The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 730 | Pick My Brain: Are There Limits to Church Growth? Plus, Being Micromanaged and How to Know Who To Fire
May 22, 2025
Explore the fascinating limits of church growth, touching on leadership capacity and community dynamics. Discover effective strategies for expanding outreach while maintaining a vibrant church environment. Tackle the challenges of micromanagement with clear governance and defined leadership roles. Hear personal experiences of transitioning worship styles and learn how to navigate staff evaluations with respect. Gain insights on fostering a healthy volunteer culture and the importance of strategic decision-making in church leadership.
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Leadership Capacity "Number" Anecdote
- Carey Nieuwhof shares a seminary golf conversation about leaders' natural capacity to lead, called "a number on their back."
- Some leaders have a larger capacity to lead big churches, while others thrive with smaller congregations and teams.
Mindset Limits Church Growth Potential
- A church's growth potential includes its community size, but big cities don't guarantee large churches and small towns can have big ones.
- Mindset can limit perceived potential more than actual size or resources available.
Motivate Small Churches With Vision
- Motivate a small church by asking if members want a church their kids and grandkids will love attending.
- Use demographic research to challenge outdated assumptions about the community's potential.
