The YBPDLN Ping List is generally published infrequently but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors posts can spike for a season. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.
*YBPDLN=Your Best Purpose Driven Life Now
Pastor Dave Stone is the head pastor of Southeast Christian Church out of Louisville, Kentucky. More than 16,200 people pack in to see Stone talk. The church also has other congregations opening up in places like Indiana, Oldham and Southwest."
Would you believe, I've been there once. It's big!
Big church, big religion; no relationship with God is my experience. I’d rather be in a small church any day.
If the pastor is giving a great message from the Bible, I'm there.
Don't be fooled by those who think that having a big church means God is blessing them. Remember, leaven makes things grow, the more leaven you put in the more growth you will get out.
Do your homework. . .some on the list may be wolves in sheep’s clothing . . . if they aren’t preaching the shed Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the remission of sin then they aren’t preaching God’s Gospel.
Christ’s Blood overcomes Satan and puts him to flight.
“And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19).
About 10 years ago, they made a conscious decision to change their services and make them more appealing to the young. Out went the lay choir. Out went the traditional hymns and hymnals. Being in a city with a thriving live music scene, they developed a core of skilled Christian musicians and singers who began copying the songs heard on contemporary Christian radio.
Their worship center is like an auditorium with theatre seating in back, folding chairs in front and then a small sound stage. A top flight sound system was installed and some top recording acts have come to perform there.
There are two large projection screens to post the words to songs, scripture verses, study outlines, announcements and other slides. They have a big lobby with free donut holes, coffee, lemonade and water available which can (with my mild disapproval) be taken into the auditorium during the service. In the lobby are also areas a for visitor center, audio center (I have bought sermons on CD), a place for nursing mothers and families with small noisy kids to watch the service on closed circuit and not miss out.
The minister's sermon is often introduced with a short video clip of a popular film or tv show on the projection screens that makes a point about the topic about to be discussed.
The result: Families of many different faiths and races have tried the church and decided to stay. Scripture is preached almost every Sunday (I say almost because there are a few Sundays for updates on mission work, ministry spotlights, etc). Our pastor mixes topical series with series on books of the Bible.
But the core of the believer's growth comes in small mid-week Bible Study groups of 10-20 adults that meet in homes and who often share a common trait, age group or need. This is where friends and prayer partners are made; where the individual's prayer needs and spiritual needs are often met. Attenders are encouraged to attend these groups to get their spiritual bread and water.
Overall, we get 1500-2000 people combined during two Sunday morning services but it has never felt like other larger churches in the area.
Nobody is given a key to financial blessings. They are told about a key to salvation through accepting Christ's death on the cross as payment for their sins and encouraged them to learn more. Increasing attendance has never been the goal - rather it has been the outgrowth of faith combined with a desire to lead people to Christ even if they first came for the music or the free breakfast.
They've toned down the politics from years past (I even see some Obama bumper stickers in the parking lot) but the church's charge is to spread the gospel of salvation so that the lost will be willing to hear and then, once they've accepted Jesus, let the Holy Spirit convince them about changing some of their political views.
I have known many people who attend a local “megachurch”, but none of them seem to stay for more than a few years. Yes, there is plenty of things going on, and they have a coffee shop, and classes for this and that.
They seem to be missing something, though.
As Flip Wilson use to say, “ the church or what’s happenin’ now.”
My parish has about 1,400 registered households, but nobody thinks of it as a “megachurch.”
The YBPDLN Ping List is generally published infrequently but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors posts can spike for a season. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.
*YBPDLN=Your Best Purpose Driven Life Now
This must be dated information. Life Church has about 20 campuses with a combined attendance of 50,000 to 80,000.
A Mormon publication with a Catholic reporter singing the praises of nondenominational Protestant megachurches? How wild is that, lol?
I’d rather my 800 seat church were full on a regular basis.
I helped plant a new church in my hometown. Our plan when we reach about 250 people is to spin off another church in the community. We haven’t reached that goal yet despite steady growth but we feel that the fellowship and accountability of a small church is important. That often gets lost in a large church.
Interesting how all the mega churches are in the South. Why no big churches in New York, San Fran, Jersey, Ohio?
many of them don’t even have pews but theater seating
Notice anything missing..... God!
How many of these churches have supported Obama and the Democrats?