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
Small is not a problem, a virtue or an excuse
Many big church principles don’t translate well to a small church context
Big church principles center on process, systems & curriculum
Small church principles center on relationships, culture & history
It’s OK to want to be your church’s pastor
Session 2: Why Is My Church So Weird?
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
Discover what your church does well, then do it on purpose
- The Sweet Spot: God, the Church & the Pastor’s Hearts Meet
- The Default: God & the Pastor, but not the Church
- The Listening Place: God & the Church, but not the Pastor
- The Danger Zone: The Church & the Pastor, but not God
Casting vision is different in a small church
- It’s important to reverse the flow of information
The Acts 2 Model for Vision-Casting
How I Was Taught Vision-Casting
Does the Church Need a John Adams’ Inauguration Moment?
Session 3: Becoming a Great Small Church
It’s OK if a pastor’s vision is helping others fulfill their vision
New generations will not build the kind of churches their parents built
Leverage the relational power of small churches to make disciples
Small churches get to emphasize mentoring over curriculum
A 5-Step Small Church Discipleship Process (That Won’t Wear Out the Pastor)
- Meet with every new believer and potential leader
- Determine how they learn and grow
- Connect them with a mature believer and the right resources
- Help them plug Into an active ministry that utilizes their gifts
- As people mature, call on them to start leading others
Use the Jethro system to find and raise up leaders
- 10, 50, 100, 1,000
- Look for Level 10 leaders, first
Emphasize “come and do” events over “come and watch” events
When thinking small saved the world
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Karl Vaters • CornerstoneFV.com
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