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The Church Lobby

Ep 069: De-Sizing the Church (pt 1): How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next, with Karl Vaters

Apr 4, 2024
Author Karl Vaters discusses the unhealthy focus on church size in America, warning of the dangers it poses. He explores the origins of the church growth movement, unintended consequences, and the importance of prioritizing integrity and discipleship in church leadership.
36:30

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Value in churches should be assessed beyond numbers, emphasizing personal worth and spiritual depth.
  • Bigness obsession in American churches stems from historical, cultural influences favouring numerical growth over spiritual significance.

Deep dives

Understanding Decising: Assessing Value Without Obsessing Over Numbers

Decising, as explained in the podcast, involves assessing the value of something without fixating on numbers. The term Bigness is introduced as a concept where church sizes dictate perception and credibility. By emphasizing that personal and church value goes beyond numerical metrics, the podcast highlights how Bigness obsession in churches, especially in the American context, can lead to burnout and misguided priorities.

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