The speaker yesterday said that every single church is either

__ Growing

or

__ Sick

__ Dying

or

__ Dead

Is it that simple?

9 Responses to “Growing, Sick, Dying or Dead?”

1. thurman8er says:

   November 7, 2008 at 10:00 am

   I doubt it. How did the speaker define “growing?” By number? By maturity? By good works?
2. ike.graul says:

   November 7, 2008 at 11:11 am

   I’m sure the speaker has the best of intentions, but I probably wouldn’t want anyone diagnosing my wife in such oversimplified terms. I imagine Jesus might not either.
3. Clif Ditmore says:

   November 7, 2008 at 12:07 pm

   No, it’s not that simple. I too, need to know what he means by “grow.” Most church growth “experts” mean growing in numbers.They hang everything on numbers. I used to think the same way. Now, I no longer believe you have to be growing in numbers to be growing. You can be growing spiritually and doing more mission work, teaching more classes to grow members spiritually,contributions can be growing, etc. This may go on for some time before the numbers start to grow–but they will grow. But just because it isn’t happening right now shouldn’t be a sign of sickness or death. Soldier on! (By the way, I am retired. I am not trying to defend lack of growth)
4. TC says:

   November 7, 2008 at 1:48 pm

   Many of these points are brought out in John’s obversation of each church given a letter in Revelation. I’ve often thought how does our small congeration fit into each letters message. What a journey we’ve been on for the past 12 years. I don’t think it’s quite so simple……..
5. wfma says:

   November 7, 2008 at 2:12 pm

   For humans, growth is an important component of aging, and aging eventually leads to our inevitable death. growth = death
   In theory the speaker was correct.
6. Meowmix says:

   November 8, 2008 at 8:07 am

   I don’t like categorizations. Much of this would depend on one’s perspective, I think. No, I don’t think it’s that simple.
7. rickantioch says:

   November 8, 2008 at 9:59 pm

   Nothing is ever that simple… especially if you you have coffee in your hands.
8. l.marie.d says:

   November 9, 2008 at 4:24 pm

   all the above at the same time?.. going with the ‘ugh’ to the oversimplification, in this case it isn’t terribly clever.

   but it should call to mind that we are a living breathing organism.
9. Brady says:

   November 10, 2008 at 7:10 am

   It mainly depends on if I’m the one doing that sermon. If that’s the case, it’s that simple.
   Do not be discouraged (said mr discouraged). People are being changed. Jesus’ words are alive when they are presented in love, enduring, believing, excusing.