Sermon Central
-
6 Statements That Can Kill A Church
By SermonCentral on Mar 31, 2022
These are statements from church members whose churches have already closed their doors.
Words can kill.
Words can kill churches because they often have deadly actions behind them. As we begin this new year, please allow me to share six statements that I have heard from church members whose churches have died.
Please hear that last statement again: These are statements from church members whose churches have already closed their doors. I am convinced these statements were major contributors to the churches’ demise.
1. “We pay our pastor to do evangelism.”
The common meaning behind this statement is that the members have no intentions of sharing their faith. A church with non-evangelistic members is a dying church.
2. “Without our money, this church would be in trouble.”
Ouch! The key word here is “our.” Members with this attitude do not give with an open hand; they perceive the money they give to the church is their money, not God’s money. This tight-fisted non-stewardship, if prevalent in the church, is a sure sign of sickness or death.
3. “This church is not meeting my needs.”
For certain, members’ needs should be met. But have you noticed that, often times, the most needy members are the first to complain and the first to leave? We should certainly care for the needs of the flock, but the attitude of the members should be that of serving instead of being served.
4. “We pay the salary of the pastor and staff, so they should listen to us.”
This deadly statement has two major inflictors of pain. First, the money is treated with a tight fist, as I noted above. Second, the money is used to control leaders. I served in a church where a member made that statement to me frequently. Years after I left, I learned he never gave a dollar to the church.
5. “We will let the next generation deal with change.”
When older generations make this statement, they are resolutely refusing to make necessary and immediate changes. Sadly, the next generations won’t stick around in such a church to make the changes.
6. “I was here years before the pastor came; I’ll be here years after he’s gone.”
This statement is one of power and control rather than service and giving. It’s about out-lasting each pastor to keep the church just the way the member wants it. It’s a statement that was commonly heard in churches that have closed their doors.
I remain an obnoxious optimist about our local congregations. But, sadly, many will die in this year and the next. Most of them will have had members who made these six deadly statements.
I pray your church is not among them.
Related Preaching Articles
-
The Power Of Vivid Description
By Peter Mead on Jul 22, 2024
Peter Mead: "I’m convinced that one of the key ingredients for effective preaching is effective and vivid description. Practice it. Learn it."
-
10 Easier Ways To Preach About Money
By Margaret Marcuson on Jan 16, 2024
Margaret Marcuson suggests 10 practical ways to help everyone lighten up about money.
-
What Really Makes A Spiritual Leader?
By Bob Hamp on Apr 5, 2023
Spiritual leaders influence more than they direct, and they inspire more than they instruct.
-
How To Talk About Money In Church
By Jamie Munson on Jul 30, 2020
"If we are avoiding the subject or trying to make it more palatable, we are doing our congregations a huge disservice."
-
7 Steps To Restoring A Powerful Pulpit
By Leslie Holmes on Sep 17, 2024
Veteran preacher Leslie Holmes suggests seven bold and certain steps to help give you the confidence to preach with power.
-
How To Confuse A Sermon
By Sherman Haywood Cox on May 2, 2023
It's happened to all of us: you're preaching, and a new thought pops into your head. Do you add an "aside" to your sermon?
-
How I Learned To Love Preaching About Money
By Joe Mckeever on Nov 30, 2020
Few subjects are as fraught with danger for the unsuspecting pastor as preaching on stewardship.
-
What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains
By SermonCentral on Mar 5, 2024
This completely secular video is instructional, AND could be a great intro for your next sermon.
