What makes Small Churches unique?
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 »
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 »
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 »
Let’s revisit the stats. Ninety percent of the churches in the world have less than 200 people. Eighty percent have less than 100. Why? It’s been clearly established in both The Grasshopper Myth and on this site that the abundance of Small Churches in the world is not evidence of a problem to be fixed,
Why Are There So Many Small Churches? (Some Assumptions & Realities) Read More »
“I’m taking my family to a bigger church.” I doubt if there’s a Small Church pastor that hasn’t felt the pain of hearing those words. I was reminded of that pain while getting re-acquainted with a friend over coffee a few weeks ago. My friend is a semi-volunteer staff member at a church that used
Only In a Small Church: Personalized Major League Coaching Read More »
Jesus was a Small Church pastor? I think so. Let me show you. Jesus didn’t pastor the crowds. He taught them. Just before teaching and eventually feeding the largest crowd recorded in the Gospels, Jesus called them “sheep without a shepherd”. That’s like calling them “a church without a pastor.” Think about that. Jesus was
Small Church Hall of Fame: Jesus Was a Small Church Pastor Read More »
OK, so technically, this one’s true. My church can’t compete with megachurches. Trying to do what they do on a Small Church scale would, did, and does lead to disaster and burnout. What makes the statement a myth is that it’s built on a faulty premise. The premise that we’re supposed to be like megachurches,
Grasshopper Myth: My Church Can’t Compete With Megachurches Read More »
People love Small Churches. It’s pastors who have a problem with them. The Grasshopper Myth book has been in the hands of the members of my church for about a month. And I’m currently teaching through the principles of it on Sunday mornings. (They’re being recorded and will be podcast here soon.) So the feedback
Surprising Insights About Church Growth from Small Church Members Read More »
More evidence has just come in. Small Churches are the next big thing. I wasn’t planning to revisit this idea for a while, but a couple days ago I read a post by Thom Rainer, with the curious title “The Death of the Mall and the Future of Church Buildings.” In it, Thom made some
Small Churches REALLY ARE the Next Big Thing Read More »
