CBOQ is mostly comprised of small churches.

Some small churches are anxious about their size. Clint remembers that, as a church planter (and thus a small church pastor), there were days when he felt the then-fledgling work simply could not measure up to the programs of the larger churches that were held up as the ideal.

For some: bigger is better. If involvement in, and seeking the growth of, a ocal church were seen as a competitive sport (tragically it can be), those with the most nickels (finances) and noses (attendees) won. But, is bigger better? Christian Schwarz, in his Natural Church Development research, found that when we look through the lens of quality, bigger is not better. The attending graph reveals that, in reality, the bigger a church the fewer people are involved in using their spiritual gifts in the church's ministry and mission.

But conversely, is it safe to assume, that smaller is better? Absolutely not! Frankly, many small churches remain small and lack growth because they are unhealthy. In healthy churches pastoral leaders follow the Biblical purpose of “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.” We are not to pay pastors to do ministry 'to' or 'for' us, but to equip all of the people for their ministries in both the 'gathered' and 'scattered' dimensions of our life together.

Some churches are small because the people form exclusive holy clubs and cliques. Others stay small because they focus primarily within, on themselves, rather than having significant focus on those outside of the church. In one sense it is true to say that the local church is not the point; rather, the Mission of God is the point and each local church is called to join with God in that mission, which will also (mostly?) take them outside of the walls and confines of local church buildings.

So if bigger is not necessarily better and small is not necessarily better, then what is? The reality is that better is better!

Some large churches are big because they focus on mission and health and have experienced growth because of it. And yet, there are also marvelous examples of very healthy, small churches. Some show their health by birthing other new churches. Others show their health by transforming their (local and global) community, reflecting  Kingdom values through sensitive sharing of faith, and by living it out in  holistic, integral outreach and mission. Still others show their health by developing and deploying leaders through their church.

Truly effective small churches reveal all of these fruits, and many other tangible markers as well.

Perspectives…   

• Think “David,” not “Goliath.” We know the story, David was small, Goliath was huge, David was effective because of faith in God and innovation, Goliath, not so much! Goliath Churches concern themselves with how big they get (nickels and noses) David churches concern themselves with seeing Christ’s “Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
• Think “Baptism Growth,” not “worship attendance.” Believers baptism continues to be rite of passage that has significance for today in fulfilling Christ’s commission to his church. 
• Think “Qualitative Growth,” not “Quantitative Growth.” Thanks to the work of Natural Church Development we can track the health of our church and pursue healthy growth.

Small Church Resources