Small Church Ministry

Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Looking Ahead
Small churches are a vital component of the most powerful force for goodness the world has ever seen.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Looking Ahead
Image: David DeHetre | Flickr

Imagine how different the world would look, if

  • over billion people
  • transformed by the gospel of Jesus
  • strategically placed by the hand of God
  • in groups averaging 30 or so
  • tucked into every corner of the world

decided to really say “yes” to God.

Small churches are a vital ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Three Reasons We’ve Missed This
The stubborn, historical persistence of small churches is something God has done without our noticing it, and in spite of the fact that many of us have fought against it.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Three Reasons We’ve Missed This
Image: Paul Kitchener | Flickr

How can one billion people be doing something without the world standing up to take notice?

More specifically, how can one billion people be doing something within a very narrowly defined niche, and the leaders in that niche not value it?

But that’s what has happened in ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Fan the Flame
Let’s encourage, connect and equip innovative small church leaders as each one plays their part.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Fan the Flame
Image: Emilio Kuffer | Flickr

How can we activate the astonishing power of small churches?

As we’ve already seen in the previous two posts in this series (here and here), over one billion people worship Jesus in small churches tucked into every corner of the globe. What could we possibly do to light ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Strategic Placement
Small churches may be the most overlooked, under-appreciated and underutilized asset on earth. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Strategic Placement
Image: apasciuto | Flickr

Over one billion people choose to worship Jesus in small churches.

But the astonishing power of small churches is not just about the numbers. It’s about strategic placement.

This is where our small size becomes our advantage.

Small churches have found their way into every ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Over One Billion Served
This is the first in a five-part series that will dramatically alter the way we see small churches and their kingdom potential.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Over One Billion Served
Image: ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓ | Flickr

More than one billion people choose to worship Jesus in small churches.

Yes, you read that right. One billion plus.

This has massive implications for the church, the world and how small churches see their role in the kingdom of God.

So many implications, that I’ll be writing ...

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Small Church Ministry
Why Don’t Small Churches Grow? (Actually, They Do)
The presumption that small churches don’t grow is false. Some grow numerically. Most grow spiritually. Many grow in both ways.
Why Don’t Small Churches Grow? (Actually, They Do)
Image: Jean | Flickr

Why don’t small churches grow?

When you run a website, as I do with NewSmallChurch.com, you get to see the search terms people use to find it.

That question is one that pops up all the time. So today I’m going to take a stab at answering it. But before I offer my answer, ...

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Small Church Ministry
Yes, There are Conferences for Small Church Pastors!
Having a small church pastor teach at pastoral conferences is such a new idea that some people don’t know what to make of it.
Yes, There are Conferences for Small Church Pastors!
Image: Josh Janssen | Flickr

Talking and writing about healthy small churches is a revolutionary idea. It shouldn’t be, but it is. And it probably will be for a while.

But dents are being made. Let me tell you about some that are happening now.

This fall, I’ve been invited to teach about small ...

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Small Church Ministry
Why Stories Matter More than Stats In a Small Church
As a church grows larger, statistics matter more than opinions. When a church is smaller, opinions matter more than statistics.
Why Stories Matter More than Stats In a Small Church
Image: RJ | Flickr

When did all the preachers become statistics junkies?

I can’t remember the last church leadership book or seminar that didn’t emphasize the value of setting goals for your church, then using some kind of metric to determine whether-or-not we are succeeding at reaching ...

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Small Church Ministry
If It’s Okay for a Church to Be Small, Why Do I Feel So Bad When It Is?
For all my hard-working, prayerful, wise, loving peers who woke up on yet another Monday morning wondering “what am I doing wrong?”
If It’s Okay for a Church to Be Small, Why Do I Feel So Bad When It Is?
Image: Jeffrey | Flickr

I had another one of those Sundays, recently. We started church with more people on the platform than in the congregation. Well, almost.

Sure, it’s summer. People have good reasons to be gone. But it still feels awful.

But why? I’m the small church guy, after all. ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Essential First Step to Having a Healthy Small Church
The biggest problem with small churches is not that they’re small. It’s that we think being small is a problem. 
The Essential First Step to Having a Healthy Small Church
Image: imanka | Flickr

In my last post, Grow It or Close It? Is there a Third Option for Struggling Small Churches?, we established that a struggling small church can become a healthy small church.

But there’s an inevitable question that follows. Namely, how?

How do we help a church move from ...

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