Ep 104: What Is the Minimum for a Church to be Viable? with Sam Peters

Jun 5, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Sam Peters, a church consultant and author of multiple influential books, shares insights into the viability of microchurches. He explores the essential elements necessary for a church to thrive, focusing on community and discipleship. Peters highlights the limitations of traditional church models, emphasizing the need for active engagement over passive attendance. With a fresh perspective, he advocates for flexibility and community integration to foster meaningful spiritual connections, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape.

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INSIGHT

Ecclesial Minimum Defined

Church requires worship, mission, and community simultaneously to truly exist.
Without any one of these, the gathering loses its identity as a church.

INSIGHT

Generational Shift Toward Microchurch

Younger generations are less attracted to institutional churches and prefer smaller, organic faith expressions.
Recent church scandals contribute to mistrust in institutional religion, increasing openness to microchurches.

ADVICE

Focus Small Churches on Discipleship

Smaller churches should clear away non-essentials and focus laser-like on disciple-making.
Identifying the unique mission your church can fulfill helps simplify disciple-making efforts.

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Karl Vaters interviews Sam Peters about the microchurch model, and more specifically, what are the minimum aspects that need to be in place for a church to be a church?

If you’re serving a small church that’s considering if you have a viable path forward, the microchurch model is worth considering, and Sam offers some help for thinking about it in fresh, new ways.

Sam Peters is a church consultant, and the author of several books, including Small Church, Big Opportunity; BIG Faith: Six Key Factors that Grow Your Faith in God, & Rebuilding Stronger: Navigating the Post-Pandemic Landscape of Worship.

Links:

SmallChurchCoaching.com
LinkTree
You can follow Sam on Facebook and X

Bonus video

The Limitations of the Institutional Church in Reaching the Community

Karl Vaters interviews Sam Peters about some of the limitations that are now coming to light about the institutional church model (building, salary, etc.) that we’ve both spent our lives in. The challenges we talk about include:

1. Physical and Financial Constraints: Many churches invest most of their resources into maintaining buildings and programs rather than directly engaging the lost. This is especially difficult for smaller congregations.

2. Passive Churchgoers Instead of Active Disciple-Makers: Institutional churches can unintentionally foster a consumer mindset, where members attend services but are not equipped to lead or disciple others.

3. Limited Reach Beyond Church Walls: Most churches expect people to come to them rather than embedding the Gospel in everyday life and relationships.

4. Slow Adaptation to Cultural Shifts: In an age of rapid change, large churches with complex structures often struggle to pivot quickly to meet new challenges and opportunities.

5. Overemphasis on Sunday Gatherings: The primary focus in many churches is the Sunday experience, but disciple-making happens most effectively in smaller, relational environments.

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