Large church vs. Small church

[Gail]

Would love to hear your reasons why <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[cricket]

I much prefer a large congregation. There are so many more opportunities for growth and fellowship. I can dig as deep into the word as I want, or sit back and watch if I'm not deep into the subject at hand.

The St. Louis area has about 13-14 churches. Most of these are small. None is considerably large (400 or more active members). Our churches range from 20 active members to about 100 active members.

Although I prefer the church with 100 active members, I feel a special calling to worship with the smaller church plant. For my own personal growth, the smaller church is what I've needed over the past few years. I'm ready, however, to return to the larger atmosphere.

[Neil D]

Gail,

I need a bit of clarification on what you mean by "large" church and "small" church....

For example, in the western US, a small church could be concidered 50 members [notice the word members and not families] whereas a large church could be 150 members. In the East, 150 members could be a small church....or so I am told.

So, please, do clarify your 'large' and 'small' churches

[Gregory Matthews]

Many would consider a large church to be one that had more than 200 members.

I prefer a large church:

a) It meets family needs with programs for my teen son.

It has a greater variety of programs for all members of my family.

[David_McQueen]

Small church.

FifiQ are part of a new community based small group, having found that the larger fellowships in the area are not meeting our needs. Having both been members of rather large churches we find it better for accountability, spiritual growth and fellowship in small churches.

The kids love it.

[Gail]

Neil, I would consider a large church as one large enough to be able to run enough programs to minister to its members PLUS some for the general public as well. What those programs are could be interpreted differently

A small church is one where the size of the congregation is such that it is like a small group, intimate and personal. It is one where you are, out of necessity, vitally needed and active.

[LynnDel]

I like to be a member of a church large enough so that I don't feel indispensible but not so large that I wouldn't be missed. I like to know everyone by name. Perhaps something in the neighborhood of 100-200 attending members. I call that medium-sized.

LD

[Fran]

Gail

Large church to me means a church where you go to *get*. A small church is one where every member is needed to *give*. I want to give. In a small church every member does something. The blessings are greater. The children learn service vs. being entertained. Everyone know of everyone’s trials and loves them anyway..

You can go to a large church and never be missed if you miss a Sabbath. Only the chosen are allowed to serve. They are friendly but cold too.

I have belonged to both; smaller is better. Once church was me, my husband and 2 children. We had only our first Sabbath that way. The next week we add three. By the time we left the area we had 52 attending some Sabbaths some missed, but it was such fun. In fact church was in our house for 18 month before we rented a building. We also prepared for lunch every Sabbath! Everyone stayed.

Yeah, I prefer the small church.

In the large church, I was the treasurer of the church and school. I had a day job too. I was at all the board meetings as well. I found donors to sponsor school children. and raised funds to lots of things. The children’s Sabbath Schools were great and creative. I had it all, but I will take the small church everyday of the week! Now that my children are older and gone, they say the same thing. It is the memories! It is family and church time being one. Now that I am disabled, I can't attend church, but I can still give. God always uses my talents and I am most blessed with no church because God is present here providing for all my needs and I provide anything he wants/asks me to do.

[cricket]

I would challenge the notion that a large church is one where not everyone is vitally needed.

Church is whatever one makes of it. Larger churches should really be nothing more than several small churches coming together for the Sabbath. Each of us is vitally needed no matter the church we attend.

In my experience, it is not the select few who are chosen to lead and be active, but rather the few who choose to lead and be active. It is the same people over and over again, because others refuse to participate--or, have been given the opportunity in the past and have failed to meet their obligations.

[Guest]

I have been to tiny churches and mega churches.

When I go to tiny churches I meet and talk to people. When I go to mega churches I meet and talkk to people.

People are the same at each type..basically.

You have leaders and followers...10% at each place still do most of the work.

There are NFDMTTS at mega and tiny churches.

I have heard great sermons at mega churches and have heard pathetic sermons on TV mega churches.

The problem is that at both size churches TV and movies bleach out the spirituality...

I like the small one in one respect..because it doesn't take long to get the consensus regarding the attitude to the bible and spiritual matters.

If a church wants to play church and maintain churchianity...and have a religious social club....color me gone.

[SandyColorado]

According to the "guidelines", I attend a large church. We have 350 members on the books.

Having said this - we also have 2 church services. There is nothing different in the services but the music. One is contemporary and the other traditional music.

Most people attend one service and ONLY one service. Very rarely do they cross over unless there is a reason.

The problem is - even though we are a "large" church - our sanctuary is only 1/4 to 1/2 full during each service. Another thing that is a problem - is that you never get to see the people from the "other" service. They can come and go and sneak out the door before the second service people even arrive. This makes it hard to keep up with members that aren't attending; they can get lost in the cracks. It is much less personal when you have a split church membership.

So, I guess that would put our 350 member church in the small category. You still only have a small percentage of both churches that get involved in helping out with the jobs that need to be done. Guess that happens if you are small or large.

[Barbara]

I really like our church at WWC. It is a big church, but with 2 severices it fit our needs just right. We go to the early severice wich tends to have less people. I am really happy with the Sabbath school too. Alexis is in Kindgarden 2 while email is in kindergarden 1. When we visit other smallar churches they only have one sabbath school for ages 0-6 and Alexis get bored with it.

[Guest]

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You still only have a small percentage of both churches that get involved in helping out with the jobs that need to be done. Guess that happens if you are small or large.

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Yep...especially when the pastor uses the typical

complacent, apathetic, passive, indifferent, spectator, ....

I am here for you..to give you a therapy session..you are the non participant..listen to my advice...don't get too involved, MYOB, just live a sermon, be an example...don't get in anyone's face with religion..APPROACH.

[LynnDel]

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Alexis is in Kindgarden 2 while email is in kindergarden 1.

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Email? What a cute name for a kid! Seriously.

LD

[Barbara]

I am so dumb sometime. I can believe I miss spelled my kids name. It supose to be Emily not email

[cricket]

You made my day with this one! Truly funny. It's nice to see when others make silly mistakes, too!

[Amelia]

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I can believe I miss spelled my kids name.

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Barbara, at least you remembered you have two kids! LOL

[Planey]

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There are NFDMTTS at mega and tiny churches.

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I belong to a very small church. Not sure how many members there are listed on the books but we regularly have 15 to 25 persons attend on Sabbath for the Service.

I have been asked to be responsible for the sermon next Sabbath (Feb 12). However I am not a preacher, I am a Mathematics teacher and am not in the least bit confident to prepare and preach a sermon. Having now been totally intimidated by JimBob's continual bombardment and haranguing about the topic I believe I will avail myself of a videotape of Dwight Nelson or Doug Batchelor or whatever. They also may deliver a NFDMTTS but at least they have had practice and they will burn for the crime and not me...

Our small congregation thanks you in advance for sparing them from having to listen to me, JimBob.

Graeme

/ps If you can intimidate me to such an extent that I am not willing to preach, and I have only had contact with you via the faceless medium of the Internet, JimBob, could you perhaps not have a less-than-supportive effect on preachers you meet in person? Do you think constant criticism, constant comparisons with other more-accomplished preachers, is the best way to achieve your goals? You may be right but I am not so convinced.

[David_McQueen]

Planey, Go preach man. Tell them the story of what God has done and is doing in your life. Tell them the story of salvation based on the story of the prodigal son/forgiving father.

15mins max. I amn sure you will be great, and plus you will be more relative than some bloke in a shiny studio miles away!!

[cricket]

I agree with David. Let me also mention that when a preacher preaches, he is supposed to ask the Lord to be with him/her and then trust that God will lead in whatever is said.

[Guest]

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Dwight Nelson or Doug Batchelor or whatever. They also may deliver a NFDMTTS but at least they have had practice and they will burn for the crime and not me...

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Graeme,

2 issues...

1. if the group is used to NFDMTTS at your place , the sermon is easy to do because they are used to pathetic shallow preaching.

2. If they are used to NFDMTTS..then they are not ready for a rich diet of the word and could vomit.

You could do a sermons about some psycho on an Adventist internet forum who always rants about incompetent preaching..and see if you get some people agreeing with me in the congregation.. I would be interested in the feedback.

Also you can do what EGW suggest...stop the sermons and do a bible study...just don't make it a junior level message..

I always know what I would preach if asked anyplace...

exegesis on JUDE..it is present truth for NOW!!!

[Arlene]

Help it has been awhile since I have read this forum. What is NFBMTTS?

[Guest]

non fat dry milk typical topical sermon

[Joel Melashenko]

Right now we have the amazing opportunity to plant a church with a group of 25. We've been meeting in a home for most of a year now, and have finally been able to move into a school. Our city has 6 other churches and I have found this experience so awesome, to see God move, and also to see folks who have not been attending anywhere feel impressed by the Holy Spirit to come and worship. God is powerful in his outpouring of blessings whether it be in a small company like I attend, or at larger more established churches.