Why do some churches die, yet others seem to thrive?

what does the bible say?

Churches thrive when they remain rooted in Christ, faithfully pursue His purposes, and cultivate love, unity, and spiritual growth among their members. In contrast, churches decline or die when they neglect God’s Word, allow division, compromise morally, or fail to reach and serve their communities. The Bible provides us with examples of both vitality and decline. Above all, the church’s health and vitality depend on faithfulness to God. Even amid changing or challenging circumstances, a church that prioritizes obedience and faithfulness to God’s commands, especially loving God and loving others, will flourish.

from the old testament

• Israel thrived spiritually when they obeyed God, followed His commands, and sought His guidance (Deuteronomy 28:1–14; Joshua 24:14–15). Consistent faithfulness, repentance, and adherence to God’s covenant determined their spiritual vitality.
• The Israelites struggled or “died” spiritually as a community when they turned to idolatry, ignored God’s Word, or failed to live in unity (Judges 2:11–19; 1 Samuel 12:14–15).

from the new testament

• Thriving churches are marked by faithfulness to Christ, love among members, and the diligent use of spiritual gifts to build up the body (Acts 2:42–47; Ephesians 4:11–16; Colossians 3:16–17).
• Churches that die spiritually often experience division, neglect of God’s Word, moral compromise, or apathy in prayer and service (Revelation 2:1–5; 3:1–6).
• Jesus emphasized that remaining in Him and bearing fruit determines spiritual life and vitality (John 15:4–5).
• A look at the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2–3 offers additional insight into issues facing churches that can cause them to die. The church at Ephesus was well known in the New Testament, but it had lost its first love (Revelation 2:1–7). Other churches had accepted certain false teachings. A close look at the issues these seven churches faced offers much insight into issues that continue to face churches today.

implications for today

It is clear that some churches continue to grow in health and strength while others decline and die. There are several reasons certain churches die. First, a church may die due to lack of outreach. When no new people are reached by the congregation, the church eventually dies when the last members do. The church is designed for its members to help reach those outside of the church, in addition to those already there. A church may die when the surrounding community changes or dies. For example, some communities in America have seen thousands of people move away over a couple of decades. As a result, so many people have disappeared from local churches that they were forced to close. In other cases, the entire composition of a neighborhood changes over fifty years from one ethnic group to another. Unless the local church adapts, the church will eventually cease to exist. A church may die due to division. When a church divides, whatever the reasons, the remaining members may be too small to keep a local church intact. A church may die because it fails to live out its purposes. The early church focused on God’s Word, fellowship, breaking bread together, and prayer. They were devoted to God and to one another. They knew their purpose and faithfully lived it out. This resulted in joy among the people and daily growth in the church (Acts 2:42–47). When a church loses sight of who God is, or when members fail to exercise their spiritual gifts, the fellowship can easily fall apart. The best way to keep a church from dying is to stay focused on Christ and the purposes He has given. Even if a church faces a changing community, division, or persecution, the church can thrive when pursuing the right priorities. The early church faced much opposition, including the death of Stephen (Acts 7–8) and its members being scattered from the city. Yet the church grew quickly, reaching throughout the Roman Empire within a generation. Jesus is the head of the church and the power behind it (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:18–23; 4:1–16). When a church focuses on and obeys God—actively teaching His Word, living by His commands, staying in step with the Holy Spirit, and loving both the internal as well as the external community—it can thrive.

Recap

understand

• Churches thrive when rooted in and dependent on Christ, the head of the church.
• Churches decline when they neglect obedience to God and faithfully living out the mission of the church.
• A church’s vitality depends on its faithfulness to God, His Word, and dependence on His Spirit.

reflect

• How are you contributing to the health and unity of your church community?
• How do you actively contribute to your church staying rooted in Christ and on mission?
• Are there areas where your own spiritual growth could better support your church’s vitality?

engage

• What does God’s Word tell us about what makes a church thrive or die?
• What practical steps can we take to remain faithful, loving, and united in Christ as a church?
• How do the examples of Israel and the churches in Revelation challenge or encourage us to stay faithful to and dependent on God?