How small can a church be and still be a church?

[bfloydo]

You can look at it this way:

 

 

One person would still be heard by God, but it wouldn't be a church.

 

Two people could be classed as a church

 

Three people would add more power to the prayer

 

Four people would unconsciously shift it to a pastor-congregation relationship as one person would probably take on the role of leader

 

Five people would give it a family feel

 

Six people would probably work better if one person was nominally given a pastor/prayer leader role

 

And so on.....

 

The more people, the more prayer power, but the more chance that some would have wandering minds - go through the motions but not really be praying at all. There might be too many families, too many screaming kids and so on...

 

Bigger is better in some ways, but worse in others.

 

So, do you keep your churches small, even if your community becomes the size of a city? Could you have the best of both worlds and stick to small intimate parishes but keep a big cathedral for special occasions (as Sandyz said)?

I suppose it would depend on costs, land availability and various other logistics.

 In my opinion one person's soul is the main church. The two or three gathered brings to mind the two or three witnesses to convict a person. I consider the flesh(mind) and the spiritual(soul) as two differing and often conflicting entities. When these two are joined in agreement and written upon our heart, we have a congregation with God in attendance. Even Jesus said the Father was his witness(in his soul) and he also told us to go off alone and pray to the father.... I don't think he would have said this if he knew God wouldn't hear or answer..... to me the heart, mind, and soul must be in agreement in selfless Truth and within God's will..... for a prayer to be answered in the manner we ask...... If our heart, mind, and soul are not in line with what might be a foolish flesh desire then, in effect we have 2 or 3 witnesses(within our flesh church) against what we ask.... and are in conflict with what our path with God should be.

[missmuffet]

It can be in a small little house with a couple who gather.My favorite is praying among just one friend.It does not have to be in a church.

[other one]

i think we should define church....  it is my understanding that there is only one church and that is basically all of us.

 

 

you can have a place of worship with one single person.

[OakWood]

i think we should define church....  it is my understanding that there is only one church and that is basicaly all of us.

 

Define it in two ways for the purpose of this thread - as a church (congregation of people) and as a building / place of worship. Both definitions suffice. I guess that all Christians are the Church, but to the logistics of a particular community, this is not relevant.

[other one]

you can build a building and go there to pray and worship singly.

 

 

 

 

 

a  small church we saw near Marblemount, Washington on the way to Vancouver Canada seats 4 comfortably and 8 all crunched up.

 

i think if a single person came here to worship and pray it would still be a church.

[OakWood]

you can build a building and go there to pray and worship singly.

 

 

 

 

 

a  small church we saw on the way to Vancouver Canada

 

I don't think I'd call it a church though - to me it's more of a 'prayer hut'.

[bfloydo]

 

i think we should define church....  it is my understanding that there is only one church and that is basicaly all of us.

 

Define it in two ways for the purpose of this thread - as a church (congregation of people) and as a building / place of worship. Both definitions suffice. I guess that all Christians are the Church, but to the logistics of a particular community, this is not relevant.

 

 I think it is most relevant, for it helps to guide us in our treatment, giving, and helping others in the community. One thing I have often pondered with many churches is the thought of gathering to worship God. Well, I thought the command was to Love.... Love to me is a very close personal relationship, and often in a Loving relationship... time alone together, to express that Love is manifested in flesh as well as spirit... BTW I enjoy attending different churches and homes for fellowship but, If I am to receive discipline or express my deepest Love for God .... I prefer to do that alone, for the company of others is nothing more than an unwanted distraction.

[OakWood]

 

 

i think we should define church....  it is my understanding that there is only one church and that is basicaly all of us.

 

Define it in two ways for the purpose of this thread - as a church (congregation of people) and as a building / place of worship. Both definitions suffice. I guess that all Christians are the Church, but to the logistics of a particular community, this is not relevant.

 

 I think it is most relevant, for it helps to guide us in our treatment, giving, and helping others in the community. One thing I have often pondered with many churches is the thought of gathering to worship God. Well, I thought the command was to Love.... Love to me is a very close personal relationship, and often in a Loving relationship... time alone together, to express that Love is manifested in flesh as well as spirit... BTW I enjoy attending different churches and homes for fellowship but, If I am to receive discipline or express my deepest Love for God .... I prefer to do that alone, for the company of others is nothing more than an unwanted distraction.

 

 

I didn't mean that. I meant that calling all Christians on Earth 'the Church' is not relevant to a community that wants to build its own place of worship.

[Guest man]

you can build a building and go there to pray and worship singly.

 

 

 

 

 

a  small church we saw near Marblemount, Washington on the way to Vancouver Canada seats 4 comfortably and 8 all crunched up.

 

i think if a single person came here to worship and pray it would still be a church.

 

 

Where 2 or 3 are gathered....

[Fez]

 

you can build a building and go there to pray and worship singly.

 

 

 

 

 

a  small church we saw near Marblemount, Washington on the way to Vancouver Canada seats 4 comfortably and 8 all crunched up.

 

i think if a single person came here to worship and pray it would still be a church.

 

 

Where 2 or 3 are gathered....

 

Well then it's a "prayer hut" until one more person squeezes in, then it's a "mega prayer hut"

 

One more and a tent at the back to house the pastor, and you have a church! 

 

Gives a new meaning to a "church plant". Load it on the back of a pickup, throw it off at the nearest corner, and you have a church.