Where Your Church is, & How To Get it Where You Want it to be?

[rapturefish]

How many people are there at your church now?
What do you hope your church to become, and how do you see it getting there? What are the strategies?

 

[rapturefish]

Hope that wasn't too many questions... []

My church has about 100 people, is one year old and hopes to become a huge church that wins souls to the kingdom. We want to be one of the most spiritually mature churches in the country (Australia) and be seen as a soul-winning church. We plan to get there with all hands on deck, and with a sense of purpose, flourishing in the destiny that God has fixed for each of us, being established in the truths of grace.

Although we have been around for a pretty short time, we have set up many ministries, more than 50 I believe. Anything from men's and women's ministries, youth, sunday school, drama, worship, songwriting, bible study, young workers, etc. the list goes on.

The mindset of our church is very good in direction, vision, purpose and belief that we will get to where we are aiming.

blessings,

 

[Jon_]

We want to be one of the most spiritually mature churches in the country (Australia) and be seen as a soul-winning church.

I almost hate to say this, but it seems that, in America, anyway, these two types of church are incompatible.

The church that I attend now is a mega-church: about 3500 members. Needless to say, doctrine is small potatoes. This church is all about worship and preaching the Gospel, which is good! However, it leaves the more mature members, like myself and my family, missing out on a lot of stuff. In order to reach as many people as possible, our pastor tries to teach according to the lowest common denominator. He further avoids "touchy" subjects, like the total depravity of man and his inherent unrighteousness. These kinds of things are offensive to non-believers, and while being entirely biblical, it seems that he doesn't want to paint the church as preaching "fire and brimstone." But it's hard to deny the success the church has had. Our pastor's humble and loving character really wins membership (hard to tell what the "elect rate" might be).

Anyway, that church is planting a new one, which my family and I are going to be a part of. We're going to be a part of the church plant team. This new church is lead by a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate with a zeal for the Word and the preaching of doctrine. Our new pastor has come right out and said that he doubts it will be a very big church. He will definitely be preaching the Gospel and will be faithfully praying that he would be enabled to win souls, but he does not suspect that the church will grow over 400. It will be a church for those who really want to grow in their faith. The mega-churches get 'em saved, and we'll be getting 'em "learned." That's the objective of this new church. I pray earnestly to God that he would enable me to be a part of this new church in a loving, serving way. Whether it's having an ordained teaching role, or simply being able to love people one at a time, I pray that I would have the opportunity to serve.

I'm not saying that churches that teach sound doctrine and lots of biblical material with traditional worship are incapable of drawing huge numbers. I'm simply saying that most people don't want that, so you will likely not draw as many members as churches with more modern, less "offensive" formats. Perhaps that's a good thing, though.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[~Heavens_Bride~]

I almost hate to say this, but it seems that, in America, anyway, these two types of church are incompatible.

The church that I attend now is a mega-church: about 3500 members. Needless to say, doctrine is small potatoes. This church is all about worship and preaching the Gospel, which is good! However, it leaves the more mature members, like myself and my family, missing out on a lot of stuff. In order to reach as many people as possible, our pastor tries to teach according to the lowest common denominator. He further avoids "touchy" subjects, like the total depravity of man and his inherent unrighteousness. These kinds of things are offensive to non-believers, and while being entirely biblical, it seems that he doesn't want to paint the church as preaching "fire and brimstone." But it's hard to deny the success the church has had. Our pastor's humble and loving character really wins membership (hard to tell what the "elect rate" might be).

Anyway, that church is planting a new one, which my family and I are going to be a part of. We're going to be a part of the church plant team. This new church is lead by a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate with a zeal for the Word and the preaching of doctrine. Our new pastor has come right out and said that he doubts it will be a very big church. He will definitely be preaching the Gospel and will be faithfully praying that he would be enabled to win souls, but he does not suspect that the church will grow over 400. It will be a church for those who really want to grow in their faith. The mega-churches get 'em saved, and we'll be getting 'em "learned." That's the objective of this new church. I pray earnestly to God that he would enable me to be a part of this new church in a loving, serving way. Whether it's having an ordained teaching role, or simply being able to love people one at a time, I pray that I would have the opportunity to serve.

I'm not saying that churches that teach sound doctrine and lots of biblical material with traditional worship are incapable of drawing huge numbers. I'm simply saying that most people don't want that, so you will likely not draw as many members as churches with more modern, less "offensive" formats. Perhaps that's a good thing, though.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

WHAT AN AWESOME POST!!!


My largest objection to Mega Churches is this: It is all about being a Mega Church. The attendance grows, but individual discipleship and GROWTH lack.

I believe a large church should do EXACTLY what your is doing. DONT BE A MEGA CHURCH, split it up - plant smaller churches elsewhere so the gospel is spread...and as those smaller churches grow, split again...THAT is spreading the word.

As for my church, we are a small congregation...about 80. We have no desire to be a Mega church, but we have a deep desire to outreach to this needy community. The plan, is obviously to grow, but not necessarily in numbers according to attendance, but in spiritual growth, which, in turn, will outreach to the community and spread seeds. If those who are saved decide to attend our church regularily...GREAT - if they chose another place of worship - GREAT TOO!!

Competitveness in churches is becoming rather tiresome. Numbers ARE important, as long as those numbers are rooted in truth, salvation, GRACE and love for the Father.....and not just to fill empty seats.

 

[Imblessed]

I guess we qualify as a mega church too. We have about 800 members and about 3000 attending each weekend.

One thing I like about our church is that our pastor is NOT afraid to preach harder stuff. He just came out of a series on grace ( 5 points of calvinism were taught ) and was very happy with the results. One thing I think he realized sometime late last year was that he was starting to preach to the lowest common denominator(like Jon was describing) and realized that the size of the church wasn't as important as the quality of the sermons.

Not all of the series are as heavy as that one on Grace, but they do seem to be more meaty than they had in the past. Which I am soo happy for. I told my pastor as much as I loved the church, I was getting bored with the sermons every week! LOL ! I "think" he appreciated my candor, because he told me I wasn't the first one to tell him that.

As far as the rest of the church, I think we are headed in just the right direction. We've got alot of outreach programs, and focus on small groups to keep the church from feeling so big, and our youth program is very good.(not just a babysitting program, but has clear in-depth teaching, even at a young age)

I worry that as we grow, we will become just another stereotypical mega church, but if the direction of preaching is any indicator, it won't happen soon.

I do want to add here, in defense of the mega-churches, that there are quite a few small churches that have the same problem in the pulpit. Not enough meat for the regular attendee, and lack of christian growth after the conversion. I just think it's magnified by the fact that crowds attract people and so there are more false christians in megachurches than in smaller ones.

I think that megachurches need to be very careful about who they let into leadership positions and make sure that it's a true christian with a gift for leadership then a person who is just looking for self-gratification.

 

[Imblessed]

WHAT AN AWESOME POST!!!


My largest objection to Mega Churches is this: It is all about being a Mega Church. The attendance grows, but individual discipleship and GROWTH lack.

I believe a large church should do EXACTLY what your is doing. DONT BE A MEGA CHURCH, split it up - plant smaller churches elsewhere so the gospel is spread...and as those smaller churches grow, split again...THAT is spreading the word.

As for my church, we are a small congregation...about 80. We have no desire to be a Mega church, but we have a deep desire to outreach to this needy community. The plan, is obviously to grow, but not necessarily in numbers according to attendance, but in spiritual growth, which, in turn, will outreach to the community and spread seeds. If those who are saved decide to attend our church regularily...GREAT - if they chose another place of worship - GREAT TOO!!

Competitveness in churches is becoming rather tiresome. Numbers ARE important, as long as those numbers are rooted in truth, salvation, GRACE and love for the Father.....and not just to fill empty seats.

I really like the idea of that part I quoted within your quote! very cool, and keeps people feeling like they are part of something bigger, instead of just another face in the crowd.....


Oh and Jon, that is so cool what you are going to be doing. I know God will bless your new church plant fully!

 

[Jon_]

Oh and Jon, that is so cool what you are going to be doing. I know God will bless your new church plant fully!

Thanks so much!

I can only speak for myself, but I'm totally psyched about what God is going to do with this new congregation. It is my hope and prayer that he will use me as he sees fit and that he would give me a heart shaped for love and service.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[rapturefish]

I don't think one can say that being a Megachurch or being a lot of smaller churches is THE way to go. Let's not get didactic about the means and look more at the fruit of the church. If many people come into the gates of heaven through a megachurch, who are we to say it's anything but good, as it is the Holy Spirit who guides people. And, with megachurches, there is the cell group, which means the biggest church is also the smallest church as the whole church meets up in little groups regularly. Unless of course that isn't the structure for some of them.

As for little churches, there is a lot to be said for them too. It's easier to feel that one is a part of a closer-knit community. There is the danger they can become insular and forget there are other churches out there. However, they can be great churches too.

I think it has more to do with the culture of a church. A megachurch can be very fruitful and impacting church. A small church can also be the same. But focus on spiritual maturity and winning souls and let each church use their own methods for that same end. For it is the end that matters and not the means.