Is there a ‘best’ size for church?
Why do so many people distrust mega-churches?
Why do others look down on small churches?
Karl Vaters of NewSmallChurch.com and Carey Nieuwhof engage that debate on this week’s episode and try to settle once and for all whether a small church, mid-sized church or megachurch is best.
Welcome to Episode 30 of the Podcast.
Guest Links
Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
Links Mentioned
8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break The 200 Attendance Mark
Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission
How to Break Church Barriers: Capturing Overlooked Opportunities for Church Growth
The Top 5 Ministry Excuses You Absolutely Need to Stop Making
3 Things You Can Do Right Away
In the end, Karl and I agree every size church plays an indispensable role in the life of the wider Church.
The best thing you can be is the most effective church you can be, and let size take care of itself.
1. Be intentional about what you define as ‘success”. Karl got so caught up into a numbers game, and he lost sight of the purpose of his ministry. He went from “shepherd to rancher” having to focus on administrative tasks while maintaining the church. He took a 40-day sabbatical from preaching and sought counseling, where he learned to redefine what it meant to be successful. Success isn’t just about a number. It doesn’t mean you have to lower the bar. Success in the kingdom of God is not about numbers; it’s something you have to figure out for yourself.
2. Become awesome at what you do. Karl said he had to get out of the mindset that he had to be a big church in order to be successful. He just had to figure out how to “do awesome” on a smaller level, and that was ok. Size has nothing to do with how capable your ministry is. If it leads to growth, it will happen organically, but it’s better to grow when your church and pastor are healthy.
3. Stop making excuses. You can use the post-Christian culture as an excuse for why your church is small, or you can embrace what you have and do phenomenal things in your ministry. There’s a myth that you have to be big to be great, and that’s not necessarily true. Success doesn’t meet a one-size-fits-all formula. When you stop making excuses, you’ll start making progress.
Quotes from Karl
CNLP 030: Small Church, Mid-sized Church or Megachurch, Which is Better? An interview with Karl Vaters Click To Tweet CNLP 030: Small Church, Mid-sized Church or Megachurch, Which is Better? An interview with Karl Vaters Click To Tweet CNLP 030: Small Church, Mid-sized Church or Megachurch, Which is Better? An interview with Karl Vaters Click To TweetA New Episode Every Week…Just Subscribe
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Next Episode: Joseph Barkley
The culture in Hollywood California is as resistant to Christianity as almost any. Church planter Joseph Barkley shares strategies around community, how to do church and innovation that are making an impact in otherwise resistant city.
Subscribe for free now, and you won’t miss Episode 31.
