The Big Picture for Small Churches: How to Thrive and Survive as a Small Congregation was written by John Benton and published by Evangelical Press (EP Books). This book was originally published in 2005, but has been reprinted in 2020.
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The Big Picture for Small Churches: How to Thrive and Survive as a Small Congregation
As a former pastor within a very “small” church, this book certainly hit home. There is so much packed into this little book that is sure to teach and encourage both pastors and members of small churches. Benton thankfully emphasizes the health of the church, not the size, as the important factor.
Benton’s book consists of 11 chapters that discuss the following:
- Satan’s tactics against local churches
- Love’s vision
- Quality of presence, welcome, teaching, hospitality, and prayer
- Fighting discouragement in a small church
- The resources of heaven
- Jesus’ letter to a small church
Chapter 9 on fighting discouragement is worth the price of the book. I have a feeling that many people picking up this book to read are living on the side of discouragement in their small church. I also loved his chapter on “Jesus’ letter to a small church” that is based on Revelation 3. The chapters on quality were wonderfully written, and I think they are sure to be helpful to pastors of small churches as they think through how to thrive and survive.
This is an excellent “small” book about “small” churches. I gladly commend it to you!
Disclaimer: My thanks to EP Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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