Any type of change is met with fierce resistance. Members insist on holding tightly to those things God wants us to hold loosely.8. It might be the entirety of the worship center or the sanctuary. And any dollars for missions rarely include the involvement of the members in actually sharing the gospel themselves.7. There are few dollars for ministry and missions. Most of the funds are expended to keep the lights on and/or to meet the preferences of the members. Their definition of discipleship is “others taking care of my needs.”6.
They are more concerned about their music style, their programs, their schedules and their facilities than reaching people with the gospel. The members are intensely preference-driven. Often a hero pastor of the past is held as the model to emulate.5. Most conversations are about “the good old days.” Those good old days may have been 25 or more years in the past. The focus is on the past, not the future. It is just a few years of funerals away from having no one left in the church.4. The congregation is mostly comprised of senior adults. And the church likely knows little or nothing about the community.3. The community likely knows little or nothing about the church. Many members are driving from other places to come to the church. The community has changed its ethnic, racial or socioeconomic makeup, but the church has not. The church does not look like the community in which it is located. Offerings may decline more slowly as the “remnant” gives more to keep the church going. Worship attendance is in a steady decline. There has been a numerical decline for four or more years. Indeed, it could be closing sooner than almost anyone in the church would anticipate.1. If a church has four or more of these signs present, it is likely in deep trouble. There are eight clear signs evident in many churches on the precipice of closing. The problems are deeply rooted, but the remaining members have been blind to them, or they chose to ignore them. By the time I am contacted about a serious problem in a church, it is often too late. I can understand if it causes you to cringe.
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