Sacred cows exist in every church, but in dying ones and those in need of replanting, they problem is exacerbated. Today we tackle how to deal with sacred cows in a replant.

Today's Listener Question:

FROM KEVIN

The church I’m replanting has sacred cows everywhere. I know these are landmines in every church. Is there anything specific to replants in dealing with sacred cows?

Episode Highlights:

* It's always better to identify sacred cow landmines in the church before your step on them.

* You need to genuinely try to understand why certain sacred cows exist in your church.

* Sacred cows are born when members trade their love and affection for Jesus in exchange for love and affection for pews or a parlor.

* We don't ever want people to put their hope and trust in things that are temporal.

* Moving someone's focus from the temporal to the eternal takes time and patience.

The five ways to deal with sacred cows in a replant are:

* Identify the sacred cows

* Make Jesus the sole object of your worship

* Help members understand that there is no joy to be found in protecting temporary and temporal things

* Understand the spiritual warfare involved with sacred cows

* Help members see that the more they will want what Jesus wants, the less they will want what they desire

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

* ChurchReplanters.com

* ChurchAnswers.com

* Replanter Assessment

* Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com

Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.