21 ways that keep a church from growing

1. Make the entry to serving in the church lengthy or complicated
2. Develop followers not leaders
3. Squelch any dream except the pastor’s own
4. Refuse new people a voice at the table
5. Make sure everyone knows who is in charge — and it’s not Jesus
6. Cast your vision — but only once
7. Only do “church” inside the building

8. Demand that it be done the way it’s always been done
9. Give up when change is resisted
10. Make excuses when things go wrong
11. Quit dreaming
12. Resist any organized system, strategy or plans to grow the church
13. Stop praying
14. Insist you have all the answers before you “walk by faith”

15. Never challenge people
16. Treat new people as outsiders
17. Always refer to the past as the good times
18. Put more energy into structure than serving
19. Allow gossip to fester
20. The ministerial staff does everything
21. Be stingy investing in the next generation