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It’s Time for Small Churches to Become Great Churches
Where are all the great Small Churches? Would you know one if you saw one? They exist. There’s no doubt about that. There are great Small Churches in every country, serving every ethnic group and virtually every language. They worship in every imaginable style of music, and they meet in every type of building – including
Why Are There So Many Unhealthy Small Churches? (Don’t Worry, It’s Good News)
“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
The Man Who Saved the World by Thinking Small: A D-Day Tribute
If you’re a Small Church pastor who feels like your church has been devalued because of your size, you’re in good company. One of the the unsung heroes of World War II faced the same problem. Andrew Jackson Higgins was a New Orleans boat builder who saw the importance of something very small, that no
We’re Pushed to Build Bigger Churches – Who Catches Us When We Fall?
The push to build bigger churches continues full steam ahead in many (maybe most) American denominations. In the past few weeks, I’ve received several cries for help from Small Church pastors because of the damage this push is causing. Today I’m posting two of those messages. One was a comment on this blog. The other was a
How to Shepherd a 100+ Member Church Without Losing Your Sanity
Most Small Church pastors are shepherds. It’s not our choice, it’s our calling. There are good reasons for pastors of large churches to move from the shepherding/pastoring model to the ranching/management model. But most pastors aren’t called to be ranchers or to manage systems. Most of us are called to pastor people. In the first
Size ≠ Health: My Friendly Critique of a Rick Warren Interview
I like Rick Warren. A lot. I’ve never met him, but I’ve learned a lot from him. And we both live in Orange County, California, so we have several friends in common. They all speak very highly of his kindness, integrity and generous spirit. “Genuine” is the word they use most often. As much as I
It’s Not Magic: Great Pastors Come from Great Struggles
What makes a great pastor? The bad news is, it’s not easy. The good news is, you’re probably doing it already. Great coaches and great pastors some from the same place. And no, you don’t have to be a sports fan to get something from this analogy. Have you ever wondered where all the superstar
Pastoring Shouldn’t Be This Hard (And 4 Ways to Make It Easier)
Being a pastor is the fourth hardest job in America. That’s been the common wisdom floating around the internet for a couple years now. It may be true. But it shouldn’t be true. It certainly doesn’t need to be true. I think it’s time to stop making it true. There are two reasons people believe that statement to be
The Main Thing I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Pastor
“They didn’t tell me this in bible school.” How many times has every Small Church pastor said that under our breath while dreading the upcoming deacon meeting, trying to take our first weekend off in years, or doing random repairs on the church building? Thom Rainer surveyed a bunch of pastors on that question, without regard to church
