“Micro-churches” are not a trend. They are the primary avenue of spiritual growth for all followers of Jesus since Peter preached at Pentecost.
Andy Stanley nails it (paraphrased): people grow most in circles, not rows.
Every believer I’ve ever talked to experienced their most significant spiritual growth in the context of intimate community and close relationships. Often facilitated by a mentor/guide.
Every believer I’ve ever talked to experienced their most significant spiritual growth in the context of intimate community and close relationships. Often facilitated by a mentor/guide.
But here’s where we get it wrong: successful megachurches aren’t some shallow spiritual wasteland. They are just a church of churches. Collections of communities that gather for a type of service once per week.
We focus on attendance, views and the big numbers. But within all healthy churches are groups of close relationships we call communities. And that’s where people truly grow the most.
Essentially, these are “micro-churches”. They just gather with fellow churches for roughly an hour a week.
I think the “micro-church” trend is simply a longing for more intimate community and deeper spiritual growth. That’s the point. The micro-church or small group or fill in the blank is just the packaging.
