“What can I do to fill the empty pews at church? I have no idea; but someone should do something! Church growth is for the experts, right? We need the Madison Avenue crowd’s advice to grow the church. I can’t do anything to grow the church, can I?” Yes you can!
Pray – Church work is God’s work. God grows his church. He builds his own temple and beautifies his own bride. Ask God to grow the church. Every church member can, and should, pray that God would make and mature disciples here at Westminster.
Participate / Connect – Be a larger part of what the church is already doing. Come to Sunday School, Sunday Night prayer, and Wednesday Questions Dinner. Participate in the church community more than you do already. Do one more thing. Good things happen when Christians gather together. I knew a church that expected all their members to attend Sunday Morning Worship, Sunday Night, and Wednesday meetings. If they did not, they would put you under discipline. We won’t do that. Worship is commanded but not Sunday School and Prayer meetings. Your participation in addition to worship should be willing, eager, and enthusiastic. If it is not, your presence will not be a blessing to you or to others. Still, come. But lead with your heart. That makes the church attractive.
Grow Yourself – Be a mature disciple. Grow in the fear and knowledge of God. Think often and deeply of God. Commune with him on more than Sunday morning. Read good books. Listen to sermon. Walk with God. “A holy man is a mighty weapon in the hands of God.” (Robert Murray M’cheyne) You are a walking advertisement for what God is doing at Westminster. Let your light shine.
Invite Others – Statistically this is the foremost engine of church growth. “Someone invited me.” Invite them to worship, to church events, and into your home. Have your lives overlap in simple things. Do them a solid. Invest in the relationship and then include them in what you are doing – walking in friendship with God!
Use Your Gifts – Serve. Many hands make light work; but they also do more work. Volunteer on a Ministry Team. Be an usher. Mow the church lawn. Share a meal. The talents that God has given you belong to the church. When the church is firing on all cylinders that car moves just fine.
Fellowship – Don’t simply hang out. Talk about more than football and politics. If you never talk about your best friend, what he is doing, why you like him, what your fellowship is like and how it helps you; is He really your best friend? Love one another in the church. Invest in others; in normal, everyday things. Bring a meal, send a card, give a chainsaw to your brother. Be the church and the church will grow.
Give – What you give to and sacrifice for you eagerly desire to succeed. If you invest money you regularly check your mutual funds and property. “But I do give to the church!” Yes, but do you invest in the church. Do your heart and hands follow the money? Give of your time, talents, and treasures to kingdom work and the church will grow.
Pray – Did I mention that already? Why list it again? I want you to pray more than once. So, pray. Pray like you mean it; like you expect it to happen! Growing the church is God’s work. He includes us in his work, but it is his labor. We have not because we ask not. Ask God to grow the church. And be the answer to your own prayers.