Going to three sunday services

Why not look for an unchurched area and start a mission church? Send members there to get it going.

IMHO any time a church grows to 500 members it is time to begin a mission church and reduce the number at the home church.

 

Anytime a chuch is growing and expanding there certainly is a lot to get excited about. There can also be some resistance to the necessary steps to continue to provide resources to sustain that growth.

For instance, in the church where I serve, about three years ago we went from three services to four, and then from four to five recently. It required a dramatic change to our internal mechanisms (not seen by the larger congregation) and our processes of communicating, planning, and executing our weekends (which is more public.) There was some inevitable pushback, primarily from members who had been with for a while, and we were able to both answer questions and calm fears about the transition.

Sometimes properly managed debt can lead to continued growth, both spiritually and numerically, and lead a church into greater days than any of us realize. Just because there are a lot of similarities between past experiences and current ones doesn't mean that all things will be the same.

One of the challenges these days is that massive building programs (the kind that are necessary to accomodate large crowds) are becoming increasingly difficult to justify. Given better strategies involving multi-site campuses, intentional church planting, and expanding your service capacity beyond Sunday mornings many churches are opting for less cost exorbitant capital expenditures and for more a more focused approach.

My encouragement for you is to rejoice in your church's continued growth. If you've got questions make sure you approach your leadership biblically about them.

 

On this we agree Crabby...I'm even leaving in your font type and size changes to show that I am in one accord with you!

:thumbsup:

 

:thumbs:Yep.

As to the OP, a church bursting at the seams is a good problem to have.

 

That depends on the leadership of the church and location. When I was a kid we never went to a church that small. The church we went to was about 6,000. I like churches over 1000. I see churches that are under 1000 as often being selfish. They care more about knowing the pastor and being known rather than doing the work God has called them to do. Some of the most selfish people I have met are in small churches. They do not like it when the church gets a lot larger.

 

And some of the biggest idiots I have a met like big churches.

 

Well of course. You will find them everywhere. Jesus addressed them in the Gospels. The average church in America is less than 100. 70-80% of the churches in America are plagued by one or more antagonists. About the same number of churches are plateaued or dying. What does that say about the average church attender?

 

Personally Speaking...

...and I know my opinion may not mean much, but as a pastor, I've been a member of those multiple service churches, and while it may be a "badge of honor" for some to be a member of a mega-church, I have found that with each Sunday morning, service comes a certain amount of individualism. In other words, if there are five services, the church is more likely, than not, to have five separate, completely different congregations.

If you don't agree with me, try attending one of the other scheduled services, and you will be greeted and treated like a guest or visitor. And when you tell the greeters, you usually attend a different service time slot, they look so lost for words.

Then there is the "coming together" meetings where the church has a one church picnic, or concert, a church finacnial/business meeting, or whatever, and once again, you begin to see five groups with separate objectives, clinging unto themselves, rather than mingling and enjoying the fact that they are actually part of something much larger than words can begin to express.

I am not saying anything against large churches and multiple services, but I the smaller setting as it has its benefits. It also has its drawbacks. So I guess it's truly a personal thing. :wavey:

Again, this is my opinion, and it may not matter too much, so do with it as you want. I just wanted to share my view. :flower:

 

If people were not self focused then the size of the church would not matter. The only thing that would matter is if people are growing and making disciples.

 

That is a Great.....

.....point!raying:

 

It is far more important to know God than to know the pastor. If what happened in the book of Acts were to happen today there is no way any pastor could be very well known except by a few. I have never met any pres. of the US. It is far more important what he stands for than that I know him.

How many students at their school know the superintendent? It is far more important that they learn from their teachers than know the superintendent. It is even far more important that each student know someone who encourages them to walk the right path. It is far more important that each student have someone who helps them walk the right path.