Daily Devotional

When I was growing up, I remember a famous runner and author named Jim Fixx. Every day he effortlessly ran many miles, had very low body fat and had no indication of any health problems whatsoever. He promoted running as the cure for heart disease. I thought, “If there was ever a guy that would live into his 100’s, it’s Jim Fixx.” So when I came across the TV news that Jim Fixx died of a heart attack while running, I thought, “No way!”

On July 20th, 1984, Jim Fixx died at age 52 of a heart attack during his daily run. The autopsy revealed that atherosclerosis had blocked one coronary artery at 95%, a second at 85%, and a third at 70%. Outwardly Jim appeared robust and powerful, but his heart was diseased. So inwardly, as it turned out, Jim was a weakling.

I keep Jim Fixx in mind when I think about the church today. Everything can look good on the outside, yet the inside can be another story. What we think makes a church grow numerically doesn’t necessarily make it healthy.

Everybody gets excited when a new family joins the church. And we love to ask them, “Why did you decide to join our church?” And we often hear things like, “I love the children’s and youth ministries”, “I love the preaching”, “I love the worship”, etc. As church leaders, we try to make sure we are strong in the areas that seem to draw new families. And let’s face it, most new families come because of some need the church meets in their life. But if we asked them what the real purpose of the church is, how many would actually say “to win the world for Jesus Christ”?

I think we have to be careful not to raise a generation of consumers rather than disciples. Meeting the needs of consumers may fill an auditorium, but it will never turn the world upside down for Christ.

Here are three great ways to grow your church.

1. Please God above all else
Some pastors will say, “Let’s do what works and is pleasing to God.” But I think they’ve got it backward because if we do what’s pleasing to God, it’ll work. The early Christians knew what God had called them to do, and that’s what they did. And as a result, the church exploded. They focused on worship, prayer, evangelism, learning, and loving. And Acts 2:47 says “...the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” God took care of the growth as they focused on the things He called them to do.

2. Be direct with the gospel
Some churches are trying to be less direct with the gospel, trying to draw people to their church services without offending them. But people are walking away from these churches feeling better about themselves, but they have no idea who Jesus is. There’s nothing wrong with creativity (music, videos, dance, etc.), but we never let creativity take the place of the gospel.

3. Preach Scripture clearly
Churches can get used to a steady diet of feel-good sermons in place of clear Scriptural teaching. The congregation may grow large, but it will be weak and immature. Paul tells Timothy “...give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” (1 Tim.4:13) It may not always feel good, but people need to know the meaning of life and the reason for their existence. That can only be found in God’s Word and in a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

Every church is different. The demographics of the neighborhoods around the church and the talents and passions of those within the church. When you go to a large church, it’s easy to think that if our church adopts the principles of growth that work for this church, ours will automatically grow. But that’s not true. God has given us clear principles in His Word. If we are committed to worship, prayer, evangelism, learning, and loving, God will take care of our growth. So, let’s grow!

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.