How big is too big for a church?

[NewSong]

I can't began to describe how much I dislike the larger churches. I feel overwhelmed and like it is impersonal. I have heard Jimbeaux's opinion in the past as to how big churches show get and I tend to agree with him. So, I guess my question for each of you is how big do you think a church should get and do you like the larger churches versus a church where everyone is on first name basis? Why? What and how do you think we as congregation members should do about it?

I put this in the debate thread because I wanted to allow for other opinions! :sorry:

So here it is and your opinions are welcome and so is debate.

CHURCH: Building where people assemble themselves together without home groups.

[GreatistheLord]

I really like the community of a small church, but I believe in big churches because God wants to reach the whole of society. That will create it's own problems, but we will have His grace to cope.

[GreatistheLord]

Maybe we need to redefine church. If it's the place where we meet as 1 body to worship, then that's okay to be big, as long as there are home groups, and other meetings where you have close friends and can pray together, and not just a number.

[NewSong]

Okay I added my definition of church for the purpose of this thread at the bottom of the original post. Good point.

[GreatistheLord]

I agree, I dislike that too. I've not really been in many big churches.
Around 150 adults + children and even that is sometimes a little too big for me.

[NewSong]

I agree, I dislike that too. I've not really been in many big churches.
Around 150 adults + children and even that is sometimes a little too big for me.

What is it about big churches you dislike?

I can name some for myself but I would like to hear others opinions....

When I hear of these mega churches, I just want to cry because even with home groups, I have to wonder if they are feeling like they are part of the family.

[GreatistheLord]

I grew up in a small, familly oriented church, which I would miss. I dislike the impersonal nature of big churches, they have great facilities though.

[PETE_]

I have to say that I prefer smaller churches myself, but attended one of the largest churches in the country for many years.

The large church had many opportunities that smaller churches just could not provide. Most of these were for the children and I had four that really were involved in the offerings.

If you only want to attend a sunday service then it is easy to get lost, but through sunday school classes and other evnts there was an opportunity to become part of a small knit group of believers such as you would find at a small church. Finding the right class to be involved with was a bit like looking for a church home, but once you found it, you could have that sense of knowing those people well.

[Redheadedstepchild]

My issue with big churches is that it seemed to me that they were always asking for money to expand and offer programs, so they could get more members, so they could ask for more money to expand and offer programs....yada, yada, AUGH.

This was true of my home church growing up and was a big factor in my not going to church for years. I do know all mega churches aren't like that but I still get that icky feeling when I attend one.

[JimfromOhio]

I can't began to describe how much I dislike the larger churches. I feel overwhelmed and like it is impersonal. I have heard Jimbeaux's opinion in the past as to how big churches show get and I tend to agree with him. So, I guess my question for each of you is how big do you think a church should get and do you like the larger churches versus a church where everyone is on first name basis? Why? What and how do you think we as congregation members should do about it?

I put this in the debate thread because I wanted to allow for other opinions! :sorry:

So here it is and your opinions are welcome and so is debate.

CHURCH: Building where people assemble themselves together without home groups.

I was a member of a very large Church and moved to another Church which is smaller and the same denomination. I don't care for large church UNLESS it has a wonderful disability programs (which some large churches do).

[pdudgeon]

i'd say 250 members would be too big, and about 100 active members would be the right size.:)

[NewSong]

i'd say 250 members would be too big, and about 100 active members would be the right size.:)

That sounds about right to me~ Thank you for sharing!

[Elijah2]

I've found big churches in my country to be controlled by the spirit of mammon.

They are impersonal, and can only see the dollars and cents, and they save on holy communion.

A small church of 50 to 100 is an ideal size, and have holy communion every Sunday.

Be blessed in Jesus' Name.

[Leimeng]

~ The Church is really big. I like it like that and that is why I am endeavouring to make it grow daily! I want it to be huge! I want it to be SO huge that it takes over every institution which man has tried to create! I want it to be SO big that it every individual in the world is a member!
~ But I do like a nice reasonably sized fellowship of 500 or less in a service.
~ Continue to discuss amongst yourselves...

Peace,

Leimeng

Flatulo Ergo Sum ~~~

[JimfromOhio]

My old church was averaging 3,000 to 4,000.

My current church (of the SAME denomination) is about 170.

[Jimbeaux]

I don’t think there is a recommended size in the Bible. When the church mushroomed from 120 to 3,000 in one day, I am sure they did not gather as a collective group (where could they have met?). They probably subdivided into smaller home groups.

In our American culture, where churches do meet collectively in purchased or rented buildings I think the ideal size of a church is 400-500 in regular attendance. This is not too large for the pastor to lose personal relationships with the families he serves yet large enough for the church to have resources to serve their community effectively. When a church grows to around 300 they should lay plans to plant another church (not build a larger building) and use 50-100 of their existing members to “seed” the new church. One authority of church planting has said that the most effective evangelism strategy every conceived in planting new church. It is not building megachurches where uncommitted members can hide.

~Jim
If the first step in an argument is wrong everything that follows is wrong.
~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

[Angel*Eyes]

In Heaven, we're going to have a megachurch with HUGE worship services.

To me there are pros and cons for churches of ALL sizes. There are good and bad ones in every type.
It all just comes down to your preferences based on your personality.

[JeCrois]

My church is now about 200~250 on Sundays. I personally like the atmosphere we carry.

My pastor is a wonderful man of God who isn't blinded by dollar signs, but rather desires to see human lives being saved and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit! And God seems to be blessing us as we reach out to our community and our city.

If we were any smaller we honestly couldn't do as much as we do today. The more folks you have willing to offer service to further God's Kingdom the more impact you will start to see.

If a megachurch is honoring God's will and uniting together to transform those surrounding for good then I don't see a problem....but the more people you have attending a church the harder it is to get everyone on the same page IMO.

[map4]

Ok, but what should a "mega" church do...turn people away?

[ARBITER01]

I can't began to describe how much I dislike the larger churches. I feel overwhelmed and like it is impersonal. I have heard Jimbeaux's opinion in the past as to how big churches show get and I tend to agree with him. So, I guess my question for each of you is how big do you think a church should get and do you like the larger churches versus a church where everyone is on first name basis? Why? What and how do you think we as congregation members should do about it?

I put this in the debate thread because I wanted to allow for other opinions! :sorry:

So here it is and your opinions are welcome and so is debate.

CHURCH: Building where people assemble themselves together without home groups.


More than 50 people is too big for me.

[Optimax]

How big?

Don't know.

But when the last one comes into "the church" it will be big enough and Jesus will come back.

[JCFantasy23]

I haven't had enough experiences with churches, but I have been to two big gatherings and can tell I wouldn't fit in. One was a revival, not exactly a church, but I feel more impersonal with so many there.

The second one is in Lakeland and was so large they have three big movie projector screens surrounding the stage. And yes, it's a real stage where they hold full blown concerts. I've heard the building cost over a million to construct. I just googled it and found out that it has been bought out and assembled into smaller churches. It did hold full-sized football field and parochial school. The main auditorium sat 10,000. Yep, wayyyy too big for me.


I don't want to go too small and feel excluded with cliches. I think medium sized is a good "medium" to find ;)

[Deba]

At the feeding of the 5,000 in Luke 9, Jesus says, "Have them recline to eat in groups of about fifty each". I wonder why He thought that was a good size group for each disciple to feed? Don't know if that was 50 men or 50 people with women and children included.

[charityagape]

What is it about big churches you dislike?

I can name some for myself but I would like to hear others opinions....

When I hear of these mega churches, I just want to cry because even with home groups, I have to wonder if they are feeling like they are part of the family.

I don't think there's inherently anything wrong with being big or small or in between; each person will find there place in there somewhere.

It's almost like asking someone if they like living in a small town or in a big city. I grew up in a small town and I've lived in a city; now I'm back in a small town and soon to move to the city.

They both have their advantages and disadvantages but I think personally I might prefer the city. And a large church (with small groups).

I have decided that I don't really like how every single person knows every single detail of your life. And I don't really like the slow pace or the lack of activities and the early nights...............I'm not sure if that describes what I don't like about a small town or a small church.