Jesus didn’t value crowds. He didn’t even trust them (John 2:23-24). But he valued the people in them.
Even though they chased him everywhere he went, Jesus and crowds had, at best, a strained relationship. As pastors, we need to keep this in mind as we look at how many (or few) people come to our churches every week.
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While the Church Growth Movement created larger churches and opportunities, it also created larger dangers.
“In the first twenty years of the movement, research focused on principles; lately the focus has been on discovering new techniques, programs, or methods.” (Elmer Towns)
A conversation with Eugene Peterson’s biographer on how simple pastoral presence is the healthy alternative to Christian celebrity.
