Quotes from Thom S. Rainer

The most pervasive and common thread of our autopsies was that the deceased churches lived for a long time with the past as hero. They held on more tightly with each progressive year. They often clung to things of the past with desperation and fear. And when any internal or external force tried to change the past, they responded with anger and resolution: "We will die before we change.

Vibrant and living churches look after the interests of others. They are concerned for their communities. They open the door for others.

When a church ceases to have a heart and ministry for its community, it is on the path toward death. Whenever local churches are mentioned in the New Testament, they are always exhorted to be other-centered.

The members at Philippi knew what they were supposed to do. They were to live the gospel. They were to proclaim the gospel.

When a church ceases to have a heart and ministry for its community, it is on the path toward death.

Did you get that? Vibrant and living churches look after the interests of others. They are concerned for their communities. They open the door for others.

If given a choice between life and death, most people and leaders choose death if life requires substantive changes.

Members of the dying churches really didn't want growth unless that growth met their preferences and allowed them to remain comfortable.

Being a good steward of those material things that God has given our churches is good. Becoming obsessed with any one item to the neglect of His mission is idolatry.

So, unlike the heroes of Hebrews 11 who held onto nothing of this life, these dying churches held onto everything, at least everything that made them comfortable and happy. Such is the reason we speak of them in the past.

Research shows that when you receive frequent interruptions while working on a task, your performance drops the equivalent of ten IQ points. In other words, when you multi-task you are ten points dumber on the core task than you are if you just focused on the core task. Some of us cannot afford to multi-task.1

where the money of the church goes, so goes its heart.

Membership in the church is not country club membership. It's not about paying your dues and getting perks.

I am suggesting that congregations across America are weak because many of us church members have lost the biblical understanding of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ.