January 1, 2026
Preach the Real Gospel
Discernment isn’t knowing the difference between right and wrong; it’s knowing the difference between right and almost right. Almost right will never be enough when it comes to someone’s eternal destiny.
Articles for tag: Church growth
November 6, 2025
The Crux of Evangelism
It comes down to this: Do you care? Do you value lost people? Do you have the same compassion for them that Christ had for you (John 3:16; Romans 5:8)?
November 6, 2025
Building Out Your Vision by Thinking Outward, Part 1
To focus outward means that the church’s primary concern is the people outside its walls and influence. It means that the church’s assets—its money, its talent, its time, and its facility—are focused toward reaching into that group.
November 6, 2025
This Generation is Now
We’re hearing stories from across the country about college ministries where thousands are giving their lives to Christ and being baptized in obedience to him. There’s something real happening in This Generation.
November 6, 2025
Ministry Is About Relationships
At The Solomon Foundation, we believe that ministry is all about relationships. We invest in them with both individuals and with churches. We have no desire to be your bank; we want to be your ministry partner.
November 5, 2025
For the One: A Call to Radical Alignment
The Great Commission isn't a random utterance of Jesus. It's the marching orders for the church that still stand today, including you and your church.
November 5, 2025
Taking the Gospel Back to Post-Christian Europe
What if the next great move of God isn’t coming from Europe but is going back to it? At ONE&ALL Church in Southern California, we’re preparing to send hundreds of young adults to replant the gospel in the very lands that once sent it to us.
November 5, 2025
The Missing Piece of the Great Commission
As those who have been charged with carrying out the Great Commission to go to all the world making disciples, let's remember that baptizing and teaching is not complete if obedience is not also taught and modeled by those who claim to follow Jesus.
March 2, 2025
Solutions for Ministry Stress
The fear of the Lord leads to a life of holiness and obedience, while the comfort of the Holy Spirit brings peace and strength amid trials. These two spiritual qualities enable us to be all God wants us to be as we seek to live out Jesus' mission.
December 31, 2024
Your Best Investment
What a blessing it is to give to the local church in tithes and offerings, but also to allow investments with the Solomon Foundation to work toward building the kingdom.
July 1, 2024
Evangelism and Discipleship . . . Evangelism Comes First
The word "evangelism" seems to have fallen out of favor with many in church circles these days and been replaced with the word "discipleship." . . .
October 9, 2023
October 15 | The Widows and the Seven
The main text for this lesson has often been considered a template for selecting leaders in the church—particularly deacons. But maybe it is a template on how the early church resolved problems. . . .
June 13, 2023
SPOTLIGHT: Fast-Growing Ohio Church Merges with Neighbor
The past year-plus has been eventful for First Church of Christ in Fairborn, Ohio—the fastest-growing “very small” church in Christian Standard’s 2022 Church Report. . . . The changes include merging, moving, and adopting a new name: New Beginnings Christian Church. . . .
May 31, 2023
SPOTLIGHT: Ocala Christian Church’s New Building, Baptistery Paying Dividends
A baptistery can make a world of difference. Ocala Christian Church discovered this during 2022 when the small church in central Florida baptized 31 people. That translated into a 27.9 percent baptism ratio (baptisms per 100 in average attendance). . . .
May 16, 2023
SPOTLIGHT: Nebraska Church Enjoys Strong Recovery from COVID
Sometimes, a story of growth is a story of recovery. Such is the case at First Christian Church in Norfolk, Neb.—which had one of the highest growth rates in Christian Standard’s 2022 Church Report, published in the current print magazine. . . .
May 1, 2023
SPOTLIGHT: ‘Pretty Feisty’ River Christian Church Embraces Big Growth
River Christian Church has seen God work in some interesting places—including the three years they met at a local funeral home and cemetery. The church also has seen God work at some interesting times—like during the COVID-19 pandemic when they have grown weekend attendance from 950 to nearly 1,500. . . .
May 1, 2023
The Christian Standard Church Report for 2022: A Year of Transition
By Kent E. Fillinger When I look back at the last few years through the filter of our annual survey results, I would argue that 2020 was a year of crisis, 2021 was a year of adaptation, and 2022 was a year of transition. In-Person vs. Online Worship Attendance One exciting transition churches experienced last year was more people shifted back to in-person worship from watching online. Comparing 2022 in-person worship attendance data to 2021 showed attendance increases for churches of all sizes. The megachurches (with average weekly worship attendance of 2,000 or more) suffered the greatest attendance declines during
March 1, 2023
An Example Worth Following: A Tribute to Ben Merold
Ben Merold, 96, a beloved minister in Christian churches and churches of Christ for almost three-quarters of a century, died November 16, 2022. _ _ _ By Doyle Roth Ben Merold lived his life fully committed to Jesus. He served God by serving many churches over his ministry career and touching the lives of millions of people. Ben truly was a man of God. Don Sanders, leadership development pastor at Harvester Christian Church and director of The Merold Institute, said this about Ben when he introduced him at a graduation ceremony not long ago: Ben is a church consultant, a
November 16, 2022
Beloved Christian Minister Ben Merold Dies
Ben Merold, 96, a beloved minister in Christian churches and churches of Christ for almost three-quarters of a century, died Wednesday morning. Merold was known as a church builder and a friend of the small church.
September 1, 2022
8 Ways Church Growth Has Reached an Idolatrous Level (Part 2)
By Tyler McKenzie Church growth shouldn’t be the crowning pursuit of success among leadership. And yet, we’ve framed the pursuit of growth as natural and celebrate its attainment as health. In part one of this article, I shared four concerning trends I’ve observed in American evangelical churches/ministries that can be explained (at least in part) as a consequence of the idolatrous pursuit of the gospel of growth. In this conclusion to the article, I share four more trends that may be indicative of that pursuit. 5. A Culture of Competition over Church (big C) Unity Sometimes I question if this
