Breaking The 200 Barrier

Breaking the 200 Barrier Larry L. Sherman 06/10/09 How to do it without breaking apart

Introduction
The 200 Barrier is…
The most predictable barrier
The most difficult barrier
Requires key shifts in how ministry is done
The longer you’re there the harder it is to break through it – Momentum is key!
06/10/09 How to do it without breaking apart

06/10/09 How to do it without breaking apart Phases of Growth Like Personal Growth or Like These Examples Infant (fellowship) <35 Cat Toddler (small) 35-100 Collie Elementary Child (middle) 100-175 Garden Teen (awkward-size) 175-225 House Adult (large) 225-450 Mansion Prosperous (huge) 450-700 Ranch Generativity (very large) 700+ Nation Each phase needs different adjustments to thrive!

The Growth Issues
So it’s not really a “barrier” so much as it is God’s call to do ministry in line with the next phase of growth!
Key barrier is the one that keeps the next person from coming to Christ thru your church.
Settle the issues – do we really want to grow, do we believe God wants us to grow & will we pay the price?
Key adjustments are needed to get you through the barrier…

Breaking Growth Barriers in Acts
2:42-47 Healthy Church
4:17 Barrier – Persecution
4:24-31 Barrier Broken by -- Prayer

More Barriers Broken 06/10/09 How to do it without breaking apart 4:32-37 Healthy Church 6:1 Barrier – The widow’s needs neglected 6:2-4 Broken – Team Ministry thru deacons 6:7 Healthy Church 8:1-3 Barrier – Persecution (Saul) & scattering 8:4 Broken – Evangelism done by laity 8:7-8 Healthy Church (now in Samaria…)

Still More Barriers Broken
11:2-3 Barrier – Can Gentiles come into the faith
11:17-18 Broken – Peter corrected
11:20-21 Healthy Church (now with Gentiles -- a great # came to faith)
15:1,10 Barrier – Legalism in structure
15:12,13,19 Broken – Strong mission-minded leadership
15:31 Healthy Church (Gladness!)

Principles from Acts on Barrier-Breaking
Concerted Prayer
Team Ministry that frees leaders to lead and others to serve by giftedness
Maintain evangelistic ferver by the laity
Keep readjusting evangelistic focus of the church
Strong leadership is needed to keep the focus and communicate clearly.

1. Program Adjustments
You must offer quality youth & children’s ministries if you want families with their children to stick.
The 4 key programmatic areas for new churches are: worship, children’s ministries, assimilation and small groups. Which areas are your strengths & weaknesses?
Who is your target audience? Do you know their needs? Which of those needs can your church meet in a tangible way?

2. Entrance Points
What are the “normal and natural” ways people come into this church?
What’s the main way? Are there “side doors” that people can enter?
What new entrance points would best suit our target group?
What classes, ministries, groups, people, programs, can help people enter into our church and draw people closer to Christ?

3. Church Staff Development
100 per pastor
Administrative support
Remember the 4 key ministries: Worship, Children, Assimilation, Small Groups
Have a balance of staff between growth-producing (catalyzing) ministries & maintenance (stabilizing) ministries.

4. Church Fellowship
Are you a friendly church & a church of friends; or, both?
Can we allow the pastor to become more of a rancher than shepherd?
Can you empower people to shepherd?
Are you OK with not “knowing” everyone in the church – so long as everyone is known well by a small group?

5. Pastoral Leadership Shift
Can your pastor shepherd other leaders who are the ones who make sure the sheep are well cared for – or do you expect the pastor to shepherd everyone?
Does the pastor micro-manage everything, or can they add-ministrate well through others?
Do they balance the “Evangelical” (evangelism) & the “Covenant” (discipleship) parts of ministry?

6. Congregational Vision, Values, Vitality
Are your vision & values clear and inspiring? Does everyone here know them?
Do you have goals that inspire the church to growth?
Are the stories of changed lives, mission, compassion, restored marriages, etc. being told?

7. Facilities & Space
Is your facility attractive to guests and something that is honoring to God?
Do your facilities “facilitate” the key ministries that God is calling your church to do well? Which do – and which do not?

8. Assimilation & Connection
What is your strategy with 1 st ,2 nd , 3 rd time guests?
What is your strategy regarding membership?
How do people find their way into relationships – and further into the “fellowship funnel?” Do you monitor:
NG = (VF x RR) – BDL
Net Growth = Visitor Flow x Retention Rate minus back-door-loss
How do people find their way into ministry?

9. Structure for Ministry
Do we have a plan to develop new leaders?
Do our structures (the way the board & ministry teams are organized & operate) support our ministries; or do they hinder ministry?
Is there “agenda-harmony” between the pastor, leaders, and congregation? Are there issues that would block growth or change?

10. Willing to pay the price
Are the members willing to “pray” and to “pay” the price of growth? What are some of the “payments” that may need to be made?
Are long-term members willing to sacrifice past success and personal comfort for the sake of the mission and to meet the needs of those reached by the mission?
Are the leaders willing to speak the truth in love to those who are blocking growth and possibly let them go graciously?

Breaking The 200 Barrier

by Jason Condon on May 29, 2009

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