Does Our Church Need Revitalization?

7 Questions Every Pastor Should Answer

Pastors traditionally determine the health of a church by the four B’s: Bodies, Buildings, Budgets, and Baptisms. Although each of these dynamics could signal a need for change, consider that a better foundation for church assessment is spiritual health. An unhealthy church may have a large membership, impressive buildings, enormous budgets, and regular baptisms. Healthy churches grow. Unhealthy churches can grow for a season but will eventually need revitalization. If you suspect your church may need revitalization answer these seven questions.

1. Do you have enough money? – If you answer is yes, you may need revitalization. Unfortunately many pastors endure a long seasons of digression and membership exodus if there is an abundance of money in the bank to pay all the bills. Pastors of healthy churches are always stretching their faith and casting vision larger than their budget.

2. Are you building a team? – Too many churches have mistaken pastor centric for pastoral authority. When pastors must make every ministry decision, recruit every volunteer, oversee every department, and approve every purchase it is a sign that he does not trust his membership. Healthy and confident pastors create, manage and empower teams to use their strengths in ministry. Pastors must learn to strategically defer to leaders on their staff. Releasing teams to minister, to manage and to multiply is the healthiest way to grow a church. Pastors should reserve their authority for things that matter. Delegate everything else to empowered teams.

3. Are services dynamic and exciting? – Everyone understands the positive feelings of organizational momentum, but many assume that momentum is random or undependable. Organizational academic research has concluded that momentum is triggered by something new, improved or different. If every service is the same and nothing changes from Sunday AM, Sunday PM or Wednesday you will quickly lose interest due to a lack of momentum. Church calendars should have exciting events scheduled a year in advance so that pastors can release team members to plan for excellence. Any organizational environment with a culture of consistently introducing new ideas, new vision, new resources, and new leaders will have consistent momentum.

4. If you were a kid, would you want to attend your church? – Children are the lifeblood of organizations. Churches should spend a lion’s share of its’ budget on attracting, discipling and inspiring children. Contrary to what you may have heard, kids are key to every church’s growth. Every culture is different, but as long as there are children, they should always be a priority. On of the easiest ways to attract guests is to value a child. Put them on the platform singing in a kids choir, brag on them, or give them an award and you will have at least three adults show up to see it happen. There is a reason that so much of our culture’s marketing is aimed at children. If you can convince a child to love church, a child will convince their parents to bring them. Healthy churches demonstrate an observable high value on children.

5. Is discipleship a demonstrated priority in your church? – As Spirit-filled believers we can forget that people are discipled through systematic teaching. We can become so driven to shout and dance that we cannot appreciate those services pastoral services that strengthen the body. Many growing congregations dedicate each of their weekly services to a different apostolic purpose. The twentieth century apostolic church coined the phrase “get out of the box.” Unfortunately some never had a box (aka plan). Most revitalization leaders recommend that pastors teach strategic sermon series to create a sense of vision and consistency. If every service is dedicated to inspirational preaching and it looks and feels the same it is easy for people to feel as though they are not growing. Systematic doctrinal teaching turns Jesus fans into disciples.

6. Are your leaders spiritually healthy? – Church systems are worthless if leadership is unrighteous and immoral. Members must trust their leaders. Exaggerations, inappropriate conversations, little lies, or fabrications are warning signs of a lack of character. Pastors must be examples of righteousness and integrity. It does not matter how funny you thought a joke was, if it is inappropriate, do not repeat it. Ministers should live their lives in such a way that they never have to worry about people discovering their true behavior. Be careful about lowering your guard. Maintain a bubble of information with your spouse and your family. Do not mock or marginalize members with other members of your congregation. Your audience may laugh and join in with your gossip, but they will also begin to wonder what you say about them in their absence.

7. Does your church actively promote spiritual disciplines? – Spiritual disciplines are often called spiritual behaviors. There are many apostolic behaviors with biblical directives, but the most common are: prayer, fasting, bible study/meditation, church attendance, tithing/offering, serving, and worship. All of these disciplines are necessary to maintain spiritual health. Often churches are deficient in one or two of these disciplines because they are not personal strengths of leadership. All disciplines are critical but effectual prayer seems to position people quicker than all other disciplines. Most church revitalization experts encourage pastors to make prayer a high priority. A season dedicated to prayer, should be the first step in any plan for church revitalization.

• Dr. Robert L. McKee – January 01, 2023