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I have visited one -- multiple times.Who here has ever been to a Mega-church?
i.e. a church with more than 2,000 regular attendees
What was it like?
Like when all 11 grandchildren are in my house!!!Noisy?
I've been to both but prefer the smaller ones as there's fewer people to chase me.Generally speaking, as with a small church (350 or less), there are pro's and con's and you get out of it what you put into it.
Would you say it lacked intimacy?I have visited one -- multiple times.
Generally speaking, as with a small church (350 or less), there are pro's and con's and you get out of it what you put into it.
Personal experience (Hillsong mega-church) it was AMAZING from beginning to end.
Any particular area you wanted to address?
Hey, ever been in a Sicilian home? Ours is so noisy when our kids and grandkids are all here that we get warnings from the police in neighboring counties.Like when all 11 grandchildren are in my house!!!
Would you say it lacked intimacy?
That's what I'd expect...
And I'd expect it to feel more like an observer at a concert than a participation in a worship service???
In your experience, would you say these preconceptions are correct?
What did the atmosphere feel like?
LOL... my great grandmother was Sicilian and some of her children could give you an offer you couldn't refuse... so YES!Hey, ever been in a Sicilian home? Ours is so noisy when our kids and grandkids are all here that we get warnings from the police in neighboring counties.
To me 300 to 350 attendees is enormous, for a churchI would say it is really just perception. I pastor a church that runs between 300 and 350 and within that group there are those who would say it isn't intimate and those who say it is. That is why I say "You get out of it what you put into it".
Caveat, it also depends on the culture of the church (whether small or large). Each church has a different culture.
As a rule, we never go beyond knowing 70 people and intimately no more than 12 or so. Therefore, whether in a large church or a small one--you still can only be intimate with 70 people. Perception, because of size, may differ but the reality is just the same. There are people in our church that just aren't and don't want to be intimate.
If the person gets plugged in and serves, they will automatically develop intimate relationship. Go to a home-group and it is even more intimate.
Worship is also individual. When I first gave my life to Jesus -- I was an observer. As my relationship with God became deeper, I became a participator. Now, I don't care who sees me or which church I am at... I will worship. To put it another way, if someone goes to a place with expectation they will be touched and ministered to. If one enters with doubt the it probably will be the same as it was with Jesus when he entered his own town... flat.
The atmosphere at Hillsong was amazing. It seemed like every one of those going were on the same page with the same heart. Maybe an anomaly since that is the only mega-church I've been to. People were engaging, loving and reaching out and wanting to know you.
On the more serious side, I was to one that was a large church but I wouldn't go as far as calling it a "mega-church". And when I said "noisy" in an earlier post, I meant it. I felt that I was more at a rock concert than a church as it was loud and the noise didn't cease for probably around 1 & 1/2 hours. Obviously, many people seemed to very much enjoy that but not me-- but that's me. A product of my age, I guess.Who here has ever been to a Mega-church?
To me 300 to 350 attendees is enormous, for a church
I can't imagine that many people ever attending any of the churches I go to, I literally cannot imagine it!
On the more serious side, I was to one that was a large church but I wouldn't go as far as calling it a "mega-church". And when I said "noisy" in an earlier post, I meant it. I felt that I was more at a rock concert than a church as it was loud and the noise didn't cease for probably around 1 & 1/2 hours. Obviously, many people seemed to very much enjoy that but not me-- but that's me. A product of my age, I guess.
But it does remind me of what Martin Luther said, namely that church services should not be entertaining or people will go for the wrong reason. I can see his point on that, but I can also see how services like that can attract young people especially.
IOW, a "mixed bag".
Thanks for sharingIt community, it's involvement, it's life
I notice you are from England. Assuming you are living there I would go to a mega-church just for the experience especially if the extent of interaction is within the Lutheran venue (not wrong... just different)
View attachment 37031
Locations | UK
Let me know how it went if you go.
I would say it is really just perception. I pastor a church that runs between 300 and 350 and within that group there are those who would say it isn't intimate and those who say it is. That is why I say "You get out of it what you put into it".
Caveat, it also depends on the culture of the church (whether small or large). Each church has a different culture.
As a rule, we never go beyond knowing 70 people and intimately no more than 12 or so. Therefore, whether in a large church or a small one--you still can only be intimate with 70 people. Perception, because of size, may differ but the reality is just the same. There are people in our church that just aren't and don't want to be intimate.
The atmosphere at Hillsong was amazing. It seemed like every one of those going were on the same page with the same heart. Maybe an anomaly since that is the only mega-church I've been to. People were engaging, loving and reaching out and wanting to know you.
I see from the scriptures that the congregations were apparently kept deliberately small in the first century because the shepherds could never take adequate care of the flock if there were too many sheep needing help....Fast forward to today and it is especially true in the world we have to contend with now....so many problems!
There was never just one man who was responsible for the whole congregation, there was a body of elders who together, cared for the flock.
Where does this rule come from? I have never heard of it before. What if more than 70 need your help and guidance through a rough patch? How do mega-churches ever fulfill their responsibility before God to care for the flock?
Does Hillsong engender more than hyped up emotion though? Should our worship become based on what is popular as if "bums on seats" means anything but money in the coffers. I had neighbors who attended Hillsong services and was appalled that their yearly assembly was sold by the ticket, like some kind of rock concert. (and it wasn't cheap) Did Jesus charge money for his services?
Didn't he say..."you received free, give free"?
I would say it is really just perception. I pastor a church that runs between 300 and 350 and within that group there are those who would say it isn't intimate and those who say it is. That is why I say "You get out of it what you put into it".
Caveat, it also depends on the culture of the church (whether small or large). Each church has a different culture.
As a rule, we never go beyond knowing 70 people and intimately no more than 12 or so. Therefore, whether in a large church or a small one--you still can only be intimate with 70 people. Perception, because of size, may differ but the reality is just the same. There are people in our church that just aren't and don't want to be intimate.
If the person gets plugged in and serves, they will automatically develop intimate relationship. Go to a home-group and it is even more intimate.
Worship is also individual. When I first gave my life to Jesus -- I was an observer. As my relationship with God became deeper, I became a participator. Now, I don't care who sees me or which church I am at... I will worship. To put it another way, if someone goes to a place with expectation they will be touched and ministered to. If one enters with doubt the it probably will be the same as it was with Jesus when he entered his own town... flat.
The atmosphere at Hillsong was amazing. It seemed like every one of those going were on the same page with the same heart. Maybe an anomaly since that is the only mega-church I've been to. People were engaging, loving and reaching out and wanting to know you.