We have never done it that way before. Yes, it’s cliché. But it’s still a very pervasive attitude among change-resistant people in the church… We have enough people in our church. This is a tragic statement by leaders of inwardly focused churches. And it is an excuse not to do evangelism and ministry.

If you want your church to move toward a slow yet certain death, make certain your church leadership and membership affirms most of these ten statements. They are troubling statements. Indeed they are proclamations that virtually assure your church’s decline and probable demise.

What is troubling is that these statements are not uncommon. They are articulated by both staff and lay leaders at times. See if you have ever heard any of these ten.

1. We hire our pastors and staff to do that. 
2. We have enough churches in our community.
3. We are a discipleship church. 
4. We have never done it that way before. 
5. We don’t have the money to do that. 
6. We really don’t emphasize small groups. 
7. We have enough people in our church. 
8. We aren’t a church for those kinds of people. 
9. We really shouldn’t expect much of our members. 
10. We focus only on our members, not guests and others. 

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The link (URL) to the original article at Church Answers is unavailable and has been removed.]