Skip to comments.
What makes a gigachurch go? (Moving Beyond the Megachurch)
Minneapolis Star/Tribune (aka The Red Star) ^
| 7/20/08
| Jeff Strickler - Staff Reporter
Posted on 07/20/2008 7:26:45 PM PDT by MplsSteve
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21 next last
The concept of the megachurch or gigachurch is not new to many of us - yet most of us do not attend one.
I found this article to be fascinating reading and just about lacking in any bias against evengelical churches. The reporter pretty much called it as he saw it.
Comments or opinions (about the article or mega-churches in general_ - anyone?
1
posted on
07/20/2008 7:26:45 PM PDT
by
MplsSteve
To: NorthWoody; Manic_Episode; mikethevike; coder2; AmericanChef; Reaganesque; ER Doc; lesser_satan; ...
WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC’S MINNESOTA PING LIST!
99 MEMBERS AND GROWING...!
FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ON OR OFF THIS LIST!
2
posted on
07/20/2008 7:30:25 PM PDT
by
MplsSteve
To: MplsSteve
I’ve come to the conclusion that when a church begins being run as a business (which is what the reporter described behind the scenes), the church has gotten too big. Properly led, a church is mostly full of Christians who know the Lord and whose elders do not “manage” the worship “experience”. Right preaching of the Word and corporate singing praise to the Lord can and should be normal without submitting to a manager.
A pox on elders who try to manage God’s people.
To: MplsSteve
To: MplsSteve
"Our goal is that everything has a purpose," Anderson said. "We want the worship service to be vertical, not horizontal. Meaning we want people's eyes on the platform."
That doesn't sound right.
Here's Eagle Brook's website
5
posted on
07/20/2008 7:44:50 PM PDT
by
Lee N. Field
(You wouldn't want a postmodern to fix your car. Why would you trust him with your theology?)
To: Lee N. Field
AmChurch is all about being entertained anyway.
To: MplsSteve
Don’t even get me started on megachurches.
7
posted on
07/20/2008 7:53:39 PM PDT
by
Free Vulcan
(No prisoners. No mercy. Fight back or STFU!!!)
To: MplsSteve
8
posted on
07/20/2008 8:00:53 PM PDT
by
NewLand
(NoBama except Alabama...)
To: NewLand
9
posted on
07/20/2008 8:02:43 PM PDT
by
NewLand
(NoBama except Alabama...)
To: Free Vulcan
Seriously, speak your mind!
That’s why I posted this - to get some input.
As I see it, there’s not a right or wrong answer.
To: MplsSteve
You should put an alert in the heading - Warning! Red Star article. You can’t trust they even got the religion right. Could be a mosque for all we know.
11
posted on
07/20/2008 8:22:41 PM PDT
by
DManA
To: MplsSteve
He discusses the fourth chapter of Hebrews, addressing the need for rest. But he quickly moves away from the text and talks about how hard it is to find time to rest in today's hectic society.Sigh.
IOW, the congregation comes awfully close to hearing the Word of God at this church.
To: MplsSteve
Comments or opinions (about the article or mega-churches in general_ - anyone?
1)Pure preaching of the gospel, 2)right administration of the sacraments, and 3) exercise of church discipline.
How well does this church (or any church) meet these criteria?
13
posted on
07/21/2008 6:46:29 AM PDT
by
Lee N. Field
(You wouldn't want a postmodern to fix your car. Why would you trust him with your theology?)
To: Lee N. Field
“At last count, Eagle Brook was the 58th largest church in the country. The list is dominated by a handful of immense churches — Lakewood in Texas is No. 1 with more than 47,000 members.”
That’s not a church. That’s a town.
14
posted on
07/21/2008 6:55:05 AM PDT
by
AppyPappy
(If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
To: Lee N. Field
I loved this adage from a recent devotion
If we tone down Christ’s drastic demands, we aren’t following him. Many churches are no more than inoculation clinics. People go there to receive weekly vaccinations so they won’t come down with the real thing.
15
posted on
07/21/2008 6:59:58 AM PDT
by
AppyPappy
(If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
To: MplsSteve
Are there any reports on the percentage of contributions to mega-churches vs. smaller churches that make it back into the community? I would be interested to see if the mega-church is more efficient at managing expenses and therefore able to give more back to worthy causes.
To: the_devils_advocate_666
Are there any reports on the percentage of contributions to mega-churches vs. smaller churches that make it back into the community? I would be interested to see if the mega-church is more efficient at managing expenses and therefore able to give more back to worthy causes.
It's my understanding that individuals give larger percentages of their incomes in smaller churches. And no wonder.
As far as "management" -- a megachurch will obviously have much more complicated finances than a small one. A small church can easily send a check to a family in need -- a megachurch requires several layers of approval, all by individuals drawing salaries.
Megachurches are just like big government: Able to administrate huge programs, but with a massive amount of overhead.
17
posted on
07/21/2008 8:12:20 AM PDT
by
Zechariah_8_13
(The golden rule can't operate through a government program, it can only work between people.)
To: MplsSteve
18
posted on
07/21/2008 11:53:12 AM PDT
by
onedoug
To: MplsSteve
Comments or opinions (about the article or mega-churches in general_ - anyone?
Just a general comment. Most of what I see on their (annoying -- turn off the music, please!) website fits a pattern.
Willow Creek wannabe in the cold white north, right down to the leadership conference and the Eagle Brook Association.
19
posted on
07/21/2008 6:30:30 PM PDT
by
Lee N. Field
(You wouldn't want a postmodern to fix your car. Why would you trust him with your theology?)
To: NewLand
One of the better large churches... Then the Metroplex is in trouble...
We're all about people?
20
posted on
07/22/2008 9:14:48 AM PDT
by
pby
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson