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Playing the bigger-is-better game can be dangerous for churches
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Have you played the numbers game lately?
In our “I’ve got more than you” or “My stuff’s better than yours” culture, many people waste a lot of mental energy comparing what they have to what someone else has. The numbers game even happens in churches.
One of the first questions most pastors hear is, “How many people attend your church?” I’m guessing there is a certain number that makes a church legitimately successful, but I have no idea what that number is. Ask someone who pastors a megachurch and he might say 2,500 makes it successful. Ask another person who pastors a congregation of 80, and he might say that 100 would make it successful. In this American culture, we operate on the principle that the more people, the better the church has to be, right? It’s the “bigger is better” theory.
But playing the numbers game can be dangerous in many areas of life, especially the church. Consider what happened to King Saul in the Bible: “When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!’ This made Saul very angry. ‘What’s this?’ he said. ‘’They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!’ So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.” 1 Samuel 18:6-9 (New Living Translation)
King Saul began playing the numbers game. From the time someone started counting, he could no longer see the good that was actually happening around him. The Scripture says that the battle was being won (which was the ultimate goal), but all Saul could see was that somebody was getting more credit than he was. Jealousy began to control his heart and once jealousy took root, it eventually ruined his life.
We are God’s people, and he wants us to cheer the spiritual victories around us because they are not about us in the first place. When it comes to church growth, I don’t know why some churches grow at a much faster rate than others. There are “church gurus” trying to figure that stuff out and I’ll be honest: I don’t really care what they come up with. Growing a church is God’s work, and it is his decision how and when to make that happen. My job is to faithfully do my best to serve him right where he has placed me and to encourage others to do their best, as well.
The results are up to God. He makes it all happen in the first place. And when we leave it up to him, he gets all the credit and wins the numbers game every time — just as it should be.
Jerry Chapman is senior pastor of Capstone Church in Anderson.
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amen, im so tired of 'how many are you running down there now..."
its not our job to build the church, its our job to witness, Jesus said he would build HIS church (matthew 16). i want to be in a church Jesus is building, not one a man is building.
tony walker
www.preachertony.com
The Bible Broadcast - Friday's at 5:00 pm on WRIX-AM1020
Jerry I wished everyone thought like you.
in response to tonywalker23
SO ARE WE SAFE IN SAYING YOUR OPINION IS THAT JESUS IS NOT BUILDING NEWSPRING BUT A MAN IS?
GRANTED THIS MY OPINION, BUT I ENJOY LISTENING TO PERRY PREACH THE BIBLE, I DON'T WORSHIP HIM, I LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS BECAUSE IT COMES FROM THE BIBLE. I WONDER IF THOSE WHO TALK THE BIG TALK HAS EVERY REALLY COME AND LISTENED. I INVITE ALL TO COME LISTEN TO THE BIBLE.
I've never been to Newspring but have listened to a few sermons only and was not impressed in the least. I think its in poor taste when the speaker uses adjectives such as "flippin" when describing something, for example ".....that flippin dog."
To me thats getting the shock impact of cursing without actually cursing....but hey, maybe it's what the crowd wants....entertain me......
Wow! Did I hear you right? It is not about numbers! Someone needs to pass that on to the Church out on Midway Road. In every sermon the mention of numbers comes up. I am sorry to tell them that it is not the Pastor's Church, his wife's Church, nor not even his sister's Church. IT IS GOD'S CHURCH! It is time for everyone to come to that realization. As T.D Jakes stated a few weeks ago, " It is God's Church and we are just here to set the example, and to help the Lord with what ever he calls us to do." Yes, New Spring is growing. Yes, High Praises is getting larger, but what about the small Churches that the people feel at home in? Guess what, if they believe as they should and know Jesus Christ as their savior, they will be in Heaven with him as well. And they won't have to be pushed in and out of their Church like a heard of sheep being forced to move. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS, IT IS ABOUT THE SACRIFICE OF ONE MAN.
Of course it is God's church. I dont see a disagreement there. If the numbers go up, more souls are being reached and saved, so I hope for explosive growth in every church, regardless of size. Why is increasing numbers a bad thing, and why the personal bias towards the "Church out on Midway Road"?
in response to mgarre1
I agree, using the word "flippin " is inapropriate,they're trying to be more worldly than Godly.
Ron Carpenter of Redemption World Outreach once referred to another preacher as a "church wh*re" because he traveled from church to church. That was the last time I listened to him preach.
Some here can't handle the fact that pastors are just being real. People want their pastors to be be "real", and when they are, they complain. Some of you are so holy on here that you can't even take a shower because when you step in, the water parts.
My guess is, that those that complain use language that is just as bad, but for some reason you think a minister can't say "flippin" or who*e......grow up.
And if you quite listening to Ron Carpenter because he said who*e, then you are too judgemental to get anything out of what he says anyway.
"just being real people"....that is laughable at best. I just think that if you have to resort to shock tactics like "flippin" or "wh--e"....your intellectual value is limited....
Unfortunately, down through the ages the main stream "religious folks of the time" have been against any change or things they didn't understand or didn't want to understand. So they ridiculed it and caste out those who followed it. Sort of like the church of the middle ages and Galilio.
Lets install stripper poles in the church, I'm sure that will be excused away as "innovative"
reminds me of a bumper sticker i saw once:
"heck is where people go when they say gosh darn"
substitute 'cussing' is all the same.
if mgarre1 has ever said dang, darn or anything of the sort then he/she should probably just keep their 'flipping' comments to themselves
dougout....i'll try to explain my point in small words for you.....i expect my boss, council members, mayor, preacher or anyone in such a high profile position to have a higher standard when speaking publicly....but maybe in their defense, they have to tailor it to the audience....why bother with intellectual words when the congregation wont understand them....just substitute cuss instead...they'll get it that way.
I art thankful that thy people God art diligent in persecuting thy megachurches. Verily, I say unto thee that thy judgmental attitudes shalt please thy Lord immensely.
I should say, "They people of God". I art erred.
or "thy people of God." I art erring a lot.
in response to MikeMcMillan
Perhaps thou should spend less time with thine puppy.
in response to mickey
I haven't bought one yet. I realized it would take time away from bashing churches like NewSpring.
in response to MikeMcMillan
I understand. You do have to have your priorities in order.
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy father which is in secret" (Matthew 6:6)
"Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:37)
in response to skydivedude2100
I agree that #'s do not make a church. The Bible clearly states in Matthew 18:20
"Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them."
I'd much rather attend the church I am a member of than a church with hundreds or thousands of people. I want my pastor to know me by name and know he will be there when I need him and not send one of "his people" unless he is unavailable for whatever reason.
If someone likes a "mega church" that is fine with me, go where you will be blessed. But do not follow "man" and make sure the church you attend is teaching the Bible.
I also agree that using a word like "flippin" isn't something I'd like to hear my pastor say. It has sometime been associated with someone who really doesn't want to use the other "F" word.
When Jesus comes back, He is Coming after HIS Church. We are the Church, His Believers.
in response to clemson_girl
well said clemson_girl !!!
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