Breaking Barriers
We’re here to help pastors and churches grow so that they can go. Churches can grow without going, but they can’t go without growing. Do you ever feel like church growth and sending is an uphill battle? You’re not alone, many leaders face common barriers that hinder mission success. At Breaking Barriers, we understand these challenges because we’ve been there. Now, we are on a mission to guide churches and leaders like you with Biblical strategies to help your church grow to go. Join Pastors Andrew Hopper and Bobby Herrington from Mercy Hill Church in Greensboro, NC.
Latest episodes
May 5, 2025 • 34min
E62 - Sermon Series Planning Secret Weapon: The Big Idea Document
Pastor Andrew breaks down his complete process of sermon series planning using the "Big Idea Document" approach. Learn how he creates compelling series concepts, and develops a 12-week planning rhythm that helps you and your entire team prepare for a sermon series. Includes practical tips for crafting series titles, scripture selection, big ideas, and creative elements that will engage both believers and newcomers to your church. Don't miss this one-this is as practical as it gets!Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriersIn this episode:How to plan a sermon seriesSermon series ideasPlanning a sermon seriesBig idea documentShould you do sermon seriesExpositional preaching
Apr 28, 2025 • 40min
E61 - What is an Executive Pastor? And When to Hire One (The Right One)
Discover when and why your church should consider hiring an executive pastor. In this episode, we break down the crucial relationship between lead pastors and executive pastors, exploring how this partnership creates "rocket fuel" for church growth. Learn the ideal qualities to look for in a second chair leader, when to make this strategic hire, and how to clearly define roles that maximize your church's ministry impact and operational effectiveness.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Apr 21, 2025 • 24min
E60 - Generosity as Discipleship: 5 Axioms for Church Generosity and Spiritual Maturity (Part 2)
"Generosity initiatives are discipleship initiatives." Over the past two practical episodes, we explore 5 axioms for effectively leading your church through a giving campaign. Learn why church funding isn't just about raising money but raising maturity, how to strategically allocate resources between ongoing ministry, special projects, and future vision, and why every dollar is a "kingdom dollar" in the mission of the church. Whether you're a church planter or an established pastor, these principles will help you develop both generosity and spiritual growth in your congregation.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Apr 14, 2025 • 27min
E59 - Generosity as Discipleship: 5 Axioms for Church Generosity and Spiritual Maturity (Part 1)
"Generosity initiatives are discipleship initiatives." In the next two practical episodes, we explore 5 axioms for effectively leading your church through a giving campaign. Learn why church funding isn't just about raising money but raising maturity, how to strategically allocate resources between ongoing ministry, special projects, and future vision, and why every dollar is a "kingdom dollar" in the mission of the church. Whether you're a church planter or an established pastor, these principles will help you develop both generosity and spiritual growth in your congregation.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Apr 7, 2025 • 30min
E58 - Leadership Pain and Church Growth: You Can Have Growth or You Can Have Comfort, But You Can't have Both
Every growing church faces critical leadership pain points that determine its future. In this episode, we explore six essential leadership challenges—from reorganization to narrowing focus—that pastors must navigate to scale their ministry effectively. Discover why comfort and growth can never coexist and how embracing necessary pain (and the right pain) is the gateway to church multiplication.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Mar 31, 2025 • 34min
E57 - The Flywheel for Life | Fitness, Family, Flock, and Finances for Pastors (Part 2)
In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby continue their conversation on how church leaders can organize their lives to support both personal health and church growth. They explore the critical areas of fitness, family, flock, and finances, explaining why a pastor's vision for these personal areas should be as detailed and vivid as their vision for their church. Discover practical strategies to create sustainable rhythms in each area while adapting to different life stages, ensuring your church's health doesn't outpace your own.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Mar 24, 2025 • 32min
E56 - The Flywheel for Life | Why Your Church Can't Outgrow Your Personal Health
In this episode, we explore the "flywheel concept" for pastoral health and church growth. Discover how intentionally investing in your personal well-being creates momentum that carries into your family, ministry, and finances. Learn why passivity is never the pathway to health and how creating a strategic flywheel can prevent burnout while fostering sustainable church growth. If you're a pastor with growth aspirations, you need a vision for your health that matches your vision for your church.Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Mar 17, 2025 • 40min
E55 - Time Horizons: How Effective Church Leaders Balance Vision and Execution
Why do some churches thrive while others plateau? In this episode, we explore how effective church leadership requires working across multiple time horizons simultaneously. Using Mercy Hill's new Ridge campus project as a case study, we break down the four essential time frameworks every ministry leader must navigate: vision (3-10 years), strategy (1-3 years), tactics (90 days to 1 year), and execution (the next week). Learn practical steps to elevate your leadership, identify your natural tendencies, implement systems for longer-term thinking, and properly delegate responsibilities across your team. Discover how to move beyond just managing the next Sunday to intentionally planning for the future.How to grow as a church leader?How to grow as a pastor?How to get ahead?Website: https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Mar 10, 2025 • 24min
E54 - The Ethos of Breaking Barriers | Growing to Go: Why Church Growth and Sending Go Hand in Hand (Part 2)
1 year into Breaking Barriers, we wanted to revisit the reason we started Breaking Barriers to begin with. In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby continue the conversation around the false dichotomy between church growth and spiritual depth. Learn why many churches simultaneously mourn decline while refusing to celebrate growth, and discover how this mindset may be holding ministries back. They share practical insights on balancing numerical growth with discipleship, debunk common myths about church growth being "unspiritual," and explore how growing churches become sending churches. Whether you're a pastor feeling guilty about wanting your church to grow or a ministry leader looking to break through plateaus, this episode provides a bedrock, Biblical perspective on embracing both the crowds of Acts 2 and the deep discipleship that follows.Website:https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
Mar 3, 2025 • 28min
E53 - The Ethos of Breaking Barriers | Growing to Go: Why Church Growth and Sending Go Hand in Hand
1 year into Breaking Barriers, we wanted to revisit the reason we started Breaking Barriers to begin with. In this episode, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Bobby re-tackle the false dichotomy between church growth and spiritual depth. Learn why many churches simultaneously mourn decline while refusing to celebrate growth, and discover how this mindset may be holding ministries back. They share practical insights on balancing numerical growth with discipleship, debunk common myths about church growth being "unspiritual," and explore how growing churches become sending churches. Whether you're a pastor feeling guilty about wanting your church to grow or a ministry leader looking to break through plateaus, this episode provides a bedrock, Biblical perspective on embracing both the crowds of Acts 2 and the deep discipleship that follows.Website:https://breakinggrowthbarriers.comFacebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakinggrowthbarriersFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/breakinggrowthbarriersInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/breakinggrowthbarriers
