Classical U

Educating Families Classically....And Having A Good Bit of Fun

Alyssa Burlew: Smaller Churches Best Fulfill Christ’s Mission

"Occasionally there are also antics, such as bringing a motorcycle on stage, watching a video clip of a popular commercial, or even enacting a short drama in the midst of the service to spark the imagination of the cynical, information-saturated, high-tech, video-conditioned modern consumer sitting in the pew." This quote is taken from Scott Thumma and Dave Travis' book, Beyond Megachurch Myths in which they argue that critics of large American churches have their facts wrong. Although it is true that some criticisms of large churches are exaggerated, larger churches do not fulfill Christ's mission for the church as well as smaller churches. Due to the deficiencies in the Christian fellowship and pastor's role at mega churches, instead of seeking to expand churches, pastors and elders should seek to split and form church plants when their congregation size exceeds the ideal number.

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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on November 2, 2011 at 9:20pm

I just made the correction. Thanks.

I like this topic. Gusty and practical. In a book that I was reading recently by a veteran pastor, he talked about a rule that he made for himself as a young man: always to know the names of everyone in his church (and this meant that he could never let his church grow past about 300 max).

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Permalink Reply by Seth Newkirk on November 3, 2011 at 3:34pm

Alyssa, I have two questions about your essay. How do you define 'big churches?' And secondly, isn't the reason for the small group to provide what the big church cannot provide in of itself?

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Permalink Reply by Alyssa Burlew on November 3, 2011 at 10:07pm

Seth, thanks for your response. The exact number that I make this division at is still fluctuating with my research, but the ballpark figure would be 300. The small group is definitely one counterargument that I have already put in my outline, so I will definitely be addressing that.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca James on November 17, 2011 at 10:55am

Alyssa,

This is a terrific subject. Have you contemplated the meaningful success of Tim Keller's large Church, Redeemer, in NYC? Do you see it as an anomaly?

Mrs. James

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Permalink Reply by Alyssa Burlew on November 17, 2011 at 7:22pm

Yes I have, and there will be some in my paper about churches like it! I've been there and did enjoy it. My argument would not be that is it not a church that God can use, but that it is not the best model for a body.