Thursday, January 08, 2009
Big Church Blues
I like large congregations. I really do. There is excitement, multiplication of efforts, pooling of resources, professional staff expertise, exciting worship, and I really could go on and on. But this week I have been frustrated with some of the problems that are unique to big churches.
One of my flock came to ask me to pray for a couple at church who are in marital crisis. I didn't know who they were. Looked up their px. in the church directory. Didn't know them. How am I supposed to shepherd a flock larger than some towns?
Realized I already have 6 people asking to meet for study, counsel, prayer, or mentoring this week. Students are not even back yet. Too many people -- not enough time. Maybe the problem is in being a visible elder in front of over a thousand people on a regular basis and inviting them to share their life and call for help. I could say that in a crowd of a hundred. And they would all know all the other elders.
Someone is always unhappy. Singing was both too fast and too slow, too high and too low. Staff should be renamed the apostles, staff should all be fired. We don't communicate enough, can't we cut down on all the announcements. You and Phil preach too long, why don't we spend more time in the Word. I know that happens in all size congregations but the bigger we get, the more this happens.
We have too many elders to oversee the flock, not enough to shepherd.
I met a visitor last night who is not a Christian. We'll get together and study, but I wonder how many like him we are missing. Easy to lose them in a crowd.
Sometimes I wish I was in a church of about fifty members so we could all really be family. We could all help each other and everyone would be critical to the mission and function of the congregation. We could really connect with visitors and might baptize 15 or 20 people a year. Which would be about like us baptizing 700 people at SH this year.
So I am convinced one answer to this is small groups. We have to get everyone connected to some kind of group where they belong: youth group, Bible class, small group, shepherding group, family group, friend group, tennis parents group. Just some connection with people who will know if you're in trouble or who you can call if you are. Some group to bring your friends and family into and see them brought to Jesus. So our congregation of 2000 becomes 100 small congregations connected together.
We are actually in three groups: our small group, the elders (yes, in many ways we function as a group within the congregation), and our family group (in-laws, us, kids, and grandkids).
So are most of you (SH members, or those who worship elsewhere) in a group? What does it look like?
One of my flock came to ask me to pray for a couple at church who are in marital crisis. I didn't know who they were. Looked up their px. in the church directory. Didn't know them. How am I supposed to shepherd a flock larger than some towns?
Realized I already have 6 people asking to meet for study, counsel, prayer, or mentoring this week. Students are not even back yet. Too many people -- not enough time. Maybe the problem is in being a visible elder in front of over a thousand people on a regular basis and inviting them to share their life and call for help. I could say that in a crowd of a hundred. And they would all know all the other elders.
Someone is always unhappy. Singing was both too fast and too slow, too high and too low. Staff should be renamed the apostles, staff should all be fired. We don't communicate enough, can't we cut down on all the announcements. You and Phil preach too long, why don't we spend more time in the Word. I know that happens in all size congregations but the bigger we get, the more this happens.
We have too many elders to oversee the flock, not enough to shepherd.
I met a visitor last night who is not a Christian. We'll get together and study, but I wonder how many like him we are missing. Easy to lose them in a crowd.
Sometimes I wish I was in a church of about fifty members so we could all really be family. We could all help each other and everyone would be critical to the mission and function of the congregation. We could really connect with visitors and might baptize 15 or 20 people a year. Which would be about like us baptizing 700 people at SH this year.
So I am convinced one answer to this is small groups. We have to get everyone connected to some kind of group where they belong: youth group, Bible class, small group, shepherding group, family group, friend group, tennis parents group. Just some connection with people who will know if you're in trouble or who you can call if you are. Some group to bring your friends and family into and see them brought to Jesus. So our congregation of 2000 becomes 100 small congregations connected together.
We are actually in three groups: our small group, the elders (yes, in many ways we function as a group within the congregation), and our family group (in-laws, us, kids, and grandkids).
So are most of you (SH members, or those who worship elsewhere) in a group? What does it look like?
Comments:
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We are in a home church and loving it. It is amazing to worship with a small group with our kids and adults together. Worshiping in a home is so much more involving. We meet weekly, eat together, share the Lord's Supper, and then we sing with the kids and talk about a scripture. We are able to change our plans on a moment's notice. The kids are encouraged to be a part of the worship time. As one person in our group likes to say, Jesus is the leader.
My question is, can a "big" church encourage this sort of gathering and still survive in a traditional brick-and-mortar type setup?
I may have said too much...I'll sign off now.
My question is, can a "big" church encourage this sort of gathering and still survive in a traditional brick-and-mortar type setup?
I may have said too much...I'll sign off now.
Nathaniel,
As you know, that is what we are trying at Southern Hills. Two things we are trying to emphasize. One is that the families in home churches worship once a week with the larger family (one of the Sunday assemblies or HIP). This gives a chance to stay connected to the extended family. This is also part of the thinking behind the Civic Center Christmas service. It gave the whole family a chance to worship together.
As to the brick and mortar, even in our huge building program all of the construction is about facilities for groups, outreach, fellowship, etc. We are not building a larger auditorium. I think we will continue to move toward multiple assemblies with varying communication styles and in different settings.
I am excited to hear about how well things are going with your group. Hope to worship with you guys one day.
steve
As you know, that is what we are trying at Southern Hills. Two things we are trying to emphasize. One is that the families in home churches worship once a week with the larger family (one of the Sunday assemblies or HIP). This gives a chance to stay connected to the extended family. This is also part of the thinking behind the Civic Center Christmas service. It gave the whole family a chance to worship together.
As to the brick and mortar, even in our huge building program all of the construction is about facilities for groups, outreach, fellowship, etc. We are not building a larger auditorium. I think we will continue to move toward multiple assemblies with varying communication styles and in different settings.
I am excited to hear about how well things are going with your group. Hope to worship with you guys one day.
steve
Anytime you and Marsha want to come and fellowship with us at our home gathering, just let us know! There is always plenty of food, wonderful families, and Jesus!! It doesn't get much better than that!
Truthfully, our family is too busy doing stuff in the "brick-and-mortar" church that a small group would be "just one more thing". We know people, and as you know, we are close to some people, but they aren't people that I see at the building. Lots of service, but not much community happenin' for us...
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