Small Does Not Equal Broken

There is an unspoken assumption I have sensed many, many times while attending a seminar or conference related to church ministry. Here it is: "Successful churches are big churches." It is always the pastors of big churches who are on the program. The ministry successes that are highlighted are those of big churches. The only small churches praised are those that have grown to become big churches. Even though the vast majority of churches all over the world are small churches, even though the small church is the very backbone of the SBC, no one is celebrating the small church.

I attended a conference recently. One of the speakers on the program was the pastor of a large church. As a group of pastors sat together at dinner one night, he asked each pastor he did not know the same questions. What is your attendance? How long have you been at your church? What was the attendance when you first went to the church? To this pastor, success was determined by numerical growth. Unfortunately, that is a common mindset in church growth circles.

Well, I want to make an announcement. When it comes to churches, bigger is not better. It's not worse, either. It's just bigger. Small churches are not inferior. Small churches are not broken. There are just as many unhealthy big churches as there are unhealthy small churches. Sure, big churches have some bells and whistles that small churches do not. But the small church is equally capable of doing the work of the church. Here's a reality check. The percentage of people who tithe is greater in the small church. The percentage of people who serve in some ministry is greater in the small church.

I thank God for big churches and the people they reach for Christ. But, half of all Christians still prefer to attend a smaller church, even though most have the option of attending a larger church. God has designed things so that 85% of the churches in the world are small churches. Could it be that God knows something the church growth gurus don't? The small church is perfectly able to carry out the work of the kingdom, and in some ways even has advantages over larger churches.

The church I pastor is a small church, and it's a great church. There are lots of people growing in the knowledge and likeness of Christ. Our church is involved in many meaningful ministries that reach outside our own church body. We are making a real effort to make a difference in our own community. Our worship is genuine and fits who we are. Our people are compassionate and will go to great lengths to meet the needs of others. We are seeing some people come to faith in Christ. And I could go on. We are doing the work of the church. We are a successful church, just not a big church.

I thank God for big churches that are healthy. I thank God for churches that are experiencing numerical growth. But we need to redefine what makes a church successful. Small does not equal broken.

How Discipleship Happens

Discipleship happens in small group Bible studies, at church functions and fellowships, around the supper table, out on the porch for coffee, under the hood with a friend, in the restaurant after Sunday morning church, over a friendly game of cards, at the ball field, in lots of different places and in lots of different ways. Discipleship happens through relationships. Discipleship happens as we intentionally connect with others and live out our faith before them and alongside them.

Discipleship happens as we help a new believer get started reading the Bible everyday. Discipleship happens as we use Scripture’s teachings to help a friend get through a rough spot. Discipleship happens when we get someone plugged into a Sunday School class where they can learn and connect with others in our church. Discipleship happens when we talk about the sermon with a fellow church member or friend. Discipleship happens when we pray together, serve together, plan together, grieve together and worship together.

Are you getting the picture? Discipleship is not about a program. It’s about “together.” Like I said, discipleship happens through relationships. You can’t chart it on a grid or measure it with statistics. It shows up in people who are learning and growing in the Lord. It shows up in people who volunteer to serve. It shows up as regular attendance in an irregular attender.  Discipleship is not about numbers. It’s about people sharing life and faith with other people. Discipleship is not a course, something that happens in a 6-week class. It happens over a lifetime of living our faith alongside others.