This is officially the first lecture we are having
We thank God for the last Lecture which I use to introduce church growth to us..but now I am sure we are set for the course church growth and leadership proper..
Today; We are checking different church sizes and how we can effectively growth it and rudiments of wisdom behind them..
Pls pay attention well
We pray oh Lord that you will open our eye and help us again..help us see you and know you again that your church might grow in our hand Amen.
HOUSE CHURCH: UP TO 40 ATTENDANCE
*Rudiments to know*
+ It operates essentially as an extended small group. It is a highly relational church in which everyone knows everyone else intimately.
+ Lay leaders are extremely powerful and they emerge relationally—they are not appointed or elected. They are usually the people who have been at the church the longest and have devoted the most time and money to the work.
+ Decision making is democratic and informal and requires complete consensus.
+ Communication is by word of mouth, and information moves very swiftly through the whole membership.
+ Church families support there pastor through tithe, it can support a full-time minister. The minister’s main job is shepherding, not leading or preaching.
How it grows
House churches grow in the most organic possible way—through attraction to their warmth, relationships, and people. New people are simply invited and continue to come because they are befriended. There is no “program” of outreach.
Crossing FROM 40 TO 200 YOU MUST KNOW THIS
The house church, like any small group, gets to saturation rather quickly. Once it gets to 40+ to 200 people, the intense face-to-face relationships become impossible to maintain. It then faces a choice: either multiplying off another house-church or growing out of the “house-church dynamics” into the next size category, the small church.
If it does not do either, evangelism becomes essentially impossible. The fellowship itself then can easily become ingrown and stagnant—somewhat stifling, sometimes legalistic.
An ongoing problem for the stand-alone church of this size is the low quality of ministry to specific groups like children, youth, and singles. If it opts to multiply into another house church, the two (and eventually several) house churches can form an association and do things like youth ministry together. They can also meet for joint worship services periodically.
