One reason churches do not grow or worse, die of attrition is that there is a sense of “they” and not a sense of “we” or “us.”. As in, “they are having a revival down at the church,” instead of “we are having a revival at church.”. The difference is more than the words it is a difference of being on the outside looking in or being involved as an owner.

As Christians we need to view our status not as a distant investor but we need to consider ourselves more akin to employees with a stock option. When we buy stock in the church we buy into truth – Prov 23:23, “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.” Consider also Jesus words in Matt 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding aone pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Here are three tips toward growing the church. Thanks to Daniel Courington for sharing these with me almost 9 years ago.

1. Transformation – going beyond your current form. Be transformed by aligning yourself with God. Cf. Rom 12:2.
2. Initiative – take chances and get busy. Go a little bit farther. Do more than you have to do. This especially applies to spreading the good news – Matt 28:19-20.
3. Persistence – streams smooth rocks through persistence not strength. Paul reminds us of the importance of consistent persistence in 2 Tim 4:1-5, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, rendure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

– Scott