me the "forsake not the assemblage" I've heard it all before and Please don't tell me to get right with God I've had that thrown at me already too. I am probably more right with God now than I ever was while in the "church"
forsaltnlight: apostle simple means one who is sent out. The apostles at the time of Paul didn't all have the same gifts as Paul. There are apostles referenced in the NT that did not write Scripture. Barnabas is named as an apostle in Acts 14. Apostles are like missionaries today. They were sent out, preached the gospel and established churches by appointing pastors (pastor, elder, biship, are all the same office) The word pastor is only used once in the NT. If the apostle stayed in that area, he became one of the elders. Elders is ALWAYS used in the plural in the NT (except when referring to a particular person ie. Paul, an apostle...), particularly when decisions were made. There is also no references to churches in a city. It is the church of a city, that was overseen by elders making decisions together. When a church was established, the elders then "sent out" MEN IN PAIRS to establish churches. But today people use all of these terms in ridiculous, unscriptural ways.
I want to add to my post just so no one misunderstands. The word is still a critical part of raising disciples. I am just saying that it is one of many parts in a whole process.
I don't think this Pastor is saying that you have to grow a megachurch. You could also say that these principles can help an existing congregation grow spiritually as well. Getting more people involved in leading, making sure your family is strong are basic principles that should be strong. I hear where he is coming from having led projects and other activities in my church community as well. It is not that they want to take everything upon themselves but usually young leaders don't know how to fully get the help of the people around them. Any experienced leader will testify to this. It takes being knocked over the head one day that being the leader does not mean doing all the work. As simple as it sounds it is actually more difficult to figure out unless you experience it. Also to be saying that just preaching the word is enough is not totally correct. As controversial as that may sound we are not just trying to save lives but we are also trying to make disciples. To be perfectly honest because we all have flaws and sin the word doesn't motivate some people to do everything. Actually people who are young in faith take offense from the word when you try to point out what they should be doing but when you put them in a place of responsibility they learn to see things from a different perspective. The holy spirit teaches them not the Pastor or leader that they are following. Arrogance has a way of creeping in and making us think we are better than others. This is actually a big headache for many leaders to deal with. The obvious answer you would think would be to remove them but by grace we are all here so it takes patience. Through suffering we learn. I can tell this Pastor has been through a lot and there is definitely wisdom in what he is saying.
arrogant selfrighteous christians who behaves like pharisees
lovers of money
hypocrisy
experts in the law
no relationship skills with other christians
they are obstacles to understanding, knowledge & wisdom
quick to accuse others of sin / associates everything to sin
no practical application
no self control, arrogant, big mouth christians / pastors
that is why christians leave this kind of church
cowboy wrote: "They want experience over doctrine."
Unfortunately, this is a real danger.
Prophet wrote: "No offense, but I don't see Paul saying much about elders there. Is he wrong?"
Wouldn't the reference to pastor be elder?
If you are preaching a pure gospel message, you will never have a large congregation. They don't want to be taught the word of God. They want rock concerts with a few verses being read. They want experience over doctrine. People are scared to preach grace because they think if they don't preach guilt, baptism, tithing etc nobody will show up and they can't pay the extreme salaries or pay for the van to cart the kids around to "mission trips" or get their parents to join the choir. Preach the true gospel of grace. That's what will keep them coming back.
Why is it everytime you guys do a story on "Small" churches you focus on what must be 'wrong' with them? In Paul's day there were both large and small churches, but Paul wasn't going around doing church growth seminars, he was preaching the gospel, encouraging leaders and confronting sin...in the larger fellowships (See 1st & 2nd Corinthians). Argably there are both large and small churches who do it right and do it wrong, but your bias toward "small' churches shows you really need to get out and attend a few smaller churches who are doing it right, and stop bashing Pastors and people who are doing nothing wrong.
while chasing after God's vision for the ministry....
This is always on my mind when I listen to my evengelical friends.... It it God's vision or simply this man's vision? Did God really commissioin this man, or is this man just trying to carve out a living for himself? Why would God want yet another tiny tiny little church on the corner that doesn't worhip in the way forshadowed by Malichi 1:11?
Then I wonder about "megachurches", why do they always brag about thier numbers, it seems like that is soooo inportant to them. Just curious.
while chasing after God’s vision for the ministry....
When I listen to my evelgelical friends, I always have one nagging question...I always wonder if it really God's vision or a man's vision? These little churches on the corner? Wouldn't God want unity?
Lately I always wonder.... why do the "megachurches" always need to brag about their numbers? It seems to be sooooo important to them. Just curious?
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..."
No offense, but I don't see Paul saying much about elders there. Is he wrong?
I'm with Lady on this one. The New Testament never describes a singular pastor leading over a church, but rather a group of elders doing the pastoring of a local assembly.
Hello Lady Jeelys,
I don't think that the article was trying to list all the things that can keep a church from growing, just 10 ones that this pastor has found have hurt a church. It isn't an all inclusive list. I am a pastor and I can share with you that the pastor has tremendous authority in the spiritual realm over his church, and his decisions will have a tremendous effect on the spiritual health of the church. God is truly gentle with us, and will not usually force in to an environment that grieves His heart or steals His glory, and the pastor should be the person most influential in establishing what the environment of the church is. I and my elders desire nothing greater for our church than that the Holy Spirit be manifest in it and lead it, and we are very comfortable abandoning a worship set or planned teaching if God starts doing something different. But, there has to be that willingness. I know that if things are great between my wife and I it is very difficult for me to study or minister or hear God's voice, and that affects not just me, but everything I have authority over in the physical and spiritual realm. So, protecting the pastor's family is very important. At any rate, I sure didn't take the article wrong at all. I feel like it was just a man sharing what he has learned the hard way so that people like me don't have to relearn it. Iron sharpens iron, and Godly brothers and sisters can counsel wisely. I value counsel and advice like this as I seek the heart of God for our church and seek to let it be His church and not mine in the truest sense of the word.
Doesn't it seem a bit odd that an article about what keeps churches from growing is ALL about pastors? The pastor isn't the church and the church isn't the pastor. Perhaps instead of pastors "working though others" a better option might be to left the church follow the Holy Spirit who gives us more than just a pastor to equip us all for maturity.
I mean, seriously, it just seems a bit squiffy that a pastor would want the Holy Spirit's job so that he or she can "work through others".
I'm not a pastor, but I do know that we demand a lot out our pastors and don't support them enough. They're the ones in the trenches and they are the ones the community looks to when a crisis pops up. If Christians aren't praying regularly for their pastors and staff, then stop what you're doing now and pray for them, then commit to praying for them and send along an encouraging word, card, phone-call, email or something. Get off you hiney and get on those knees you warriors.