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Why the Small Church—Strategic or Stuck?

4) Small for Infiltration

Big cars, trucks and SUVs have value—especially for people who are hauling large items. But they have challenges at the mall, because they can’t always find a parking space that fits.

Big churches are the same. There are things they can do that smaller churches can’t do. But they don’t fit everywhere.

In places where

  • the church is illegal
  • the people are poor
  • the land is expensive
  • the population is sparse
  • the gospel is new
  • the nation is war-torn
  • the culture is modest
  • or for many other reasons

the churches must be small.

If your church is small to infiltrate a culture where big churches can’t go, you’re not stuck, you’re strategic.

5) Small By Nature and Gifting

The church I currently pastor grew to almost 400 people for a while. When it did, I was miserable and the church was unhealthy. Not because of the increased numbers. I’d worked and prayed very hard for those numbers to increase.

But I discovered that the gift-mix required to pastor a church of 400 wasn’t my gift-mix. Not that I didn’t try. I wasn’t unwilling to change, I just wasn’t gifted for the work required at that size. I’m a good small church pastor, not a good big church pastor.

Every Christian, every pastor and every church is good at some things and not good at others. That’s what 1 Corinthians 12:16-26“>Paul’s body analogy was all about. Don’t despise your place in the body by coveting someone else’s place—or church size.

If your ministry and your church finds its greatest kingdom effectiveness within a smaller setting, you’re not stuck, you’re strategic.

It’s stuck if it is …

1) Small By Mistake

Let’s face it. Some churches are small because … well … they stink.

They’re doing so many things wrong, it’s a wonder anyone goes.

If your church is small because you’re not paying attention to mistakes that need fixing, you’re not strategic, you’re stuck.

2) Small By Exclusion

Very few churches exclude people on purpose. But that makes no difference to the people who feel excluded.

But some churches actually do exclude people on purpose. They have a mistaken theology that is overly restrictive (hello modern-day Pharisees!). They make an issue of things that don’t matter. Then they use their smallness as “proof” that they live in a sinful age where no one wants to hear the real Gospel that only they are preaching.

They are the righteous remnant. At least in their eyes.

If your church is small because it excludes people based on petty issues, you’re not strategic, you’re stuck.

3) Frozen in Time

No, a church doesn’t need to dress casually, have all new worship songs or be filled with hipsters to be fresh and strategic. But too many churches seem more like they’d be comfortable living 50 or 500 years ago than today.

You can honor the past and still move into the future. The Bible, after all, is almost 2,000 years old and it’s more relevant today than ever.

Most of the beautiful, ornate church buildings in Europe are little more than museums today. But I’ve also been in some Gothic-era cathedrals filled with people of all ages and backgrounds, worshipping with a band to the latest Hillsong chorus, followed by a John Wesley hymn played on their ancient pipe organ.

Honoring your traditions doesn’t mean being stuck in the methods of bygone “good old days” that probably weren’t so good to begin with.

If your church elevates traditions over making whatever changes are needed to fulfill Matthew 28:19-20“>the Great Commission, you’re not strategic, you’re stuck.

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Karl is the author of four books and has been in pastoral ministry for almost 40 years. He is the teaching pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, a healthy small church in Orange County, California, where he has ministered for over 27 years with his wife, Shelley. Karl’s heart is to help pastors of small churches find the resources to lead well and to capitalize on the unique advantages that come with pastoring a small church. Karl produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com, and has created S.P.A.R.K. Online (Small-Church Pastors Adapt & Recover Kit), which is updated regularly with new resources to help small churches deal with issues related to the COVID-19 crisis and aftermath.