Let’s say you have a family who is interested in participating in the various offerings a church might offer – as you had done in your previous community. Now you have moved, and four blocks away, there is a small church that has Sunday worship and an occasional Bible study and prayer meeting. A twenty minute drive away is a large church with Sunday morning worship, youth groups, choirs, theater groups, small group studies, baby-sitting – pretty much everything you could want. Which church should you go to?
If the preaching is biblical, John Benton argues in his book Why Join a Small Church? That you should join the small church just down the street.
Benton argus that the large church doesn’t need you, but the small church does. Small churches offer fellowship and opportunities to serve that might not be found in a larger church. And small churches will stretch you and force you to work in ways that larger churches won’t.
Benton is realistic: small churches often have strange people, poor facilities, and not much in the way of programs. But, he argues, how terrible would it be to have the small church close and lose it’s witness in the community?
Benton ends his book giving suggestions for making a small church great. But understand, it will take work on your part – faithfulness – and trust in God. You will have to decide if that is worth it.
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