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Megachurches growing in number and size
modbee ^ | 2-3-06

Posted on 02/03/2006 4:49:33 PM PST by LouAvul

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In all honesty, from what I've seen, these "churches" are big on entertainment and weak on doctrine. Not much of a foundation, IMO.
1 posted on 02/03/2006 4:49:34 PM PST by LouAvul
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: LouAvul

It seems to me that God is more concerned with the depth of a church than its size. Some churches, following some formula that a "church consultant" came up with, no longer talk about "the blood of Christ" because it *offends* some people. IMHO, some churches need to be "preached-down" to the core through the teaching of solid truth.


3 posted on 02/03/2006 4:54:02 PM PST by My2Cents (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. -- George Orwell)
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To: LouAvul

The "mega church" I attend is sound on doctrine but also enjoys a strong time of worship with a good preacher to boot! I have loved my church for over 20 years and find it to be wonderful for me and my teens too. There is so much more they can do with a larger budget to keep families together Sunday morning and the rest of the week.
I think that is one advantage. I do understand the concern for the "seeker friendly" churches--these tend to be large because they do not preach a true gospel message.


4 posted on 02/03/2006 4:56:50 PM PST by truthingod
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To: My2Cents

You are right. It is not the size that should be of concern as much as what is being taught and lived by every day. The bottom line is this: we need to be in the church family that God leads us to be a part of. If that happens to be a large church that is okay. If you feel led to be an active part of a smaller church-go for it!


5 posted on 02/03/2006 4:59:12 PM PST by truthingod
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To: LouAvul

We go to a Mega-church. Very sound on doctrine, but it wasn't always a "mega-church." When we started 18 years ago there were only a handful of people. It just grew, and even though sister churches have split off, it still continues to grow.

I think according to the definition of "mega church," the early church, on the day of Pentecost, could be classified as a "mega church" since according to Acts 2:41, 3000 were added to the church on that single day.


6 posted on 02/03/2006 5:10:06 PM PST by dawn53
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To: truthingod
I grew up Roman Catholic, married a Presbyterian and attended there for a number of years. Never feeling spiritually satisfied we looked around for a year and tried Southbrook Christian in Centerville, Ohio. Rather than list their mission Statement just check thei web site.
southbrook.org

I will say they are structured for people who have been unhappy or disaffected by the more traditional and look to attract non church goers and the nonreligious. 70% of the congregation is made up of ex Catholics.
7 posted on 02/03/2006 5:15:47 PM PST by Recon Dad (Force Recon Dad)
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To: LouAvul

I agree that there is not much of a foundation in many non-denominational churches, especially those who won't tell you who they are in their church name. They are extremely good at caring for people and getting great results. There is much to learn from them on this. So is the Salvation Army and the Mormons. But in the end, doctrine get short shrift and this is never good. Btw, infant Baptism and the bodily presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is denied in most non-denominational churches.


8 posted on 02/03/2006 5:21:18 PM PST by Lutheran Loft II
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To: LouAvul
..the marketing and entertainment culture in America has given birth to these churches.

Sound expository Bible teaching and real heart-felt worship have now been replaced with a marketed product--a consumer oriented Gospel.

9 posted on 02/03/2006 5:24:04 PM PST by WalterSkinner ( ..when there is any conflict between God and Caesar -- guess who loses?)
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To: LouAvul

I especially loved the way many were closed on Christmas, very telling of where their hearts are.


10 posted on 02/03/2006 5:41:01 PM PST by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: LouAvul

Only nine replies on a "Mega-church-bashing thread"?


11 posted on 02/03/2006 6:51:46 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: WalterSkinner

Most of the Megachurches are preaching sound doctrine. That is why they have become megachurches.


12 posted on 02/03/2006 6:54:21 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: TexanToTheCore
..not in the seeker sensitive church growth movement churches they are not.

Size is no measure of sound teaching--if so Full Gospel Central Church in Seoul Korea(hundreds of thousands of members) would be the standard of the world--it has many doctrinal problems.

13 posted on 02/03/2006 7:03:22 PM PST by WalterSkinner ( ..when there is any conflict between God and Caesar -- guess who loses?)
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To: WalterSkinner

"Size is no measure of sound teaching"

Neither is smallness. Different churches have different attributes.

Some seeker churches have become large, but many have remained small or have disappeared due to the lack of sound doctrine. Many people will start out in a seeker friendly church and change to a different church with sound doctrine as their faith matures.

Spome people like big churches with sound doctrine. I am one of them.


14 posted on 02/03/2006 7:13:57 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: WalterSkinner

One of the benefits I have found in my Megachurch is that it is full of Christian activists. Really high energy Christians, fully engaged in the outside world, bringing Jesus to those who have not yet seen His light.


15 posted on 02/03/2006 7:17:02 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: WalterSkinner

Actually, the church refers to itself as "The Fellowship of Excitement". We (members) refer to it as "The Fellowship of Exhaustion".


16 posted on 02/03/2006 7:19:02 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: TexanToTheCore

Sorry, but the reason some have become megachurches is that they have followed certain principles -- principles straight out of Harvard business school -- on how to "succeed" as an organization. The scandal of the megachurch movement is that it is possible to become big, without the necessity of following the Holy Spirit.


17 posted on 02/03/2006 8:49:19 PM PST by My2Cents (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. -- George Orwell)
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To: Peanut Gallery

ping


18 posted on 02/03/2006 8:58:44 PM PST by Professional Engineer (iT'S NOT ALWAYS YELLIN'.)
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To: LouAvul

As I was just telling my husband... My beeber is stuned.

The church I grew up in had 4 pastors: 2 for the youth, one for music and a senior pastor. I visited the site online the other day just out of curiosity and found that they now support 11 pastors. One of the pastors is the discipleship minister (my old youth leader). He directs their 28 discipleship groups. They moved the church in 2002 (?) to the new location which supports a congregation of 7,000 members.


19 posted on 02/03/2006 9:27:46 PM PST by Peanut Gallery
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To: LouAvul; All

read the down-grade documents by charles spurgeon and ashamed of the gospel by john macarthur.


20 posted on 02/04/2006 3:20:58 AM PST by alpha-8-25-02 ("SAVED BY GRACE AND GRACE ALONE")
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