In Preaching Articles: "Barriers To Growth"

Why Was I So Hard On That Church I Visited?

By Karl Vaters on Jul 1, 2022

How might a newcomer view your church? What barriers may they face? What obstacles could be unintentionally in the way of them connecting and finding a place to belong?

Tags: Leadership, leadership, Visitors, church ministry, Welcoming Others  (view more)  (view less)

Leadership And Church Size Dynamics

By Tim Keller on Jan 2, 2025

Tim Keller explores one of the most talked-about church issues: the relationship of size to church health and culture.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:9-11, Jeremiah 23:16, Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:22, Matthew 22:29, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, Malachi 2:1-17, Isaiah 33:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, size, Leadership General, Pastor, Leadership, church  (view more)  (view less)

Five Strategic Advantages Of Small Churches

By Brandon O'brien on Feb 13, 2024

Brandon O'Brien offers five strengths that he believes are inherent in small congregations, which can leverage these characteristics for ministry success.

Tags: Church, Growth, pastor, Church Growth, Health, Small Church, Church General, Pastor, church  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Leading The Church You’d Want To Attend?

By Bill Couchenour on Jan 24, 2024

Relationships are more important to church growth than preaching, media or music. How are yours?

Tags: Building, Preaching, relationships, lead, Leadership General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

11 Types Of Healthy Churches That Often Stay Small

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 4, 2025

Many types of churches fulfill the Great Commission without seeing their own numerical growth.

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1-31

Tags: Preaching, preaching

A Renewed Mind: The Practice Of Humble Thought

By Robert A. Fryling on Jan 3, 2025

Robert Fryling explores the human mind as a vital partner to the body and spirit in spiritual growth and renewal.

Scripture: Luke 10:27, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 14:15, 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Peter 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thought, Humility, Preaching, pastor, devotion, original sin, Mind, Christian Disciplines, Pastor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Art Of Creating Change In Your Church

By John Bisagno on Aug 6, 2024

Are you making ministry changes according to the latest "church growth" fads or the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

Tags:

Backyard Bbq Evangelism: A New, True Parable Of Outside-The-Church-Walls Ministry

By Karl Vaters on Sep 28, 2022

"Don't force people to do ministry your way. Help them with the ministry they're already passionate about."

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Spiritual Gifts, Body of Christ, evangelism, Innovation, evangelism barriers, reaching the lost, evangelism planning, Conversational Evangelism, Unique Gifts  (view more)  (view less)

Six Essential Skills For Transformational Pastors

By Tod Bolsinger on Jun 8, 2021

There's a gap between our aspired values and our actions. Effective pastors/preachers help us "mind the gap."

Tags: transform, Growth, leadership, Preaching, work, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Three Foundational Passages For Growing Disciples Of Jesus

By Ray Hollenbach on Jul 16, 2025

"Try to imagine talking about your subject every single day for two years. If the idea still thrills you, you've found your topic."

Tags: Growth, Discipleship, Disciples, gospel, Jesus, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Why Didn't The Disciples Ask Jesus How To Measure Success?

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 26, 2024

Imagine this scenario. Jesus is meeting with the disciples. He’s been training them for three years. He’s died, risen again and walked with them in resurrection power for almost 40 days. As the day of his ascension draws near, he gathers them together to reiterate The Great Commission.

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Luke 15:7

Tags: Disciples, success, Church Growth, Measure success

The Five Kinds Of Churches That Must Change Or Die

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 14, 2023

Okay, I have some tough news for you who are members or leaders of about 100,000 churches in America. Change or die.

Tags: Change, Church Growth, Reality, Dying Church

5 Words Of Wisdom To A Growing Church

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 10, 2022

It is GOD’s Kingdom, not ours, that is expanding. We may work hard and dream big, but every single spiritual change we see in the lives of people is completely and entirely a work of God.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Wisdom, Humility, Church Growth, relational leaders

The Growing Church Series: 10 Characteristics Of Churches That Grow

By Brandon Kelley on Feb 4, 2022

Instead of sitting and worrying about the state of the Church in America, let’s begin asking the question, what are growing churches doing differently?

Tags: Church Growth, intentional, proactive, Dying Church

How God Became A Man: What Jesus Did For Thirty Years

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 28, 2022

Don’t begrudge God the glory of your long, arduous maturation process. In it you are tasting the growing pains that Jesus knows very well. And he stands ready to help you persevere until God’s process is complete.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:26, Hebrews 5:7-9, Matthew 17:27, John 11:14, John 1:47, Luke 3:23, Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:8-51, Luke 2:52, John 4:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Jesus, Ordinary, Christian growth, incarnation of Jesus