Quebec PAOC 2018

Session 1: Redefining Success In Ministry

Taught by Karl Vaters

 

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 Jesus 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?

 

People will come to small churches, but they won’t give up quality to do so

  • Quality looks different in a small church than a big church

 

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

 

 

Why is there such a big divide between big and small churches?

 

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

 

Big churches need to prioritize process, systems & programs

 

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

 



Session 3: 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

  1. Great Commandment
  2. Great Commission
  3. Equipping God’s people
  • Unhealthy churches aren’t doing the Great Commandment, the Great Commission or equipping God’s people
  • Loving, but ineffective churches are doing the Great Commandment, but not the Great Commission or equipping God;s people
  • Overwhelmed pastors are doing the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, but are not equipping Gods people
  • Healthy, effective churches and pastors are doing all three

 

When thinking small changed the world

 

 



Session 4: Becoming A Healthy Church, No Matter Your Size

 

Discover what your church does well, then do it on purpose

 

Don’t put a mission statement into words until you’re already putting it into action

 

Use the “closet rule” for ministries: Don’t add a new one until you’ve dropped an old one

  • What does your church do well, that you would like to do more of?
  • What does your church do poorly, that you would like to do less of?

 

Move out of a destination mindset and into a process orientation

 

Hearing God’s Heart Together

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

 

 



Session 5: Finding & Mentoring Volunteers In Today’s (And Tomorrow’s) Small Church

 

Challenges for the current and future church

  • The way people give is changing
  • The way people commit is changing
  • The way people attend is changing
  • The way people trust is changing
  • Brand loyalty is dead

 

New generations will not build the kind of churches their parents built

  • Previous generations had relationships and built structures
  • This generation has structures and needs to build relationships

 

Millennials don’t exist

 

Creating margin for increased health and effective ministry

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

 

Use the Jethro system to raise up leaders

  • 10, 50, 100, 1,000
  • Look for Level 10 leaders, first

 

Find leaders by looking for servants

  • Value passion and willingness over experience and status

 

 


NewSmallChurch.com • ChristianityToday.com/Karl-Vaters

Facebook.com/NewSmallChurch • @KarlVaters • CornerstoneFV.com

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