Five Signs your Church is Gaining Traction

1.     The Ministry is Messy. Everyone wants to be part of a missional church, whatever that means. We long to attract the masses, baptize new believers until were pruny, be forced to expand by explosive growth (for examples, see TheVillageChurch.org or Elevationchurch.org). Praise God for stories of blessing like these! However, no matter the size of your church, it will never sustain its mission (think Great

Commission) without a commitment to discipleship. Real transformation takes discipleship, and discipleship is hard work. Discipleship is messy. It involves people committed to getting involved in each other’s lives. There is no shortcut. You deal with sin, with sorrow, and are taxed by disappointment. Men like Matt Chandler and Steven Furtick can attract the masses with their incredible ability to share the Gospel, but the credit for the success of their ministries belongs to the people within their ministry committed to discipleship. The small group leaders, campus pastors, children’s ministry workers, and counselors and coaches who roll up their sleeves each week providing hope, loving the unlovable, and reflecting Jesus.

      You are Consumed with the Gospel. Your primary focus is communicating to people their need for repentance. That trying harder, being better, looking the part, giving more is futile. That it’s not about right or wrong, innocent or guilty, good or bad – it is about being forgiven. Your heart breaks for the people burdened by the weight of religion, trying to earn God’s favor. You're grieved by the lives scarred by decades of sin. You're energized by the prayer of the repentant, who understand that they merit God’s favor only when they realize they cannot merit it – that Christ already accomplished all they need. Your greatest joy is in the face of the forgiven, and obedience that is the result of gratitude for the work of Jesus on their behalf. Discussions of style, form, music, and preference mean nothing. Preaching the Cross of Jesus becomes the sole passion of your heart.

3.   You feel Inadequate. You become painfully aware that you are not up to the task that God has called you as a pastor. You are convinced you cannot shepherd on your own. You wake up and want to pray – praise, help, strength, patience – all of it. You ask others to pray for you. You are scared that the sin and shortcomings in your own life will impact the effectiveness of the entire ministry. You thank for the privilege of being used by Him. Your amazed at what He is doing.  


You are under Attack. You have opposition. And the fight is not where you expected. It is from other churches. It is amongst your own people. It is so bizarre that you know it is spiritual warfare. Effective ministry and persecution are inseparable friends. People look at your ministry and say you must feel blessed – and you feel like your being kicked. You look to the example of Jesus and bear the offense for the sake of the Gospel.

5.     You love your People. All of it. The egomaniac – you know He needs Jesus. The ministry hijacker – God is using him to focus your efforts. The perpetually needy – God is teaching us patience and showing us what we must be like to a holy God. The liberal and the legalist – we are forced to learn love in all things. You and your wife laugh in quiet moments, looking at the odd pieces God is pulling together to build His church. You find yourself feeling their joys and sorrows. You pray for your people – and rejoice at what God is transforming. And you love that God is transforming you in the process.