How small is too small?

[rakkoon]

I am in search of a new church. I am from Calvery Chapel, I am venturing out into the Baptist church area b/c I know Calvery and the Baptist (Conservative) beliefs are similar.
I reason being. I need a church near my home. I attended a Baptist church very close by. Calvery Baptist church. I really enjoyed the whole experience. The people were very friendly. One thing I really enjoyed is their focus on small groups for the purpose of people knowing each other. In my 15 years of being a christian, I had gone to these medium and mega sized churches (6,000+ people). I would go to their womens groups or whatever and I would not know that many people. Its almost like people almost have their own clicks that you can't go into. I spent 6 years going to this church, when I left I only knew 5 people closely. In general I knew alot more but only my name. Plus they all live 45 minutes away from me.
Anyway I really took a liking to this small group idea b/c the woman I was talking to said that it almost feels like family. You end up getting to know alot more people.
Now I finally get to my question. How small is too small? Should I be worried? The church has about 500 people and 1,000 people as members. When I went to their main sanctuary service only about 80 people showed up. Maybe its just me b/c I come from these mega churches. I automaticly think something may be wrong if it seems like its not growing. Please help.

[Joykins]

Some people like the intimacy of a small church where you can "know everyone." My husband and I are introverts and we are intimidated by large churches. I'm always afraid in the megachurch that they would be watering down their message or something to attract people...so there ya go.

[Uphill Battle]

The church I attend currently has about 150 core members... and about 250 attend. It is a vibrant, growing church, that has planted 2 others so far. The size has nothing to do with it. You could have a church of 10,000 plus, but if it isn't serving God, it's worthless.

[Lisa0315]

My 2 cents...I would forget church size and concentrate on sound doctrine. It is possible that the church is small because the pastor stuck to his guns about something unpopular. It happens, but sometimes God allows this kind of thing so that He can clean house. It is His house afterall.

My uncle, a pastor, took over a sizable, very popular church about 20 years ago. The former pastor, a very good friend of our family, very well known evangelist in my area, very talented, very popular, retired. My uncle was called in, voted on, and accepted the position. But, not everyone was happy. It is very hard to step into the shoes of someone who was well loved in a church regardless of the reasons.

Eventually, the church split, and members that were so negative, constantly causing trouble, left. Now, some 20 years later, my uncle is well loved, has built the church back up to the original size, and it is the most loving church I have ever attended. It is just phenomenal.

[Maeyken]

My church sounds very small in comparison to all the churches mentioned above.
I don't know how many members there are officially, but there's about 75 people there on Sunday mornings. The church I was raised in had about 100 ppl on Sunday mornings.

I would feel very intimidated going to a huge church like those mentioned above. One thing I like about small churches is the intergenerational aspect... you get to know people of all ages, not just your own. Perhaps that's not true, as I've never really experienced the mega-church thing...

[lucypevensie]

God works in big churches and in small churches. Size is not a super important factor in choosing a church. Look for a church that teaches sound doctrine, and where you are most like-minded with the others attending. If that place happens to be just the size that you like then it's a bonus:). If not, you'll deal with it:)

[abednego]

Well i got y'all beat I go to a church the used to be a one room school house, we only 10 people there tonight for church, and it can only wholed a max of about 50 and that might be pushing it! The bible says where two or three would gather in his name he would be in the mist. So size doesnt matter at all. As along as you have 2 or 3 gathering in his name .. in one mind and one accord; God will be there and thats all ya need!

[Lisa0315]

Well i got y'all beat I go to a church the used to be a one room school house, we only 10 people there tonight for church, and it can only wholed a max of about 50 and that might be pushing it! The bible says where two or three would gather in his name he would be in the mist. So size doesnt matter at all. As along as you have 2 or 3 gathering in his name .. in one mind and one accord; God will be there and thats all ya need!

:amen:

[aReformedPatriot]

I am in search of a new church. I am from Calvery Chapel, I am venturing out into the Baptist church area b/c I know Calvery and the Baptist (Conservative) beliefs are similar.
I reason being. I need a church near my home. I attended a Baptist church very close by. Calvery Baptist church. I really enjoyed the whole experience. The people were very friendly. One thing I really enjoyed is their focus on small groups for the purpose of people knowing each other. In my 15 years of being a christian, I had gone to these medium and mega sized churches (6,000+ people). I would go to their womens groups or whatever and I would not know that many people. Its almost like people almost have their own clicks that you can't go into. I spent 6 years going to this church, when I left I only knew 5 people closely. In general I knew alot more but only my name. Plus they all live 45 minutes away from me.
Anyway I really took a liking to this small group idea b/c the woman I was talking to said that it almost feels like family. You end up getting to know alot more people.
Now I finally get to my question. How small is too small? Should I be worried? The church has about 500 people and 1,000 people as members. When I went to their main sanctuary service only about 80 people showed up. Maybe its just me b/c I come from these mega churches. I automaticly think something may be wrong if it seems like its not growing. Please help.

Something must've happened to make membership drop that much. I wouldnt fret about nor would I make assumptions. Talk to the pastor about it. At the same time, a congregation is never to small, praise God for the one, the five, or the 500.

[ZiSunka]

How small is too small?

One person is too small. Three people is big enough to have church. Other than that, I don't know of any limits on the size of a church.

Joe and I used to end up driving 37 miles each way to attend a small "family" church that we liked a lot. It was even in another state! Having gone to small churches and mega churches, I can definitely say that I prefer small churches. Maybe because I grew up in a church where our family didn't know anyone, I really like church to be a place where "everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came."

[Heiroglyph]

Ive been going to one that has about 30 people there. That seems about right for me.

[HeHasHelpedMe]

We go to a church that seems like a city. And I worked a church that is a city. They have weights, book and video store, a restaurant, a coffee shop, indoor track, and something they called the underground that held concerts, but it was just 4 teens. But you need to go to a church where you feel wanted and were you can help people. God will help you pick a church and it will be because you can and will help others. Don’t forget that is what is important.

[ZiSunka]

We go to a church that seems like a city. And I worked a church that is a city. They have weights, book and video store, a restaurant, a coffee shop, indoor track, and something they called the underground that held concerts, but it was just 4 teens.

Do they have a room where they worship God, too? ;)

[blessedmomof5]

I personally like a small church, you get to know everyone and it is more like a spiritual family for me....but as mine has been going through some major changes over the summer(closed) we;ll see what happens when it reopens sept 11th, when another baptist church has taken over...there were only 18 members to ours since there had been some kind of disagreement or whatever with the pastor, i have my own views...on that. but they the ones that left are more then eager to return as a new pastor has been assigned to the job of teaching....

[JPPT1974]

To be honest, it doesn't matter if the size is big or small. But what does matter is the size of our faith that counts. Whether we are worshipping the way that God wants us to. Because we are the performers and He is the audience. Hoping that we obey His word.

[Joykins]

I'm starting to wonder if the evangelical megachurches are the modern equivalent of cathedrals.

[rakkoon]

I don't know if you can answer this but do Baptist churches teach through the bible, like "verse by verse" or is it more topical?
The reason I ask this is b/c the church we went to, we ended up talking to the pastor who said he beleived in teaching topical studies instead of reading verse by verse. I personally prefer "verse by verse"
I love Charles Stanley and Vernan Magee style of teaching

[RED that's ME]

There's pros and cons for small/big churches. I belong to a larger church and really like it cause it has more to offer members. My church is family oriented and tries to do as many things family wise as well as individually.
My pastor teaches in depth as well as other teachers. No church is problem free and you can find what you want/don't want in small and larger churches. The important thing is if the church teaches Bibically and it is a good place for you to grow in your faith/worship/interact with other believers.:angel:

[handmaiden97]

my church has 60-80 on a good sunday.....it is a great church.....I attended a church for a year that had maybe 12 on a good sunday it was a very sweet fellowship, God was there.....you dont need lots of people to make church.....I peld find perrsonally like smaller more intamate fellowships....I would attend a home church if
I could find one

[JPPT1974]

There's pros and cons for small/big churches. I belong to a larger church and really like it cause it has more to offer members. My church is family oriented and tries to do as many things family wise as well as individually.
My pastor teaches in depth as well as other teachers. No church is problem free and you can find what you want/don't want in small and larger churches. The important thing is if the church teaches Bibically and it is a good place for you to grow in your faith/worship/interact with other believers.:angel:

There will always be pros and cons for churches. And that some churches like my church and your church is family-oriented. They are also goal-oriented but more family because it is a team effort and we are team players if we work together as a team. Yes, no church is problem free and that we all have differences. But we need to put aside those differences and work together as a team.

[Flynmonkie]

I learned while asking this same question.
1.) Just see where God wants you to be. You have no idea what He wants to teach you
2.) Ask not what your church can do for you - But what you can do for your church...it is amazing what that alone will do for you.

I asked God... for months if I should start attending- or if there was a church I should visit then one day my unsaved husband (at the time) chose the church out of the blue..3500+ members Big Screen and cameras and all. It is a whole community in itself! It really freaked me out. When we walked in (and every service) they sing at least 5 songs in the beginning and one in the middle and sometimes at the end. With a choir, and performers. All these new songs, nothing like the Old Rugged Cross, or I'll fly away gospel hymns I had been used to! (That is his favorite part getting there early enough to sing—I would rather hang out in the bookstore! It is borderline charismatic in this area for me.. It might be different if I knew the songs- then it would feel like "children’s church" did only with milk and meat served at the sermon)

Needless to say I came from a medium size church when I was very little, and very (strict) somber at that. Then in my teens a very large church, but VERY much different than where I am now. It was simple and somber. But everyone ALWAYS dressed for church but this church you could see everything shorts, jeans, dressed up, down come as you are!

And it had been years since I attended I just freaked. I did allot of praying.. for fear of the hoopla compared to what I was used to. The last thing I wanted was to be involved in a church that made a "business" out of God. But when the pastor started speaking...I knew I was exactly where God wanted me to be. And of course there are issues here and there - But the doctrine is sound and I found it to be a wonderful place!

It is amazing how God works in these matters. Just keep praying and asking Him what He wants you to do and listen.

Of course make sure the church has a sound doctrine. But every single denomination and church WILL have issues. Church is a hospital for sick people!! Any and all!IMHO

[PaladinGirl]

For me, a church is too small if it has less than 50 members. But then again, some of the less than 50 member churches are pretty good too. I just like the churches that have at least 100 members because they tend to have more outreach programs and more ministries. I go to a church which has probably 200 that attend regularly and they have a lot of outreach and ministry programs. :) When I used to be Catholic, I attended a church that had about 2,000 in attendance each mass I think. That was too big because you couldn't ever get to know anyone and as far as I know, they didn't have any small groups.

[rakkoon]

Yup, I agree with you. If there are less then 50 people it does seem too small. We went to this one church last Wednesday. When I talked to the pastor he said they had about 70 members. When we went to the service only 6 showed up. I thought to myself "no wonder why they said the childcare would be closed for the mid-week service" :) I liked the service but the one thing that kept coming through my mind is why hasn't it grown if the church has been around for 27 yrs. The sanctuary could only hold about 20 seats. It wasn't even a church, it was in a business center with a 99 cent store next door.
We are still looking. We want to go somewhere where they teach through the bible, not topical. In my area there are alot of Baptist churches, I like this area.

[JPPT1974]

For me, a church is too small if it has less than 50 members. But then again, some of the less than 50 member churches are pretty good too. I just like the churches that have at least 100 members because they tend to have more outreach programs and more ministries. I go to a church which has probably 200 that attend regularly and they have a lot of outreach and ministry programs. :) When I used to be Catholic, I attended a church that had about 2,000 in attendance each mass I think. That was too big because you couldn't ever get to know anyone and as far as I know, they didn't have any small groups.

Fifty to one-hundred members to me is much more of having a fellowship. Knowing what they can't do in size. They can do in heart and soul. As they also seem to form a tight-knit bond.