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Breaking the 200 Breaking the 200 BarrierBarrier

Larry L. ShermanLarry L. Sherman

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IntroductionIntroduction

The 200 Barrier is… The 200 Barrier is… The most predictable barrierThe most predictable barrier The most difficult barrierThe most difficult barrier Requires key shifts in how ministry Requires key shifts in how ministry

is doneis done The longer you’re there the harder it The longer you’re there the harder it

is to break through it – Momentum is to break through it – Momentum is key!is key!

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Phases of GrowthPhases of GrowthLike Personal GrowthLike Personal Growth oror Like These ExamplesLike These Examples

InfantInfant(fellowship)(fellowship) <35<35 CatCat

Toddler (small)Toddler (small) 35-10035-100 CollieCollie

Elementary Child (middle)Elementary Child (middle) 100-175100-175 GardenGarden

Teen (awkward-size)Teen (awkward-size) 175-225175-225 HouseHouse

Adult (large)Adult (large) 225-450225-450 MansionMansion

Prosperous (huge)Prosperous (huge) 450-700450-700 RanchRanch

Generativity (very large)Generativity (very large) 700+700+ NationNation

Each phase needs different adjustments to thrive!Each phase needs different adjustments to thrive!

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The Growth IssuesThe Growth Issues So it’s not really a “barrier” so much as So it’s not really a “barrier” so much as

it is God’s call to do ministry in line with it is God’s call to do ministry in line with the next phase of growth!the next phase of growth!

Key barrier is the one that keeps the Key barrier is the one that keeps the next person from coming to Christ thru next person from coming to Christ thru your church.your church.

Settle the issues – do we really want to Settle the issues – do we really want to grow, do we believe God wants us to grow, do we believe God wants us to grow & will we pay the price?grow & will we pay the price?

Key adjustments are needed to get you Key adjustments are needed to get you through the barrier…through the barrier…

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Breaking Growth Barriers Breaking Growth Barriers in Actsin Acts

2:42-472:42-47 Healthy ChurchHealthy Church

4:174:17 Barrier – PersecutionBarrier – Persecution

4:24-314:24-31 Barrier Broken by -- Barrier Broken by -- PrayerPrayer

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More Barriers BrokenMore Barriers Broken

4:32-37 Healthy Church

6:1 Barrier – The widow’s needs neglected

6:2-4 Broken – Team Ministry thru deacons

6:7 Healthy Church

8:1-3 Barrier – Persecution (Saul) & scattering

8:4 Broken – Evangelism done by laity

8:7-8 Healthy Church (now in Samaria…)

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Still More Barriers BrokenStill More Barriers Broken

11:2-311:2-3 Barrier – Can Gentiles come into Barrier – Can Gentiles come into the faiththe faith

11:17-1811:17-18 Broken – Peter correctedBroken – Peter corrected

11:20-2111:20-21 Healthy Church (now with Gentiles Healthy Church (now with Gentiles -- a -- a great # came to faith)great # came to faith)

15:1,1015:1,10 Barrier – Legalism in structureBarrier – Legalism in structure

15:12,13,1915:12,13,19 Broken – Strong mission-minded Broken – Strong mission-minded leadershipleadership

15:3115:31 Healthy Church (Gladness!)Healthy Church (Gladness!)

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Principles from Acts on Principles from Acts on Barrier-BreakingBarrier-Breaking

Concerted PrayerConcerted Prayer Team Ministry that frees leaders to Team Ministry that frees leaders to

lead and others to serve by giftednesslead and others to serve by giftedness Maintain evangelistic ferver by the Maintain evangelistic ferver by the

laitylaity Keep readjusting evangelistic focus of Keep readjusting evangelistic focus of

the churchthe church Strong leadership is needed to keep Strong leadership is needed to keep

the focus and communicate clearly.the focus and communicate clearly.

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1. Program Adjustments1. Program Adjustments You must offer quality youth & children’s You must offer quality youth & children’s

ministries if you want families with their ministries if you want families with their children to stick.children to stick.

The 4 key programmatic areas for new The 4 key programmatic areas for new churches are: worship, children’s churches are: worship, children’s ministries, assimilation and small groups. ministries, assimilation and small groups. Which areas are your strengths & Which areas are your strengths & weaknesses?weaknesses?

Who is your target audience? Do you Who is your target audience? Do you know their needs? Which of those needs know their needs? Which of those needs can your church meet in a tangible way?can your church meet in a tangible way?

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2. Entrance Points2. Entrance Points

What are the “normal and natural” ways What are the “normal and natural” ways people come into this church?people come into this church?

What’s the main way? Are there “side What’s the main way? Are there “side doors” that people can enter?doors” that people can enter?

What new entrance points would best What new entrance points would best suit our target group?suit our target group?

What classes, ministries, groups, What classes, ministries, groups, people, programs, can help people people, programs, can help people enter into our church and draw people enter into our church and draw people closer to Christ?closer to Christ?

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3. Church Staff 3. Church Staff DevelopmentDevelopment

100 per pastor100 per pastor Administrative supportAdministrative support Remember the 4 key ministries: Remember the 4 key ministries:

Worship, Children, Assimilation, Worship, Children, Assimilation, Small GroupsSmall Groups

Have a balance of staff between Have a balance of staff between growth-producing (catalyzing) growth-producing (catalyzing) ministries & maintenance ministries & maintenance (stabilizing) ministries.(stabilizing) ministries.

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4. Church Fellowship4. Church Fellowship

Are you a friendly church & a church of Are you a friendly church & a church of friends; or, both?friends; or, both?

Can we allow the pastor to become Can we allow the pastor to become more of a rancher than shepherd?more of a rancher than shepherd?

Can you empower people to shepherd?Can you empower people to shepherd? Are you OK with not “knowing” Are you OK with not “knowing”

everyone in the church – so long as everyone in the church – so long as everyone is known well by a small everyone is known well by a small group?group?

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5. Pastoral Leadership 5. Pastoral Leadership ShiftShift

Can your pastor shepherd other leaders Can your pastor shepherd other leaders who are the ones who make sure the sheep who are the ones who make sure the sheep are well cared for – or do you expect the are well cared for – or do you expect the pastor to shepherd everyone?pastor to shepherd everyone?

Does the pastor micro-manage everything, Does the pastor micro-manage everything, or can they add-ministrate well through or can they add-ministrate well through others?others?

Do they balance the “Evangelical” Do they balance the “Evangelical” (evangelism) & the “Covenant” (evangelism) & the “Covenant” (discipleship) parts of ministry?(discipleship) parts of ministry?

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6. Congregational Vision, 6. Congregational Vision, Values, VitalityValues, Vitality

Are your vision & values clear and Are your vision & values clear and inspiring? Does everyone here inspiring? Does everyone here know them?know them?

Do you have goals that inspire the Do you have goals that inspire the church to growth?church to growth?

Are the stories of changed lives, Are the stories of changed lives, mission, compassion, restored mission, compassion, restored marriages, etc. being told?marriages, etc. being told?

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7. Facilities & Space7. Facilities & SpaceIs your facility attractive to Is your facility attractive to guests and something that is guests and something that is honoring to God?honoring to God?Do your facilities “facilitate” Do your facilities “facilitate” the key ministries that God is the key ministries that God is calling your church to do well? calling your church to do well? Which do – and which do not? Which do – and which do not?

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8. Assimilation & 8. Assimilation & ConnectionConnection

What is your strategy with 1What is your strategy with 1stst,2,2ndnd, 3, 3rdrd time time guests?guests?

What is your strategy regarding What is your strategy regarding membership?membership?

How do people find their way into How do people find their way into relationships – and further into the relationships – and further into the “fellowship funnel?” Do you monitor: “fellowship funnel?” Do you monitor:

NG = (VF x RR) – BDLNG = (VF x RR) – BDL

Net Growth = Visitor Flow x Retention Net Growth = Visitor Flow x Retention Rate minus back-door-lossRate minus back-door-loss

How do people find their way into ministry?How do people find their way into ministry?

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9. Structure for Ministry9. Structure for Ministry

Do we have a plan to develop new Do we have a plan to develop new leaders?leaders?

Do our structures (the way the board & Do our structures (the way the board & ministry teams are organized & operate) ministry teams are organized & operate) support our ministries; or do they hinder support our ministries; or do they hinder ministry?ministry?

Is there “agenda-harmony” between the Is there “agenda-harmony” between the pastor, leaders, and congregation? Are pastor, leaders, and congregation? Are there issues that would block growth or there issues that would block growth or change?change?

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10. Willing to pay the price10. Willing to pay the price Are the members willing to “pray” and to Are the members willing to “pray” and to

“pay” the price of growth? What are some “pay” the price of growth? What are some of the “payments” that may need to be of the “payments” that may need to be made?made?

Are long-term members willing to sacrifice Are long-term members willing to sacrifice past success and personal comfort for the past success and personal comfort for the sake of the mission and to meet the needs sake of the mission and to meet the needs of those reached by the mission?of those reached by the mission?

Are the leaders willing to speak the truth Are the leaders willing to speak the truth in love to those who are blocking growth in love to those who are blocking growth and possibly let them go graciously?and possibly let them go graciously?