Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing

How Leaders Can Overcome Costly Mistakes

Geoff Surratt

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Year: 2009
• eBook ISBN:
  9780310590675
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Systematic Theology & Ethics

Based on interviews with pastors of growing churches, as well as personal experience, this book identifies the most common mistakes pastors make that keep otherwise healthy churches from reaping the harvest God has prepared. Each chapter spotlights a common mistake, gives real-life examples, uses a generous dose of humor, and provides a practical course of action to recover from the error. The book draws from the experience of Seacoast Church as well as pastors such as Craig Groeschel, Chris Hodges, Perry Nobel, Mark Batterson, Dave Ferguson, Scott Chapman, Dino Rizzo, Ron Hamilton, and Dave Browning, Church leaders will be encouraged to realize that they are not the only ones who struggle, and that turning their situation around may not be as daunting a task as they think. This is a field guide for the common pastor based on actual churches of all sizes.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction: Who Are You Calling Stupid?
• 1. Trying to Do It All
• 2. Establishing the Wrong Role for the Pastor’s Family
• 3. Providing a Second-Rate Worship Experience
• 4. Settling for Low Quality in Children’s Ministry
• 5. Promoting Talent over Integrity
• 6. Clinging to a Bad Location
• 7. Copying Another Successful Church
• 8. Favoring Discipline over Reconciliation
• 9. Mixing Ministry and Business
• 10. Letting Committees Steer the Ship
• Conclusion: If I Made All Ten Mistakes, Do I Win a Prize?
• Acknowledgments
• Notes
• About The Publisher
• Share Your Thoughts