n many churches, health is often measured by the number of people attending services. Large crowds can give the impression of success, and many churches focus on attracting existing believers through dynamic worship, powerful preaching, and well-run programs.
In many churches today, success is often equated with large attendance, dynamic worship services, and powerful preaching. The sight of packed pews and vibrant programs can give the impression that the church is thriving. But beneath this surface-level growth lies a crucial question: Is the church fulfilling its true mission? While attracting believers with well-run services and programs is commendable, these internal measures of success can sometimes come at the expense of a more significant call—reaching the lost and making disciples. If the church becomes more focused on maintaining excellence within its walls than living missionally beyond them, it risks losing its most vital purpose (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:19-23, Acts 1:8).
Success in a church goes far beyond numbers, programs, or polished services. True success is better measured by the spiritual growth of the congregation, their engagement in the community, and their commitment to the mission of Christ. Are the members of the church growing deeper in their relationship with Christ? Are they being equipped to share the gospel and live out their faith in their daily lives? Is the church actively involved in addressing the needs of their community and being the hands and feet of Christ?
A healthy church does not solely focus on high attendance or financial giving but also on making disciples who, in turn, make more disciples. This expanded definition of success includes fostering spiritual maturity, missional living, and tangible community impact. A thriving church is one where members are not just receiving but actively participating in God’s mission locally and globally.
When a church prioritizes attracting established believers, it often focuses on delivering a high-quality experience—great worship teams, well-prepared sermons, and programs to meet various needs. This requires significant staffing, resources, and time. However, the more the church focuses on internal excellence, the less time and energy it may have to live missionally outside its walls.
Churches that aim to provide top-tier worship and preaching often need to hire specialized staff, such as worship leaders, youth pastors, and program directors, to maintain the level of excellence expected. While these staff members contribute significantly to the church’s internal life, their roles can sometimes unintentionally draw focus away from evangelism and mission work.
It’s undeniable that great worship and preaching draw people in. Many churches have built their reputations on these elements, becoming hubs for Christians seeking a more dynamic experience of God. However, this focus on attraction can lead to a cycle where churches continually strive to offer more polished services and better programs to keep the congregation engaged. The problem arises when churches unintentionally cater to spiritual consumers rather than nurturing disciples who live missionally. People come to be fed spiritually but often don’t feel compelled to take what they’ve learned into their everyday lives.
Churches don’t have to choose between internal excellence and external mission. It’s possible—and necessary—to do both. A balanced approach ensures that the resources spent on creating dynamic worship services and programs are also matched with intentional efforts toward outreach, evangelism, and discipleship. Churches can maintain high-quality services while fostering a mission-focused culture that encourages members to take the gospel beyond the church’s walls.
For example, excellent worship and preaching can inspire and equip believers to engage in mission work, both locally and globally. A church that focuses on both will prioritize making disciples who live out their faith daily, not just those who come to church to consume a spiritual experience.
In many churches that prioritize attraction through high-quality worship, dynamic preaching, and well-run programs, there is often an emphasis on sacrificial giving—but this giving is usually directed toward internal needs, like constructing a new building or upgrading facilities. While these campaigns may inspire the congregation to give generously, they reveal a deeper issue: the church is often more willing to call for sacrificial giving for internal projects than for external mission work.
Sacrificial giving is a powerful tool for mobilizing the church, but it must be directed toward the mission of Christ, not merely the maintenance of church structures and programs. When a church calls for sacrificial giving for internal purposes but hesitates to do the same for missions, it may reveal a misalignment between its financial priorities and its missional calling. A church may have high per capita giving and impressive financial statements, but it risks missing the broader mission if its resources are inwardly directed.
Imagine if that same church launched a campaign to raise funds for missions rather than a new facility. This would reflect a genuine commitment to living missionally—sacrificing internal comforts to expand the gospel’s reach. It would signal the congregation that the church is willing to invest in reaching unbelievers, supporting global missionaries, and serving the poor and marginalized.
Living missionally requires a cultural shift within churches. Congregations must be encouraged to see themselves as consumers of spiritual experiences and as active participants in God’s mission. This shift can be fostered through teaching, discipleship, and creating opportunities for members to engage in mission work.
A robust definition of discipleship should involve more than personal spiritual growth—it should also include participation in Christ’s mission. True discipleship means being a learner and a sent one, actively joining God’s redemptive work by spreading the message of salvation and serving others. When churches embrace this expanded definition, they can cultivate a spiritually mature and missionally focused congregation.
Imagine a church that shifts its priorities, where sacrificial giving for missions becomes as celebrated as building projects. A church where members are inspired by great worship and equipped to make a tangible impact in their communities and beyond. By aligning financial resources with missional goals, churches can genuinely reflect the heart of Christ, prioritizing the call to reach the lost over the desire for internal comfort.
In conclusion, while great worship and powerful preaching are vital components of church life, they should serve as a foundation for living out Christ's mission. Churches can transform their approach and truly embody the Great Commission by focusing on the call to be missional and prioritizing sacrificial giving toward outreach. Churches must balance their internal practices with a robust commitment to outreach, ensuring they do not lose sight of their primary mission: reaching the lost and making disciples.
Tim Orr is a scholar, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six degrees, including a master’s in Islamic studies from the Islamic College in London. Tim taught Religious Studies for 15 years at Indiana University Columbus and is now a Congregations and Polarization Project research associate at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. He has spoken at universities, including Oxford University, the University of Tehran, and mosques throughout the U.K. His research focuses on American Evangelicalism, Islamic antisemitism, and Islamic feminism, and he has published widely, including articles in Islamic peer-reviewed journals and three books.
