Leading a Small Church

“All great churches were at one time small.”

As small churches begin to grow they will reach the awkward zone.

“Any great men born in this church?  Nope!  Only babies.”

“Don’t be afraid of small beginnings.  Remember, the whole Disney Empire began with a mouse.”

Leading and growing a small church to health and vitality is a difficult process.

I.                   Typical Limitations in a Small Church

A.   Limited People

a.   People are our only appreciable assets!

b.   Small churches are limited in quantity and quality of people.

Principle:  “Go with what you’ve got and God will give you more.”

B.    Limited Finances

a.   Developing boldness about giving and tithing from the pulpit and one to one particularly with your leaders, is a non-negotiable for growing a church.

                                                                        i.      This boldness is based on four things:

1.   Biblical truth

2.   Personal conviction that results in practice.

3.   Personal generosity

4.   An understanding that people want to give to what they believe in.

C.   Limited facilities

a.   There are many practical things you can do before you go into an expensive building program.

                                                                        i.      Go to double services and Sunday school.

                                                                     ii.      Change from pews to chairs—less expensive and much more versatile.

                                                                  iii.      Rent nearby buildings.

                                                                   iv.      Remodel existing buildings.

D.  Limited time

a.   Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a growing church.

b.   Small churches many times have bi-vocational pastors, no full time staff, and very few volunteers.

E.   Limited victories

                                                                        i.      “When you win, nothing hurts.”

                                                                     ii.      Pastor’s Goal:  Experience one small victory every month.

F.    Limited vision

a.   The size of the vision is based on the size of the leader, not the size of the church.

G.  Limited influence

a.   Small churches often have limited influence, not because of the size of the church, but because they are ingrown.

H.  Limited expectations

a.   The biggest difference between growing and not growing is the attitude of expectations.

II.               The Growth Journey of New Life will include:

A.   The small church zone—real ministry does not happen unless the pastor does it.

B.   The awkward zone—the pastor must do ministry and equip people.

C.   The growth zone—the equipped people minister and pastor leads.

D.  Breaking through the “Awkward Zone” takes…

a.   Time—18+ months—36+ months.

b.   Courage

                                                                        i.      To change yourself takes courage

                                                                     ii.      To change yourself and others takes great courage.

c.    Convictions

                                                                        i.      All great movements have been led by people with convictions.

d.   Help from other people

e.   Leadership skills

f.      Scripture—Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 3:20-21;

Matthew 22:40 37-40Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

Ephesians 2:8 7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Ephesians 3:20-21 20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennial! Oh, yes!

Matthew 28:19-20 18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Not only is God with you, but he is at work within you.  This is his Church made up of His people.  You do your part and God will do His.

“When you have done all that you can, go to bed.  God is still up.”  Victor Hugo

III.             Seven Ways to Lead Your Small Church Forward

A.   Make sure your attitude and thinking is right.

a.   Small isn’t bad and larger isn’t good.  The key is health which results in growth.

b.   It’s not all about numbers, but numbers always tell a story.

c.    The three core elements of a health church are:

                                                                             i.      Prayer

                                                                          ii.      Evangelism

                                                                       iii.      Teaching and obeying the Word of God

B.   Make sure your motives are right.

a.   Four questions to reflect upon:

                                                                             i.      What discourages you the most?

1.   A low attendance

2.   No one coming to Christ

3.   Low offering

                                                                          ii.      What encourages you the most?

1.   Everything calm and comfortable

2.   More people involved in volunteer ministry

3.   Everyone is happy with you

                                                                       iii.       What keeps you awake at night?

1.   Relationship problems

2.   Great Commission problems

3.   Financial problems

                                                                        iv.       As a leader you prefer that people

1.   Like you

2.   Respect you

3.   Honor you

In each of these questions, the middle answer if the best indication of pure motives.

C.    Understand what the process is NOT about.

a.   It is not about:

                                                                             i.      Charismatic leadership—it is true that no one wants to follow a dull leader, but most of the “best built” and “built to last” churches are not built by charismatic leaders.”

                                                                          ii.      Great preaching

                                                                       iii.      More church services

D.   Make sure your vision is clear

a.   Do you thoroughly know it?

b.   Do you consistently show it?

c.    Do your leaders own it?

d.   Does your congregation follow it?

E.   Identity and gather three groups of people. 

a.   In each of these groups—five to seven people to begin with is all that is needed—instigators.

b.   The first group is your zealots.  They are not influencers but they are fired up and eager to do whatever needs to be done—Intercessors.

c.    These are your prayer warriors—people who genuinely pray and pray much.  They really know how to get hold of God—Influencers.

F.     Cultivate a culture of volunteer ministry.

a.   Identify your personal ministry needs and the people who can help you.

b.   Identify the top ministries of the church and the spiritual gifts necessary to make those ministries successful.

c.    Preach lay ministry sermons.

d.   Teach about spiritual gifts

e.   Give your people a spiritual gift test.

f.      Encourage your people as they use their gifts for ministry.

G.  Don’t attempt to take the journey alone.

a.   Establish alliances with other small churches.

b.   Develop a mentoring relationship with a pastor of a growing church twice your size.

c.    Study trends and movements of larger churches.

Study them, don’t copy them.  Study them to learn the core principles and values, then translate those principles and values into your church setting.

d.   All the annual conference to partner with you.

My heart is with you.  I understand.  I know hurts and frustrations and times of victory and joy.