with Karl Vaters

Session 1: Redefining Success In Ministry

What is The Grasshopper Myth?

The false impression that our small church ministry is less than what God says it is because we compare ourselves with others.

All the people we saw there are of great size. …We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. – Numbers 13:32-33

Three undeniable realities of pastoral ministry:

Reality #1: 80-90% of churches will never be larger than 250 people
Reality #2: 99.9% of pastors will pastor a small church for at least some time in our ministry
Reality #3: You can lead a small church well, without settling for less

Don’t fall for IKEA Envy

Small is not a problem, a virtue or an excuse

Bigger fixes nothing

Over 1 billion people choose to worship God in small churches

Pastoring a small church is not a penalty for doing something wrong

It’s a specialty, and it’s worth doing well

Ask for help

Session 2: Thinking Like A Great Small Church

Over 90% of our churches are under 200, over 80% are under 100

First Reaction: Oh no!
Second Reaction: So what?
Final Reaction: Now what?

Many big church principles don’t translate well to a small church context

The law of large numbers: the bigger the crowd, the more predictably they behave

The smaller the crowd, the more impact each person has – for good and bad

This is why metrics are harder in a small church

Big church principles center on process, systems & curriculum

Small church principles center on relationships, culture & history

Creating margin for increased health and effective ministry

Minister for the size you are, while setting up systems for double your size

Hearing God’s Heart Together

The Sweet Spot: God, the church and the pastor’s hearts meet
The Default: God and the pastor, but not the church
The Listening Place: God and the church, but not the pastor
The Danger Zone: The Church and the pastor, but not God

Don’t do what our founders did, think like our founders thought

Ordination Service

A New Way To Look At Vision-Casting

The Acts 2 model for vision-casting (from Small Church Essentials)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. … 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd… (Acts 2:1-4 & 14)

It’s OK for a pastor’s vision to be helping God’s people fulfill their vision

The three essential elements of a healthy, effective church

Great Commandment
Great Commission
Equipping the Saints

Unhealthy churches aren’t doing the Great Commandment, the Great Commission or equipping the saints
Loving, but ineffective churches are doing the Great Commandment, but not the Great Commission or equipping the saints
Overwhelmed pastors are doing the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, but are not equipping the saints
Healthy, effective churches and pastors are doing all three

When thinking small changed the world