Running and building a church is never easy, but God never said that we are left to build them on our own. Jesus once promised that He would build His church, and until today that promise still stands for those who would trust in Jesus Christ alone that we build stronger ministries.
The biggest mistakes that pastors, deacons, board members and spiritual leaders can make is that it's up to them to build the church. While we do have a part to play in advancing God's kingdom, the growth and expansion of God's work has never been dependent on our skills and abilities. In the many years I have served in ministry, I have seen many churches destroyed by the notions pastors have that church growth is up to them.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus promises that it is He who will build the church and all we are to be is the rock that He builds it up on. That calls us simply to be good stewards of people and to serve above all else.
Here are four things that leaders do that break the church instead of building it.
Doing everything. Paul gave us a very good template for Christ-empowered leadership development in 2 Timothy 2:2, "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Church leadership can fall into the trap of being about what the pastor can do and not about what they can do to empower others by building them in their relationship with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Valuing results over relationships. God calls us to build people before he calls us to build systems, finances and facilities. While results are important, they should never be pursued at the expense of relationships and people. Let us strive to follow the principle the church was taught in Ephesians 4:3 and be "...eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Teaching people what to do. Church leadership can become about good advice more than good news where people receive canned instructions on how to advance God's kingdom without being shown the Lord in charge of the kingdom. If there's one thing that leaders can never overdo, it's the preaching of Jesus Christ and His power and reign over each ministry. Every successful endeavour that leaders accomplish stems only from that truth.
Obligating leaders to perform. I wonder if church members and leaders have never been more worn out and tired than today. So much of church culture can be driven by performance and quotas whereas Jesus calls us in Matthew 11:28 saying, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
