Every church wants to see more people come to know Jesus Christ. We long for fuller pews, deeper connections, and stronger impact in our communities. But here’s the truth:
Some common habits and church growth strategies actually stifle growth instead of fueling it.
In this article, we’re breaking down 9 of the biggest growth-killers we see in churches today, especially in well-established churches. More importantly, we’ll show you what to do instead to build a healthy church where people grow in faith, community, and mission.
Let’s dive in.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Table of contents
- Why Talk About Church Growth Killers?
- Top 9 Church Growth Killers
- 1. Sticking to “How We’ve Always Done It”
- 2. Focusing Only on Sunday Morning
- 3. Neglecting Community Outreach
- 4. Trying to Copy Other Churches
- 5. Overcomplicating the Mission
- 6. Ignoring the Digital Front Door
- 7. Burning Out the Lead Pastor
- 8. Failing to Measure Growth Wisely
- 9. Ignoring the Role of the Holy Spirit
- It’s Time to Grow
- More Resources for Church Leaders
Why Talk About Church Growth Killers?
Most churches start with good intentions. They want to reach their city, love people well, and invite others into life-changing encounters with the Holy Spirit. However, even the most passionate church members and lead pastors can fall into patterns that block growth without even realizing it.
We’ve worked with hundreds of churches across the country, from small local churches to larger growing churches, and the patterns are clear:
- Certain practices prevent churches from thriving—no matter how much you pray, promote, or plan.
- On the flip side, healthy church growth happens when leadership stays aware, adapts wisely, and stays laser-focused on the church’s mission.
Whether your church is just getting started or has been rooted in your city for decades, these tips can help you create an environment where both church members and new guests experience spiritual growth—and keep coming back.
Top 9 Church Growth Killers
Now it’s time to jump into our list of the top 9 church growth killers. We’ll break down each church growth mistake, then provide you with an alternative way of doing things.
Let’s jump in!
1. Sticking to “How We’ve Always Done It”
It’s one of the top reasons most churches plateau:
“We’ve always done it this way.”
Older church members may feel attached to certain traditions, but when tradition overrides mission, it stifles growth. New guests can sense when a church is resistant to change, and they won’t stay long.
What to Do Instead:
Honor the past, but lead toward the future. Regularly review your church’s mission statement and ask: Are our programs, events, and systems aligned with reaching people today? Engage older church members in conversations about why adapting matters—and how change helps the church continue its mission of helping people know Jesus Christ.
2. Focusing Only on Sunday Morning
Many churches measure growth by Sunday church attendance alone. If seats are full, they assume the church is thriving.
But here’s the catch: Attendance ≠ engagement.
A church can have packed services but very little true spiritual growth or relational depth.
What to Do Instead:
Focus on building relational pathways beyond Sunday. Promote small groups, discipleship courses, and service teams. Churches grow when people feel known, needed, and part of a mission, not just a Sunday audience.
3. Neglecting Community Outreach
The church growth movement of decades past often emphasized internal programs over external mission. The result? Many churches lost touch with their surrounding communities.
If your local church isn’t visible outside its four walls, it’s hard to attract new people or make an impact.
What to Do Instead:
Get involved in community events and partnerships with local nonprofits. Serve real needs. Support local schools, volunteer at shelters, and be present where people already gather. Outreach builds trust and relationships—and helps your church become a beacon of hope in the neighborhood.
4. Trying to Copy Other Churches
It’s tempting to look at what’s working at other churches and copy it wholesale. But what succeeds for a 2,000-member suburban church may flop in a small urban congregation.
Trying to mimic another church’s style, programs, or branding often results in inauthenticity, and people can tell.
What to Do Instead:
Lean into your unique identity and calling. Who has God called your church to reach? What are your strengths, gifts, and passions? Build church growth strategies that flow from your community’s DNA and the leading of the Holy Spirit, not from Instagram trends.
5. Overcomplicating the Mission
Many churches end up with bloated calendars, confusing vision statements, or “program creep.” The result? People feel scattered, staff get burned out, and newcomers can’t figure out what matters most.
What to Do Instead:
Clarify your mission. Simplify your message. Ruthlessly focus on the core things that drive spiritual growth—worship, community, service, and mission. Help your church members understand what matters most, and align your financial resources, staff time, and energy accordingly.
6. Ignoring the Digital Front Door
In today’s world, your church website and online presence are the first impression for most visitors. If your digital front door is outdated, confusing, or hard to navigate, many people will never step foot in your building.
What to Do Instead:
Invest in a clean, mobile-friendly website that reflects your church’s heart and vision. Include clear next steps, information for new visitors, details on service times and small groups, and stories of life change. A well-built site is one of the most effective tools to help churches grow today.
7. Burning Out the Lead Pastor
In many churches, the lead pastor wears too many hats: visionary, counselor, administrator, event planner, and more. Over time, this leads to exhaustion, and when the leader burns out, so does the church.
What to Do Instead:
Build a healthy leadership culture. Empower church staff and volunteers. Share the load. Invest in the spiritual health and personal growth of your lead pastor and leadership team. A rested, thriving leader inspires a growing church.
8. Failing to Measure Growth Wisely
Too often, churches either obsess over vanity metrics (Sunday headcount) or avoid tracking growth altogether.
Neither approach helps.
To lead well, you need to measure growth—but in ways that reflect true impact, not just attendance.
What to Do Instead:
Track both numbers and stories. Monitor church membership trends, small group participation, volunteer engagement, baptisms, and local outreach impact. Look at how people are growing in faith, service, and community. Use those insights to adapt your church growth strategies intentionally.
9. Ignoring the Role of the Holy Spirit
Perhaps the biggest church growth killer? Trying to manufacture growth without relying on the Holy Spirit.
Programs and marketing matter. But without prayer, spiritual sensitivity, and a dependence on God’s power, efforts fall flat.
What to Do Instead:
Soak your church’s mission in prayer. Encourage church members to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all they do. Make room for God’s presence in worship and teaching. Remember: Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).
It’s Time to Grow
Here’s the bottom line:
Most churches don’t stay stuck because they lack passion. They get stuck because unexamined habits, old patterns, or unhelpful strategies quietly block growth.
But the good news? You can break through.
By removing these 9 growth killers—and replacing them with healthy, Spirit-led strategies—you can create an environment where people encounter Jesus Christ, grow in spiritual maturity, and invite others to experience the same.
And when that happens?
Churches grow. Communities change. The Gospel spreads.
And that’s a mission worth pursuing.
More Resources for Church Leaders
