What would cause a once flourishing, growing, powerful mega church begin to experience a steady decline in attendance, baptisms, financial support, and influence in its city?
It is a question that members, lay leaders, and financial contributors to a mega church need to ask themselves if they see a downward trajectory.
And to be sure, you can't rely on a seminarian in the pulpit to give you answers and solutions, for several reasons.
Firstly, the pastor will never blame themselves or other members of the staff or their leadership, even if that is a contributing factor.
Secondly, most seminarians aren't interested in dealing with data and facts, but with what some string of unrelated scriptures might say about their church or the people in the church, or what Jesus said in one of the gospels. A seminarian's solution to their church downward spiral is to be found in their KJV or NIV.
But there is data available, research has been done, as to what is happening overall in modern evangelicalism, and what in particular might be the contributing factors for any single church decline.
Not only is research data available to help provide answers, but a common sense, clear-headed examination of the pastors and the competitive operating environment is needed.
Then, solutions might be found.
But a solution is not to blame the people for not loving Jesus enough, or not telling enough people in your city about the lovely Lord Jesus.
Let's examine some of the reasons a mega church may experience decline.
And the answers are?
ReplyDeleteHow about the church covered up for a pastor that had sex with little boys and girls ?
ReplyDelete" A seminarian's solution to their church downward spiral is to be found in their KJV or NIV."
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't be more wrong.
Most megachurches these days are using the ESV.
You'll find the answer to church membership decline in every version of the Bible ~
ReplyDelete2 Peter 2
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies that even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of the truth will be defamed.
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with tales they have concocted. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
Most megas present a weekly show [often called an "experience"] which is basically a rock concert followed by a motivational speech by a dynamic leader. Several things can go wrong:
ReplyDelete> The leader can die or leave or get in trouble.
> The concert isn't as good.
> People realize they can just watch the livestream at home, and actually see the face of the speaker.
> Another mega with a better show can open down the street.
> People may realize the show isn't helping them grow spiritually, and become a Done.