The Sticks Conference - Tim Stevens

Notes from Tim Stevens talk this morning...

We are all working through the same stuff regardless of church size.

What are some practical contributors to growth?

1.       Keep changing stuff up. Change is hard but it can be good. Change attracts new people. Change gets people talking, communicates that we are not done growing.  Change focuses people outwardly. Some change is expensive and some change is simple. Change makes a difference in growth.

2.      Tackle alignment issues. People out of alignment with your mission/vision/methods will take you in a direction that you don’t want to go. This is the person who is never or rarely satisfied. They inject don’t about what is going on at the church.

3.       Make it easy for people to serve. The goal in our churches is life transformation through the grace of Jesus Christ. The best way to see life change is through relationships. Serving next to other believers impacts us and changes lives. Small groups, Bible studies, work but at Granger 80% of those who serve connect with the church.

A.      Can someone who is not a Christian serve in your church? Non Christians won’t come to a church where there is nothing for them… the preaching isn’t for them, there is no way to serve, etc. When there is no way to serve then they won’t create relationships and they won’t stick. John 6:70-71 example of Jesus choosing Judas to serve on His team.

B.      Is it easy for someone to begin serving at your church? Intentionally create some programs for first time volunteers.

4.       Say “thanks” as often as you can.

5.      Stick with it. People that don’t give up. People will leave your church sometimes, call you names, stomp on your dreams, kick you when you are down, and suck the life out of you. As ministry pressure increases you will be tempted to throw in the towel. You will want to compromise. You will hear about the growth of other churches and it all makes you want to give up sometimes. We’ve all faced times that we want to give up. Just staying and pushing though the troubles is the right thing. Don’t give up and do the next right thing.