I like your phrasing of the "micro-church," Randy. I also loved your "farm-to-table" analogy! The strength of any church is the vibrancy of the connection among the people and to the church. Our church probably averages close to 100 on Sundays, and I am always encouraged by the sense of community and fellowship. We are known by God. We know and are known by each other. Still, we want to obey The Great Commission and grow our fellowship -- through conversion growth, not "sheep shifting." In fact, we have a bold, hairy audacious goal of planting 4 churches by 2040. Dream big, but think small. Smaller, more intimate churches are effective. God certainly works through "mega-churches," but it is too easy to slip in late and slip out early, with no connection to the community.
That last comment may be something that can be good about a large church, for someone who is nervous about church and wanting to sample what it may be all about. Very hard to do in a smaller church!
That last comment may be something that can be good about a large church, for someone who is nervous about church and wanting to sample what it may be all about. Very hard to do in a smaller church!
The comparison between micro-roasters and micro-churches is a great metaphor. I'll have to borrow it when I petition my presbytery to let me plant a small church. lol I love the comparison to the Slow Food movement as well. It really is a small but powerful paradigm shift.
I like your phrasing of the "micro-church," Randy. I also loved your "farm-to-table" analogy! The strength of any church is the vibrancy of the connection among the people and to the church. Our church probably averages close to 100 on Sundays, and I am always encouraged by the sense of community and fellowship. We are known by God. We know and are known by each other. Still, we want to obey The Great Commission and grow our fellowship -- through conversion growth, not "sheep shifting." In fact, we have a bold, hairy audacious goal of planting 4 churches by 2040. Dream big, but think small. Smaller, more intimate churches are effective. God certainly works through "mega-churches," but it is too easy to slip in late and slip out early, with no connection to the community.
Wow. Substack said "something went wrong; try again." Yikes!
That last comment may be something that can be good about a large church, for someone who is nervous about church and wanting to sample what it may be all about. Very hard to do in a smaller church!
That last comment may be something that can be good about a large church, for someone who is nervous about church and wanting to sample what it may be all about. Very hard to do in a smaller church!
Wept again as I read this.
My church is a family, not a business or institution. As such I have been blessed beyond measure.
We don’t criticize small families. Sometimes God doesn’t give us all the children we want to have.
That's a wonderful way at looking at it. And yet we do long to see his churches full!
The comparison between micro-roasters and micro-churches is a great metaphor. I'll have to borrow it when I petition my presbytery to let me plant a small church. lol I love the comparison to the Slow Food movement as well. It really is a small but powerful paradigm shift.
Borrow away!