The Church Is Not Built By Events Nor Strategies

Let’s be honest, many rightly believe that because the church is built on Christ, He is also the one who brings the growth. But somewhere along the way, we start thinking it’s our events, our plans, or our creativity that make it happen. I’ve heard this kind of thinking often—from church planters and leaders of established churches. And to be fair, there’s nothing wrong with planning well or using tools to serve people. But after nearly 47 years in the church and now serving as a church planter and pastor here in Lake County, I’ve seen something deeper at play. And I believe we need to think more carefully about what truly builds the church.

This isn’t a broad critique, and I don’t want to paint all pastors or churches with the same brush. I’ve met many faithful shepherds who deeply love their people and work hard for the sake of the gospel. But I’ve also seen, and at times felt, the subtle temptation that pastors face, including myself, to measure success by how many people show up after an event, or by the energy a new strategy seems to create.

Even before I became a pastor, I was part of church efforts shaped by this way of thinking. Every year, we were expected to come up with something fresh to get people through the doors. It was a constant rhythm of the church, planning the next big thing, launching it, hoping for results, and doing it all over again.

Looking back, I can say now what took me years to understand, the true Church of Christ isn’t built by human strategy, clever planning, or marketing tools. The church is built by Christ Himself, through His finished work and the faithful proclamation of His Word, in the context of real relationships—first with Him, and then with one another.

Tony Merida puts it well in Love Your Church: “The church doesn’t need cool people or cool programs. She needs the faithful preaching of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

But here’s the challenge, we live in a culture that expects quick results. Amazon delivers overnight. Food arrives in minutes. You can binge an entire show in one sitting. Waiting is inconvenient, and honestly, unpopular. That same attitude can sneak into how we think about ministry. We begin to see faithful, slow discipleship as inefficient. We get discouraged when rooms aren’t full. We chase after strategies that promise results, even if they don’t form real disciples.

Jonathan Leeman from 9Marks hits this right on the head in his book: Don’t Fire Your Church Members: “Numbers can be good, but they are not our goal. Faithfulness is. You can grow a crowd with fog machines and giveaways. But only the Spirit of God can grow a church through the Word of God.”

Jesus Himself said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18, ESV). Have we really stopped to reflect on what He meant by that? This isn’t just a verse to put on our vision statements. It’s not permission to try whatever method we think might work “for God.” It’s a clear and powerful promise. Christ, not our creativity or charisma, is the one who builds His church.

Michael Horton, in Ordinary, puts it this way: “The church is created by the Word, sustained by the Word, and grows through the Word. We do not make the church; Christ does, through His appointed means.”

So, here’s my encouragement, let’s slow down. Let’s stop chasing what’s trendy and instead pursue what’s true. Let’s resist the urge to treat people like consumers and return to shepherding them as Christ commands. Let’s measure success, not by how many people show up, but by our faithfulness to the gospel, our love for one another, and our obedience to God’s Word.

In the end, the church is not built by events or strategies. It is built by Christ, through His gospel, by His Spirit, and for His glory.