Can a church grow too quickly?

This question is somehow funny, because can a church actually grow too quickly? In my own opinion, yes, a church can grow quickly, and there is nothing wrong with a church growing quickly. In fact, we should desire to see the church grow in numbers and in impact.

But the bigger question is: is the church growing healthily?

Because it is not enough for a church to grow in numbers. What is happening to the people who are coming?

Are they growing spiritually?
Are their lives changing?
Are they becoming more like Christ?
Are they being discipled?
Are they becoming committed to the things of God?
Are they also becoming people who can serve and contribute to the growth of others?

Because you can have a church that is growing very quickly in numbers but is not necessarily growing at the same level in spiritual maturity, leadership, discipleship and structure. And that can become a problem.

Jesus Himself gave the instruction in Luke 14:23, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” So there is nothing wrong with wanting God’s house to be full.

But then we have to ask ourselves another question:

Why do we want the house to be full?

Is it because we want to see more people saved?
Is it because we want to see lives transformed?
Is it because we want more people to encounter Christ and become disciples?

Or is it because we want the crowd, the recognition, the money, the influence or the feeling that comes with having a large church?

That is where we need to be careful.

So, yes, let your church grow quickly if God is bringing people. Don’t deliberately slow down healthy growth because you’re afraid of becoming a large church. But while the numbers are increasing, make sure your capacity for discipleship, leadership, pastoral care and spiritual development is also increasing.

Because church growth is not just about how many people you can gather; it is also about what those people are becoming.

A healthy church should be growing in numbers, in depth and in impact.

The goal shouldn’t simply be, “How quickly can we fill the building?”

It should be, “How quickly can we help the people God is bringing us become established, mature and fruitful followers of Christ?”