You don’t need one more person, one more dollar or one more square foot of building to start being a great church.

There are great small churches in every country, serving every ethnic group and in virtually every language.

But still, people don’t realize that a church can be both small and great.  That has to change.  We can do this.

Good isn’t good enough anymore.  No more excuses.  It’s time for small churches to be great churches.

Know that Small Churches Can Be Great.   

Perhaps the biggest impediment to an explosion of great small churches around the world is mall churches and pastors who don’t know they can be both small and great.  Believe it and act like it’s true.  Because it is.

Don’t Try to Act Like a Big Church

Yes, there are principles that all great churches hold in common.  But a great small church is not a miniaturized version of a great megachurch.

A great small church won’t have parking lot attendants and professional signage leading families to hi-tech, age-segmented children’s ministries.  There are alot of megachurches that have all the cool stuff.  But that’s not what makes them great.

Do something small church pastors can do that a megachurch can’t do – hang out in the lobby after the service.  Build relationships.  Pray with and for people.  Tell dumb jokes.  Hug, laugh and cry together.  Be a church family.

Discover What Your Church Can Be Great At

Any church can be great at something.  Starting with the things they’re already good at.

Train people better.  Reach out to the people who have fallen away from the faith.  Start doing the basic Bible stuff.  Then experiment.  See what works and what doesn’t.

Refuse to Settle for Anything Less Than Great

The key word here is to “settle”.  Do what you need to do.  Including doing some things as a less-than-great level when needed.  But never, Never, NEVER settle for “I guess that’s as good as we’ll ever get.”

Any church that feels like they’ve arrived at their peak then stays there, is settling.  Settling is dying.

Keep Doing What Your Church is Great At

Great things take time.  You and your church are great at something – or you can be.  Stop trying to be like the megachurch you visited or read about.  Don’t try to cut-and-paste anyone else’s template onto your church.

BE WHO GOD CALLED YOU TO BE.  AND BE GREAT AT IT.