Ministry Paradigm Shift

The church is about to experience a
paradigm shift in preparation for life in 2020. I believe the season
for larger and larger houses of worship is coming to an end, as is the Field
of Dreams
ministry strategy that says if we build it, they will come. The idea
that bigger is better, especially as it relates to bigger buildings,
may be an approach to ministry that is about to transition into history.

Today’s technological advances present
options for doing ministry unknown in times past that can revolutionize
life in the kingdom here on earth. What most of us in megachurches see
on Sunday mornings—thousands of worshippers gathering in one
location—is not a New Testament model. As the New Testament church
grew, the mass gatherings with the Temple as the focal point of worship
were replaced by smaller gatherings like the church in Aquila and
Priscilla’s house. Certainly this shift was precipitated by the unique
non-Jewish cultures of these young fledgling congregations, but I think
there is a more universal principle being implied: In order to impact a
city or culture, it may be more effective to shift from the church
gathered in one large location to multiple smaller settings scattered
throughout the community and connected by the prevailing technology of
the day. If we were to corner some of my big-building, megaministry
colleagues when the cameras aren’t rolling and the reporters aren’t
taking notes, many would admit that if they had it to do again, they
would not build as big. I don’t think we were out of the will of God;
it may just be that we were par in a season whose time may be coming to
an end. We shall see.