[Kartographer]

If you are preaching the word and doing it well people will and should come, so what do you do when they start coming? At what point do you close the doors and say “Sorry but we want a small church if you want to hear the word you will just have to go else where.”

If your church isn’t growing its dieing and a dieing church is of no use to God.

[Kartographer]

Seem some of you if you lived in the day would have cam to the mount and turned away because there were so many people there, but then maybe you could have urged Jesus to have had his disciples turn away people when a certian number was reached.

[mountn man]

I REALLY WISH that FreeRepublic would add a like button.

[jsanders2001]

I’m just speaking from a personal preference not a theological one...: )

[ottbmare]

If you are preaching the word and doing it well people will and should come, so what do you do when they start coming? At what point do you close the doors and say “Sorry but we want a small church if you want to hear the word you will just have to go else where.” If your church isn’t growing its dieing and a dieing church is of no use to God.

There are many, many tiny churches in exurban and rural areas where the Gospel is preached and the Holy Spirit acts, but they never get big because there just aren't very many people in the area. Others may be preaching the Word but the pastor isn't a talented showman and doesn't have a fabulous back-up band and singers. Churches like that won't attract the millions who want to be entertained on Sunday morning, even if they proclaim Christ truly.

I have heard some valuable teaching and inspired sermons in little backwater churches. But they are only heard by a few hundred souls because there aren't too many people in the area who want a quiet traditional service with an old lady playing the piano and a few quavering voices in the choir in preference to fancier churches.

[GeronL]

How many followers/members did Reverend Wright have?