Local vrs. Mega Church

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Cindy

200 and under is just the right size for a church. IMO

That is why you should keep a very strict dress code. Helps keep the number down as you kick people out who don't toe the line!

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by CC1

That is why you should keep a very strict dress code. Helps keep the number down as you kick people out who don't toe the line!

Yeah....accuse them of not wanting to follow the Bible and out the door they go!

[MissBrattified]

I don't think it's a problem for a church to be big as long as the staff is adequate. However, there does come a point where one pastor can no longer effectively handle a congregation and its needs. At that point, staff needs to be added or maybe adding a small groups program.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I don't think it's a problem for a church to be big as long as the staff is adequate. However, there does come a point where one pastor can no longer effectively handle a congregation and its needs. At that point, staff needs to be added or maybe adding a small groups program.

I read a very convincing article some years ago that said for every 300 people you needed a dedicated pastor. The failure to restructure and grow staff as a church grows can be devastating to the overall success of the church.

If ministry is too thin then the church tends to be shallow and people do not get pllugged in as they should.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by CC1

I read a very convincing article some years ago that said for every 300 people you needed a dedicated pastor. The failure to restructure and grow staff as a church grows can be devastating to the overall success of the church.

If ministry is too thin then the church tends to be shallow and people do not get pllugged in as they should.

I would say for 300 people you need probably at least 10 Pastors. Every one of them must be fully dedicated to Christ.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by PastorTLArt

In your opinion, When do you consider a church to be too "large"?

As a pastor, I would have a problem having a congregation that is so large that
I can't know my sheep. I know that mega churches have multiple pastors in many different functions, but How can that be a good thing? I think a congregation of a couple hundred is ok but when the numbers get too high it becomes kinda impersonal and more like a machine.

This is only my opinion, I would love to hear some input, especially from Pastors and Ministers, but Would love to hear the "voice of the pew" speak on this one too, after all, Its you guys that We are here to serve!

Wow, it's nice to hear a pastor express this. Great points. I'd like to try to answer a question you had from my perspective. However, you might disagree... and that's okay. I'm just sharing my thoughts. You had asked...

Originally Posted by PastorTLArt

In your opinion, When do you consider a church to be too "large"?

That is perhaps one of the most important questions in organized Christianity. And until about 5 years ago... I'd not have a real solid answer for that. However, something in Scripture was brought to my attention by a brother named Scott, a prophet of God, that I befriended back in those days. Scott asked me the same question just to see what I'd say. After hearing my answer he mentioned something that stuck with me. He said, "Christopher, form must follow function. The form of a church will be determined by if it is functioning biblically. And yes, this includes the size of a church." Scott brought to my attention I Corinthians 14. He explained how in this passage Paul tells the Corinthians how their meetings were to function. I'll skip past the parts about the "spiritual gifts" and move straight into the meat of the matter. We read...

I Corinthians 14:29-37 (ESV)
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

Now... let's examine the meaning of each verse.

29 - Let at least two or three men anointed to deliver God's Word address the group, and let those attending consider and evaluate what is said.

30 - If a revelatory understanding is given to one of those attending, let the brother presently addressing the group be silent.

31 - Because everyone present in the meeting may freely prophesy before the group one by one, so that everyone will learn and so that everyone will be encouraged.

32 - The spirits of those speaking to the group prophetically (under the anointing) are to remain under the authority of the two or three anointed men guiding the meeting.

33 - God doesn't like gatherings to be in confusion, with everyone talking and interrupting each other, but rather God likes things to be as He is, orderly and peaceful.

34 - Women should interrupt or pose as distractions in the church gatherings.

35 - If there is something they want to know more about, let them ask their husbands at home. Because it is shameful for a woman to dominate the meeting with her questions.

36 - Why do you not like your meetings governed, were you (the Corinthians) the only ones who received the oracles of God? Or are you the only ones who have received word of the Gospel?

37- Here's how important the order I've written to you is: If any of you believes that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you concerning how meetings should function are a direct command of the Lord.

Essentially Paul instructed the Corinthians to have participative meetings wherein everyone present could speak and address the group. It was like a "group study". And of course, we read that the early church primarily met in houses. Therefore the regular meetings were most likely not very large. In essence... they were house churches. Of course believers gathered in large masses in town squares etc. for special addresses to the church or their local community. However, it would appear that regular meetings were smaller and included body ministry wherein everyone participated.

What Scott then explained was this... "When a church is too large to fulfill this mandate from Paul... it's too large." Therefore, if a church is too large to faciliate everyone in attendance being able to address the group and be used of God... it's too large.

Thanks for reading. This was just something that came to mind when I read your question.

God bless and keep you.

[Aquila]

Local vs. Mega church?

Hmmm... I like "micro-churches". lol

[Digging4Truth]

When a church gets bigger it should consider sending some of their best & brightest and starting another work. That isn't church division... that is church multiplication. And then when those two churches reach the larger size again then both of them should do the same thing.

That would be unselfish and commendable. That's the difference between building Gods' Kingdom and building ones personal kingdom.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

When a church gets bigger it should consider sending some of their best & brightest and starting another work. That isn't church division... that is church multiplication. And then when those two churches reach the larger size again then both of them should do the same thing.

That would be unselfish and commendable. That's the difference between building Gods' Kingdom and building ones personal kingdom.

True.

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

When a church gets bigger it should consider sending some of their best & brightest and starting another work. That isn't church division... that is church multiplication. And then when those two churches reach the larger size again then both of them should do the same thing.

That would be unselfish and commendable. That's the difference between building Gods' Kingdom and building ones personal kingdom.

If I remember correctly the Assemblies of God when a church is 80 percent of capacity they must start a new work or build a larger building. There is a very large AG church here in Jacksonville that started a new daughter work church in Middleburg for that reason.