Intro

The future of America’s largest churches (specifically megachurches—2,000+ weekly attendees) is a complex mix of momentum, innovation, and cultural headwinds. Eric Geiger from Mariners Church joins Sam on the show to discuss the reality facing large churches. Will they keep growing? Some will, but many are plateauing or entering slow decline.

• • What are the biggest challenges facing large churches today?
  • What is different now than in the 1990s and early 2000s when megachurch growth peaked?
  • Why do many large churches base their ministry strategies on charismatic leadership models?
  • How will the declining Baby Boomer population affect large church trends?
  • What is Mariners Church doing to prepare for the future?

Resources:

• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

• Churchteams

• Rooted

• “Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples” by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger (affiliate link)

• FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights

• Church Answers Central

• The Hope Initiative

Episode Sponsors:

• • You’ve been in ministry long enough to spot both the obstacles and the opportunities facing your congregation. 
  • There must be solutions, but how do you find them? 
  • If you are the ministry leader called to champion these issues, Southern Seminary has a problem-solving degree that will guide you to the answers. 
  • From the moment you begin your doctor of ministry program at Southern, you will research the issues and start writing about the biblical solutions that will immediately benefit your church. 
  • The academic sharpening that comes through your faculty supervisor and doctoral cohorts will strengthen both you and your church.
  • Learn how Southern’s DMin can be an extension of your current ministry, not a distraction from it.
  • The DMin at Southern Seminary will equip you to solve a problem or harness a ministry opportunity that will strengthen you and your church. Learn how at SBTS.edu/solutions.

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  • Learn more at Churchteams.

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