The Small Church Shepherd: Biblical Preaching in the Small Church

Preaching in a small church can be discouraging. The amount of education required for the small-church pulpit ministry is no less than any other. The time required to prepare a message is the same as in any pulpit ministry. Yet the crowds are by any definition and all expectation small. In addition the sought for life change seems incremental at best and inconsequential at least.

This discouragement is not helped by the attitude of many toward the small church and its ministry. The standard wisdom says that good preaching grows large churches. The discouraging corollary assumes the small churches have bad preaching. The small attendance numbers dishearten many pastors. A few years ago J. K. Bergland did a survey on great preachers and great preaching. The first of three expectations among those surveyed was that great preachers attracted great crowds. Second, great preachers do great things to people, giving them an emotional experience. Third, great preachers lead their audiences to profound and creative insights. If the small church preacher isn’t doing these weekly, the conclusion is discouragingly obvious.[i]

Only adding to these discouraging burdens are experts on small-church ministry who have determined that preaching is of little value to small congregations. Many say that preaching is far less valuable than other pastoral functions. The presence of the pastor in the home or hospital is a more effective communication than any single sermon in their eyes.[ii] Kennon Callahan who has written extensively on small churches has said that preaching is not a very effective tool to create strong small churches. He says that preaching should be helpful and hopeful. Bu any activity that gives help and hope to a small congregation is as good as or better than a sermon.[iii] Read more