Mega-Church Vs Small Church

[TomCullen]

I attend a mega-church, but I am always surprised by the large number of people, including many fellow Christians, who hold very strong negative views, about any mega-church, without having any knowledge of how any particular mega-church is run or operated.
This is not to defend every mega-church, because we have all heard of scandalous behavior from some of them, either through the media or word of mouth, but that same scandalous behavior has also taken place in small churches, but because they are small and less well known, very few get hear of their misdeeds. Mega-churches, because of their size, tend to be well-known, therefore the news of any wrong that may happen in them, spreads wide and further, as opposed to a small church.
There is no perfect church and no church is bad or good, just because of its size.

The number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 14:21

In the preceding scripture, we are given only the number of men, who were the heads of the households. The number of women and children is not given, but we can safely say, that men plus women and children, made the number more than ten thousand people.
Ten thousand people is a mega-crowd, which in our time, would equal a mega-church. So, if Jesus preached to mega-crowds, many centuries ago, when the world population was much smaller, why should anyone hold negative opinions of every mega-church, in our time, when the human population is much bigger?

Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 15:38

Here again, if you add the four thousand men plus women and children, the number of people will be almost or over ten thousand. Jesus preached to mega-church size crowds. And if we lived in a perfect world, every church today would be a mega-church, because there are more people today,than when Jesus preached to mega-crowds, in the past.
Furthermore, we have mega this and mega that in our time, like mega-stores and mega-farms, because small stores or small farms are not enough to meet the needs of a growing population.

You mentioned the operation of the church. Which to me, is nothing more than a building. Small churches don't differ much in operation.

What I did not read about in your post was the operation of the Holy Spirit. I won't limit the Spirit of God, God works wherever and however He desires. But the early church met mostly in homes, and practiced aggressive discipleship. And it increased. And it was persecuted, which caused it to grow even more.

 

[MobileChapel]

You mentioned the operation of the church. Which to me, is nothing more than a building. Small churches don't differ much in operation.

What I did not read about in your post was the operation of the Holy Spirit. I won't limit the Spirit of God, God works wherever and however He desires. But the early church met mostly in homes, and practiced aggressive discipleship. And it increased. And it was persecuted, which caused it to grow even more.

The purpose of this thread, was to highlight the fact,that the world population is growing and many things are also being expanded to accommodate the numbers, including churches.
This was not about whether or when the Holy Spirit operates. That is a topic for another thread.

 

[Genez]

I attend a mega-church, but I am always surprised by the large number of people, including many fellow Christians, who hold very strong negative views, about any mega-church, without having any knowledge of how any particular mega-church is run or operated.
This is not to defend every mega-church, because we have all heard of scandalous behavior from some of them, either through the media or word of mouth, but that same scandalous behavior has also taken place in small churches, but because they are small and less well known, very few get hear of their misdeeds. Mega-churches, because of their size, tend to be well-known, therefore the news of any wrong that may happen in them, spreads wide and further, as opposed to a small church.
There is no perfect church and no church is bad or good, just because of its size.

The number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 14:21

In the preceding scripture, we are given only the number of men, who were the heads of the households. The number of women and children is not given, but we can safely say, that men plus women and children, made the number more than ten thousand people.
Ten thousand people is a mega-crowd, which in our time, would equal a mega-church. So, if Jesus preached to mega-crowds, many centuries ago, when the world population was much smaller, why should anyone hold negative opinions of every mega-church, in our time, when the human population is much bigger?

Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 15:38

Here again, if you add the four thousand men plus women and children, the number of people will be almost or over ten thousand. Jesus preached to mega-church size crowds. And if we lived in a perfect world, every church today would be a mega-church, because there are more people today,than when Jesus preached to mega-crowds, in the past.
Furthermore, we have mega this and mega that in our time, like mega-stores and mega-farms, because small stores or small farms are not enough to meet the needs of a growing population.

Mega? Or, small?

Makes no difference as long as the teaching is consistently sound doctrine.

Keep in mind.
Navy Seals are a small unit.
But that small force can produce a greater effect than thousands of troops.

Why?
Because of how they were trained (sound doctrine), and were willing to suffer in training
(study to prove themselves approved) to excel.

Mega churches (especially today) can be a bad sign, as per 2 Timothy 4:3.

For the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

2 Timothy 4:3
​

Large numbers does not mean it is God's power.
It can mean, man's power working in the world system's way of doing things.
Gideon only had a small number!

And keep in mind?
Of all the many who will believe and are saved?
Jesus warned that only a few of them will find what is needed (sound doctrine) to walk in the Life he came to give us.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate
and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14​

grace and peace!

 

[MobileChapel]

Mega? Or, small?

Makes no difference as long as the teaching is consistently sound doctrine.

Keep in mind.
Navy Seals are a small unit.
But that small force can produce a greater effect than thousands of troops.

Why?
Because of how they were trained (sound doctrine), and were willing to suffer in training
(study to prove themselves approved) to excel.

Mega churches (especially today) can be a bad sign, as per 2 Timothy 4:3.

For the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

2 Timothy 4:3
​

Large numbers does not mean it is God's power.
It can mean, man's power working in the world system's way of doing things.
Gideon only had a small number!

And keep in mind?
Of all the many who will believe and are saved?
Jesus warned that only a few of them will find what is needed (sound doctrine) to walk in the Life he came to give us.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate
and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14​

grace and peace!

No one would disagree with what you are saying, but I suspect, we are talking past one another and not fully understanding the intent of this thread, which was whether a mega church is wrong , for simply being a mega church, at a time when the global population is exploding, as opposed to centuries ago, when Jesus also preached to mega crowds.
The central question on this thread, is how do you deal with the growing numbers and not whether the doctrine is sound or not. To debate doctrine, we need a whole new thread.

 

[Genez]

No one would disagree with what you are saying, but I suspect, we are talking past one another and not fully understanding the intent of this thread, which was whether a mega church is wrong , for simply being a mega church, at a time when the global population is exploding, as opposed to centuries ago, when Jesus also preached to mega crowds.

When Jesus also preached to mega crowds?

Jesus did not want mega crowds so much....

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them,
“Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to
where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known
from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless
the Father has enabled them.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

John 6:60-66​

Jesus had knowingly and deliberately offended listeners.
John 6:53-54!
He wanted to get rid of them!


Much to understand....

 

[Kroogz]

which was whether a mega church is wrong , for simply being a mega church,

I can't show you a mega church that is right.

 

[MobileChapel]

When Jesus also preached to mega crowds?

Jesus did not want mega crowds so much....

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them,
“Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to
where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known
from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless
the Father has enabled them.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

John 6:60-66​

Jesus had knowingly and deliberately offended listeners.
John 6:53-54!
He wanted to get rid of them!


Much to understand....

There is biblical evidence, in the very first post on this thread, that Jesus did preach to mega crowds. As to whether, Jesus whose sole purpose was to reach as many people as possible with the gospel, would not want crowds, that would be undermining His own mission.
It is very easy for anyone, to take scripture out of context, and try to make it mean whatever they want. There may have been moments, when people walked way from His meetings because they didn’t like what he said or He may have asked people to leave because He needed rest, all in all, Jesus came for people and could not have been opposed to large numbers.

 

[MobileChapel]

I can't show you a mega church that is right.

Of course, you can’t show a mega-church, that is right, because you haven’t been to all the mega-churches. And there are many small churches, that aren’t right either.

 

[Kroogz]

Of course, you can’t show a mega-church, that is right

Can anyone?I can't.

 

[MobileChapel]

Can anyone?I can't.

Have a good night!

 

[Genez]

There is biblical evidence, in the very first post on this thread, that Jesus did preach to mega crowds. As to whether, Jesus whose sole purpose was to reach as many people as possible with the gospel, would not want crowds, that would be undermining His own mission.
It is very easy for anyone, to take scripture out of context, and try to make it mean whatever they want. There may have been moments, when people walked way from His meetings because they didn’t like what he said or He may have asked people to leave because He needed rest, all in all, Jesus came for people and could not have been opposed to large numbers.

I must wait until you get the point I was making.

The size of the crowd was not an issue with Jesus.

Mega churches seek large churches because they hone in on a message that would appeal to what people want to hear,
but not on what they need to hear.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3


.​

 

[GWH]

Can anyone?I can't.

The mega church I belong to is right enough,
because it has one large satellite campus and a couple of smaller ones,
and it sponsors numerous house fellowships during the week.
Also, it is in a large city, so it does not dominate or stifle smaller churches.

 

[Genez]

The mega church I belong to is right enough,
because it has one large satellite campus and a couple of smaller ones,
and it sponsors numerous house fellowships during the week.
Also, it is in a large city, so it does not dominate or stifle smaller churches.

What church?

 

[Genez]

The mega church I belong to is right enough,
because it has one large satellite campus and a couple of smaller ones,
and it sponsors numerous house fellowships during the week.
Also, it is in a large city, so it does not dominate or stifle smaller churches.

The original churches that made their names to the Bible were located in large cities, not small towns.