20 Signs You Are in a Dying Church

Just a few warning signs that the church in which you worship is heading to closure...

1. There is more concern about how many people are in attendance than how many people have been baptized. (As a side note have you ever noticed that church leaders don't seem to be concerned about a lack of believer baptisms, but do get concerned when attendance goes down?)

2. It has been a long time since you experienced conviction (the Holy Spirit speaking to you about sin or direction in your life) during a service.

3. There is constant worry that the church will run out of money. Thus, decisions are made based on whether "we can afford" it or not instead of whether it is God's Will. (God is faithful to "fund" what He wants done.)

4. There is constant worry that people will leave the church. This is probably as a result of the slow (or sometimes rapid) decline of attendance.

5. There is more concern about the property than lost people. Dying churches are in despair that their property is running down instead of the fact they are ineffective in spreading the Gospel.

6. Most people are not aware of the central focus of the church (or why the church exists). A vast majority of the congregation has never lead another person to faith in Jesus.

7. Everyone is scared that someone might be offended about something. The preacher refuses to deal with anything controversial from the pulpit (which accounts for about 90% of Biblical teaching) and the church refuses to take a stand on anything controversial probably due to #4 of this list.

8. The Pastor dreads getting into the pulpit to preach and generally views the worship service (probably only one) as more 'work' for the week. The pastor has maybe grown weary in well doing or burnt out or just doesn't care anymore. There is a no passion in the pulpit.

9. People come out of duty or routine rather than expectation or anticipation. They come so they will make it to Heaven instead of a love of Christ. (I've been to some churches that were pretty painful to sit through.)

10. Visitors are viewed as "fresh meat" that can keep the "ministry" going.

11. The old people are blamed for causing the church to die or the young people are blamed for causing the church to die. (Generational conflict.)

12. People fight over small petty things. People gossip about each other instead of love each other.

13. No one shows up early for service or prepares to sing, teach, or preach. It's obvious to a visitor that everything was "thrown together."

14. There are power struggles between the people who want to change everything and the people who don't want to change anything.

15. Standards of leadership are in decline (less accountability, less personal integrity, and less convictions among leadership). The line between holy living and sinful living is blurred.

16. No excitement among the people. No passion and no real desire to participate in worship. 

17. Prayer request time is long and mainly about physical needs. Answers to prayer are rarely mentioned.

18. Testimonies and conversation before and after services are generally negative in nature.

19. No one greets visitors unless they know them personally. Everyone thinks they are friendly, but (if they are) it's only with people they already know.

20. "Conversions" and "baptisms" may take place but there is no significant life changes among "new believers."


Also check out the following articles...

Stop Saying this at Funerals

Women Preach!

16 People Every Church Needs

The Funeral God Attended