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What’s Up
Most small churches aren’t dying from bad theology or bad coffee … they’re dying from undealt-with conflict, and conflict is the top church growth killer.
So What
You can preach the best sermons, host the slickest events, and launch all the right ministries, but if you don’t face down the conflict in your church, none of it matters. Conflict is the #1 growth killer in small churches (and it kills a lot of BIG churches too!).
The Point Is
Conflict Will Kill You
Plateaued and declining churches almost always have unresolved internal conflict that paralyzes leadership and chokes forward movement.
Growth Requires Change
If your church could grow without changing, it already would be. Growth always demands change … and change always sparks resistance.
Bullies Love the Status Quo
Every church has one. The person who wields nostalgia like a weapon and squashes anything new. If you don’t address them, they win. And the more they win, the more powerful they become.
Matthew 18 Still Applies
Jesus and Paul both said it: confront divisive people and, if necessary, cut them loose. Church harmony isn’t peace at all costs.
And … ?
Let’s be blunt: your church isn’t going to grow if you let one or two people run the show because everyone else is afraid of conflict. Churches that keep peace by appeasement aren’t peacemaking churches … they’re stagnant ones. Jesus didn’t come to preserve the status quo, and if your church is worshiping tradition instead of reaching people, you’re heading for hospice.
This isn’t about starting fights. It’s about standing firm. If someone is standing in the way of the church’s mission, you’re called to deal with it. If they’re divisive, confront them. If they won’t repent, sideline them. If they still won’t stop, remove them. That’s not harsh. That’s biblical. And if your church isn’t willing to do that, go ahead and calculate your projected closure date and start packing your office.
Action!
Learn how to deal with conflict biblically and boldly in our Conflict CPR video training: https://shop.effectivechurch.com/product-details/product/66aa6505b7920973809aaca5
