Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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!

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

Pastor TLA, I am of the opinion that one man cannot possibly handle all the spiritual needs of even a couple hundred people. Some people have complex issues that require sound spiritual advice.

I think Jethro's sound advice in Exodus 18:13-27 to Moses is something God allowed Moses to do. While I know we are not under any OT law, the advice Jethro gave was not law. :)

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

In my opinion, a church should be a living organism....which means to me - once a church gets to a certain size, they should plant a daughter work, send a strong core group over there, and just keep that process going.....

But, that's just my opinion.........

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

:highfive

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

hmmmm....I would think that the total avoidance of the "machine" would be necessary in order to really pastor folks.

I would think that the congregation should be only large enough for the Pastor to still be able to minister one on one when necessary. I like the daughterwork concept - would like it even more if the work was autonomous - once it is established of course.

Building a spiritual work and not a business should be the goal...IMHO.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

As a church grows you must restructure and add more pastors so that some pastor knows each saints name.

Do you think Peter knew the name of each of he 3,000 on the day of Pentecost?

I don't expect the senior pastor of a large church to know my name but I do want opportunities to get involved in smaller groups, classes, etc where some pastor or pastors do.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

We are part of a church plant and this is fun to be part of something on the ground floor. To watch something grow and blossom.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

That is us also. We started going to the church we are at now about 1 1/2 years ago just when they moved into a new building that seats right at 200. Between the three Sunday services they were probably running around 200.

We started 2012 running about 275 and ended the year averaging 400-450. Now we are poised to move into a new building next month. We will start with seating for about 300 so a total of 900 between the three services. There is room to add more seats up to about 600 so we won't max out on space at the new location until we hit around 1800 people.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

Nothing in itself wrong with a large Church. The New Covenant Apostolic Church practiced multiple eldership. Many ministires available for service. They WORKED with their own hands rather than demanding a salary.

Their is supposed to be one Church per town. The Church of Yeshua Christ. The ministries can go to the various groups that may be meeting in accord with each other.

Yes I know this the ideal and not by any means the reality at present.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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!:happydance

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

:lol

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

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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...

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.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

Local vs. Mega church?

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

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

True.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

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.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

That method would grow the overall kingdom faster but this is not always the true end goal of those involved in the decision making process. The cult of personality can often play into this.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

Great points Aquila and Digging!

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

Different pastors have different gifting in size they can pastor. Not all can pastor even a hundred. Some lots more. Need good leadership skills to pastor a large church.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

I don't think there is a such thing as a church that is too large, based on its size alone.

Assemblies of 30,000 can be lead and managed effectively and Assemblies of 50 can be mislead and mismanaged.

My local church is a mega-church. It has its drawbacks and it has its positives too.

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

At long last a German post I can agree with!

Re: Local vrs. Mega Church
 

But we have to ask... since Paul gave us an order to how our gatherings should take place and defined them as a "command from the Lord"... how large can a congregation become before it's unable to allow for the participatory order that Paul established???

To me, that's the deal breaker. I belong to a "network of house churches". Over 70 different regestered house churches are connected through a central "church". We have large meetings wherein the senior pastor preaches, teaches, and casts the vision for the churches. But the network is focused on the house church and the participatory meetings that Paul states are a commandment from the Lord. Our house churches meet far more often than the entire body in one large service. We have a large service on Saturday, two on Sunday mornings, and occasionally one throughout the week if we are focusing on a specific topic. However, most fellowship is done in the house churches. Elders in the house churches conduct baptisms, lead the Lord's Supper, and provide most teaching and mentoring. They also have the authority to enforce church discipline through the house church.

I'm not "against" large buildings or great numbers being members of a church. What I'm concerned with is that so many focus on that large building and the large gatherings... virtually ignoring the participatory model Paul himself admonished the Corinthians to adopt.