What makes Small Churches unique?
“There are no Small Churches.” I’ve heard that sentiment expressed on many occasions from well-meaning people after I tell them I pastor a Small Church. I get where they’re coming from because I used to be one of them. I said “there are no small churches” for years because I believed the lie that Small […]
Six Reasons Why “There Are No Small Churches” Isn’t True Read More »
“There are no Small Churches.” I’ve heard that sentiment expressed on many occasions from well-meaning people after I tell them I pastor a Small Church. I get where they’re coming from because I used to be one of them. I said “there are no small churches” for years because I believed the lie that Small
Six Reasons Why “There Are No Small Churches” Isn’t True Read More »
“I like the idea of Small Churches. But if they’re so great, why do I see so many more unhealthy Small Churches than unhealthy big churches?” That’s the question I was asked last week during an extended conversation with a Small Church pastor. The question wasn’t from cynicism or unkindness. It was out of genuine
Why Are There So Many Unhealthy Small Churches? (Don’t Worry, It’s Good News) Read More »
“They just don’t get it.” How many times have I said that while shaking my head after reading articles, blogposts and books about church leadership? I could write a book. Oh, right… I know I’m not alone in this. If you’re a Small Church pastor, you’ve had the same experience on many occasions. The articles
They Just Don’t Get It: When Big Church Solutions Meet Small Church Realities Read More »
When did all the preachers become statistics junkies? I can’t remember the last church leadership book or seminar that didn’t emphasize the value of setting goals for your church, then using some kind of metric to determine whether-or-not we are succeeding at reaching them. I understand the need to assess our progress. If we don’t
Only In a Small Church: When Stories Beat Stats Read More »
This is my 100th blogpost. 100 posts in 154 days. That’s two blogposts every three days. Or just under 5 a week. It’s time to slow down. Just a little. NewSmallChurch.com officially started on November 19, 2012. All but three of the 100 posts in those 154 days were written by me (thank you, Craig
I know it’s practically heresy to propose this. But your church may not need a mission statement. Since the 1990s, there may be no more widely accepted rule in church growth circles than the expectation that every church needs a mission statement. It was taught in seminars and written in books. I remember at least
Only In a Small Church: You May Not Need a Mission Statement Read More »
It looks like Small Churches really are becoming a big deal. The Spring 2013 issue of Enrichment Journal is all about the big impact of Small Churches. Way to go, guys! There aren’t many magazines that would take an entire issue to do that. The last page of each issue is called the “Final Word”, and
My “Final Word” on Small Churches Read More »
New Small Church is not about putting others down for having opinions that are different than mine. And I’m not a fan of stirring up controversy for the sake of controversy. But I’m going to walk close to that line in this post. Stick with me, though. By the end, I hope you’ll agree that I stay on
My Church Isn’t Growing – Don’t Assume You Know Why Read More »
Small Churches aren’t just smaller versions of big churches. They have unique gifts, challenges and methods of operation. But not everyone realizes that fact. Including some Small Church pastors. This often leads to frustration when we go to ministerial conferences or read pastoral books. Most (usually all) of the speakers and authors are from large
Only In a Small Church: Sometimes You Gotta Kill Cockroaches Read More »
