Discussion Questions:
- How does Tom Rainer’s new categorization of church sizes challenge or affirm your understanding of “small,” “medium,” and “large” churches?
- In what ways do you see the “bigger is better” mentality showing up in your own ministry context or church culture?
- Tod Bolsinger mentioned that fruitfulness is more important than church size. What does “fruitfulness” look like for your congregation or ministry?
- How has your church measured “success” in the past, and should those measurements change in today’s context? Why or why not?
- What unique capacities and challenges do you think come with leading a small, mid-sized, or large church based on Rainer’s new definitions?
- How did your church struggle or thrive during the pandemic, and in what ways were these struggles similar to or different from other churches, regardless of size?
- Both speakers noted the importance of faithfulness over numbers. How can leaders cultivate a culture that prioritizes faithfulness and mission above attendance?
- Have you experienced or observed the need for a different leadership style when serving in churches of different sizes? What shifted for you (or them)?
- What are some examples of “addition” and “subtraction” strategies your church has tried in the past, and how did those work out?
- How do you practice spiritual discernment within your church’s leadership, especially when resources are limited and hard decisions must be made?
