



Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches?
Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with
mega church members?
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?


This is not to be a “bash fest” of the mega
churches.
We want to be informed about the truth of
these churches.




What makes them so popular?
What type of dangers should we (they) be aware of?
What do these churches do well?
Are they deserving of the name “Christian.”

As he was leaving the temple, one of his
disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What
massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”2
“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied
Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on
another; every one will be thrown down.”




Defined by the numbers:
Most experts agree that the title “mega”
church refers to two thousand people in
attendance per Sunday, on one campus.
Out of the 335,000 churches in America, a
relatively small amount are considered mega.
Only 1,250 are categorized as a Mega church.
Between 4 and 5 million people attend mega
churches each week. 12 million people call
mega churches their home.



People who defend the mega church refer to
the New Testament Christian church in
Jerusalem.
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and
about three thousand were added to their number
that day (Acts 2:41).
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and
ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising
God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And
the Lord added to their number daily those who
were being saved (Acts 2:47).

How would argue against the mega churches’
reasoning behind their practice – they’re
following the modal of the early Christian
church?

Large denominational


Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.
The Masson Temple
 Pentecostal church in Memphis, TN
 8 million members

Large nondenominational
Community churches
 2/3 of mega churches are nondenominational
 This category of nondenominational mega churches
was the focus of Pastor Bauer and therefore will be
our focus as well.


Moody Church in Chicago
Dwight Lyman Moody
 Former shoe salesman, he ran his church like a
business.


Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest,
CA.



Found be Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church
and The Purpose Driven Life.
20,000 people attend weekend services.
Lakewood Church in Houston


Founded by Joel Osteen’s father, John.
44,750 attend weekend services.

Willow Creek Community in South Barrington,
IL.

Founded by Bill Hybels
 Started out as a youth minister
 Carried out a lot of “needs assessment surveys”


23,000 people attend per weekend
13,000 churches are listed as “association members”


“No two mega churches are alike. But when
you examine them closely, they have similar
traits. If they belong to a denomination, they
often hide that affiliation.”
“Their doctrinal statements are similar. In
general, they are Reformed in doctrine, which
means they deny the efficacy of the sacraments
and misunderstand how a person comes to
faith.”

Pastor Bauer – “Community mega churches
advertize themselves most often as
nondenominational churches. They are the
UNCHURCH. It seems every aspect of these
churches emphasize one thing: We are NOT
part of a denomination.”



“The 20th century church seems dead and
unproductive.”
“To anybody but the already converted the
average service seems grossly abnormal.”
Hybels often critiques churches with
denominations as “sleepy churches.”

How would you respond to Hybels’ critique “the Lutheran church looks dead or seems
unproductive”?




No Christian symbols – cross, baptismal font,
altar, etc.
No pulpit – rather twenty-foot video screens so
the congregation can see the pastor.
Typically these churches have massive walls of
glass rather than stained glass windows.
Their main objective: to distinguish itself from
a denominational church.




Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches?
Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with
mega church members?
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?


Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an
average Sunday.
Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega
churches are not part of a denomination.



Being part of denomination is looked at as being a
negative thing.
Being nondenominational gives mega churches less
“restrictions.”
Look: Nondenominational or “community”
mega churches do not look like typical
Christian churches.

What denomination are the churches with the
word “Bible” in their name?



Harvest Bible Chapel: Non-denominational
Christian mega church.
Elgin Bible Church: No denomination listed on their
website. They don’t view the sacraments the way
God intends.
Bible Missionary Church: Roots to Methodist
denomination. The church is Wesleyan in doctrine
and teaching.

Only 15% of mega churches embrace a
liturgical approach to worship complete with
Old and New Testament readings, weekly
communion, robed preachers, Creeds, Lord’s
Prayer, etc.



Why is it dangerous to think liturgical worship is
not important? Why is it so easy to downplay this
worship?
“The mega church member has been trained to
disdain anything that resembles church the way it
used to be done. The problem with this approach
is that the way church used to be done actually
taught the Christian faith and pointed to Christ.”
(pg. 23)
Augsburg Confession, Article 15: Ceremonies and
other practices that are profitable for tranquility
and good order in the Church ought to be
observed.


Read 1 Corinthians 14:26,33a, 39,40.
Question 2 – According to these verses, what is
key to God-pleasing worship? What are some
examples of orderly procedures in our church?

“The Christian worship service is not the place
to indulge personal whims, or to satisfy egos. A
Christian worship service that follows God’s
orderly ways will serve the congregation as a
whole and also the kingdom of God at large.”
– Carleton Toppe

Another anti denominational trait is the
training of clergy.




Often they aren’t Seminary trained
Only 72% have some sort of degree
Emphasis on character and performance rather than
training and education.
Mega churches focus on the pastor and his
personality.

“It’s not hard to imagine why the mega church
pastor is seen as larger than life. When I visit a
mega church with a massive TV screen, I find
myself staring at the screen. The pastor is not
just perceived as larger than life, he is actually
viewed on a 20 foot image.”

“These churches, nondenominationalism, has
built straw man out of traditional Christianity.
This tactic comes straight out of the business
world.” You characterize your competitor in a
negative light, and then you offer an
alternative.”

How is the mega church unlike any true
Christian church? Ultimately, why do they act
the way they do?




Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches? (Teachings)
Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with
mega church members?
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but
test the spirits to see whether they are from
God, because many false prophets have gone
out into the world.”

It’s difficult to test/question a mega church.



Blinded by their success.
Refuse to accept critique from denominational
churches.
The website of a mega church is the best place
to see what they believe.


A lot of these churches say good things.
Yet they often attempt restate what has already been
stated by the Christian church:
 Apostles’ Creed
 Nicene Creed
 Athanasian Creed

“In general, a mega church’s statement of faith
doesn’t go into too much detail. A mega church
will write its confession of faith so it is not as
“restrictive” as a denominational confession of
faith. By keeping things short, the mega church
allows for more leeway and more room for
folks to come in on their own terms instead of
God’s. “


“In general, as I look at the statement of belief
of this particular mega church, it is more about
what the statement is missing than what it
contains.”
Question 4: Why should this quote about mega
churches “the problem is more about what the
statement is missing than what it contains” be
frightening to our ears?

Baptism: Baptism is an outward expression of
an inward commitment to a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. Willow believes
the decision to be baptized is up to the
individual and that he or she must fully
understand what it means to be a Christ
follower.

The baptismal towel



Stitched on the towel is the Bible passage Matthew
22:37-40
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and
greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love
40 All the Law and the Prophets
your neighbor as yourself.’
hang on these two commandments.”
Willow Creek’s view of Baptism has to do with
the believer’s showing love for God and one
another rather than with God showing his love
to us through the sacrament.

“If you were baptized as an infant, it has no
value. We have a rule here at Willow that you
have to be at least 13 years old to be baptized,
and the only reason to be baptized is because
Jesus commands it, not because it will benefit
you in any way.”

Communion: During Jesus’ last days, He
gathered the disciples in a room and asked
them to consume bread and wine “in
remembrance” of Him. Two thousand years
later, we regularly observe the act of
consuming bread and grape juice as a
community for the exact same reason – to
remember our Savior, who sacrificed Himself
for our sins.




Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches?
Week Three: How do Lutherans interact with
mega church members?
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?


Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an
average Sunday.
Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega
churches are not part of a denomination.



Being part of denomination is looked at as being a
negative thing.
Being nondenominational gives mega churches less
“restrictions.”
Look: Nondenominational or “community”
mega churches do not look like typical
Christian churches.



Worship: Only 15% of mega churches embrace
a liturgical approach to worship complete with
Old and New Testament readings, weekly
communion, robed preachers, Creeds, Lord’s
Prayer, etc.
Philosophy – Business Modal: Characterize
your competitor in a negative light, and then
offer a better alternative.
Sacraments: A means of doing a service for
God.


Baptismal towel.
Don’t believe in infant baptism.



Sermons are usually focused on practical tips for
Christian living. Typically it’s very light on
doctrine and sin.
A lot of times the messages go for 30-40 minutes.
“The mega church services I attended spent little to
no time informing their members who Jesus is and
what he has done to save them. I was listening for
it. I longed to hear it, but I was disappointed.
Sermons I’ve heard at mega churches often avoid
talking about Jesus even when he is the central
focus of a sermon text!”

“To me, Joel Osteen seems to be more of an
advice giver than a preacher of Jesus Christ. He
talks about being a Christian, but rarely talks
about Christ.”


Every type of church emphasizes different
areas of Scripture. Willow Creek/mega
churches emphasizes Christian living.
To put it another way, these churches are all
about self.


Little emphasis on the life of Christ.
Great emphasis on what you can give Christ by how
you live.

The worship service appeals to people’s
emotions.



Don’t have to make any sort of commitment.
The music and videos are designed to inspire and
make people feel good and happy.
No message of sin, no law. (It doesn’t fit with their
quest to be happy).

Why is it important for Christians to gather
together in worship? Notice the God-pleasing
motive for worship.

List the different problems of emphasizing
Christian living in place or ahead of Christ’s
life for us?



“Therapy” is a word that is often used for
mega church worship.
Who’s at the center of therapy, whether
psychological or physical?
The patient attends therapy for the purpose of
self-help.


Let’s say a Willow Creek person comes to you
and says; “the mega church and the Lutheran
church are similar in teaching. What’s the big
deal if we differ a bit in what we teach and
emphasize.” How would you respond?
“A Christian’s love for his or her Savior will
make them zealous about all of Christ’s
teachings, including his teachings on the
sacraments and how a Christian comes to
faith.”

John 15:16




Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches?
Week Three: Talking with your mega church
friends.
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?


Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an
average Sunday.
Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega
churches are not part of a denomination.



Being part of denomination is looked at as being a
negative thing.
Being nondenominational gives mega churches less
“restrictions.”
Look: Nondenominational or “community”
mega churches do not look like typical
Christian churches.



Worship: Only 15% of mega churches embrace
a liturgical approach to worship complete with
Old and New Testament readings, weekly
communion, robed preachers, Creeds, Lord’s
Prayer, etc.
Philosophy – Business Modal: Characterize
your competitor in a negative light, and then
offer a better alternative.
Sacraments: A means of doing a service for
God.


Baptismal towel.
Don’t believe in infant baptism.

“Dressed-up and softened Arminianism”
People are not completely spiritually blind or dead,
nor are they actually enemies of God.
 Each person has the ability to make a choice or
decision for God.
 Jacob Arminius downplayed the Sacraments and
naturally so do the followers of his doctrine.


“In the mega church, Jesus is assumed and the
topic of me and getting my life straightened
out hogs the agenda in preaching and teaching.
And since I am wildly popular with me, my
nature wants to hear that kind of message. No
wonder mega churchism is on the increase in
America.”

Made Alive in Christ
2 ”As for you, you were dead in your
transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live
when you followed the ways of this world and of
the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who
is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All
of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying
the cravings of our sinful nature

and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by
nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great
love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us
alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions—it is by grace you have been
saved.”

What picture does Paul paint when he says that
we were “dead in [our] transgressions and
sins”?
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that
is, in my sinful nature.

For I have the desire to
do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For
what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the
evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no
longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that
does it.”
 18

God loved us, but it was not because he saw
anything lovable in us. Why did God love us
and shower his grace on us?

A “worship service” specifically intended for
the unchurched.



Does away with anything traditional.
Efforts to be entertainment rather than worship.
The seeker service is consistent with Arminian
theology – sinful people have the ability to
choose or seek God.

Media




Good use of video and music in worship.
PowerPoint slides usually accompany sermons.
Willow Creek media staff: 350 producers, audio
engineers, and more. Plus 1200 volunteers take part
in producing the Sunday services.
Nursery


Kids can receive God’s Word in a more clear and
compelling way.
Parents have a better opportunity to focus on the
worship service.

Groups



These churches seem to have groups for everything
(senior groups, teen groups, expectant mothers’
groups, small groups for Bible study, etc).
Good way to get newer people comfortable with
their church and members (“small groups make big
churches feel small”).
Choices

These churches are unique because of the number of
choices they offer their members.
 Choices and options appeal to Americans.
 Worship times, worship types, different activities and
services, etc.

Church as a business
Mega churches hire and fire staff. How can they hire
or fire someone who has been called by God?
 They act like giant corporations, mass producing
goods and services to be consumed.
 Lynne Hybels describes her husband as the
“businessman” of the organization.

 Hybels’ background was in business.
 Christmas of 2005…

Proselytizing: “Stealing” or “wooing” a person
away from another church.


“Mega church people in a way act like salespeople,
not on behalf of the Christian faith but selling their
better brand of church with a care if the person are
selling to has a church home or not.” pg. 50
This mentality of proselytizing comes from a lack of
understanding the holy Christian church.

“Unfortunately, I’ve seen many lifelong, wellinformed Lutherans get swept off their feet by
this “new and better way.” Suddenly, what
their own church teaches doesn’t matter
anymore because the mega church is so
successful and entertaining.” pg. 55


Size: Over 2,000 people in attendance on an
average Sunday.
Association/Denomination: 2/3 of mega
churches are not part of a denomination.



Being part of denomination is looked at as being a
negative thing.
Being nondenominational gives mega churches less
“restrictions.”
Look: Nondenominational or “community”
mega churches do not look like typical
Christian churches.

“Dressed-up and softened Arminianism”
People are not completely spiritually blind or dead,
nor are they actually enemies of God.
 Each person has the ability to make a choice or
decision for God.
 Jacob Arminius downplayed the Sacraments and
naturally so do the followers of his doctrine.


Media




Good use of video and music in worship.
PowerPoint slides usually accompany sermons.
Willow Creek media staff: 350 producers, audio
engineers, and more. Plus 1200 volunteers take part
in producing the Sunday services.
Nursery


Kids can receive God’s Word in a more clear and
compelling way.
Parents have a better opportunity to focus on the
worship service.

Groups



These churches seem to have groups for everything
(senior groups, teen groups, expectant mothers’
groups, small groups for Bible study, etc).
Good way to get newer people comfortable with
their church and members (“small groups make big
churches feel small”).
Choices

These churches are unique because of the number of
choices they offer their members.
 Choices and options appeal to Americans.
 Worship times, worship types, different activities and
services, etc.

Proselytizing: “Stealing” or “wooing” a person
away from another church.


“Mega church people in a way act like salespeople,
not on behalf of the Christian faith but selling their
better brand of church with a care if the person are
selling to has a church home or not.” pg. 50
This mentality of proselytizing comes from a lack of
understanding the holy Christian church.

“17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those
who cause divisions and put obstacles in your
way that are contrary to the teaching you have
learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such
people are not serving our Lord Christ, but
their own appetites. By smooth talk and
flattery they deceive the minds of naive
people.” (Romans 16:17, 18)

The apostle Paul tells us to do two things in
regard to false teaching. What does Paul mean
by “watch out”? What does he mean by “keep
away from”? (Romans 16:17, 18)

Paul’s description of those who teach false
doctrine is rather strong. Some have been
tempted to think Paul’s words in verse 17
apply only to those who teach serious heresies.
React to that thought (verse 18).


Why bother fighting people on small points of
the Bible?
14”Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
For what do righteousness and wickedness
have in common? Or what fellowship can light
have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there
between Christ and Belial
? What does a
believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement is there between the temple
of God and idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a)

What answer must be given to each of the five
questions Paul raised?


“Avoid godless chatter, because those who
indulge in it will become more and more
ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like
gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and
Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the
truth. They say that the resurrection has
already taken place, and they destroy the faith
of some.”
God tells us to keep ourselves separate from
false teaching because it can destroy the faith.



“The auditoriums are impressive. You cannot
help but walk away in awe of the professional
caliber of the music and the polished oratory of
the pastor.”
“Did I learn anything about Jesus today?”
“I believer that mega churches are successful
largely because of the emotional appeal of the
services.”


“Despite the massive crowds and the
professional presentation, the one thing needed
was often the one thing missing.”
Read Luke 10:38-42



At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he
came to a village where a woman named Martha
opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called
Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what
he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the
preparations that had to be made. She came to him
and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has
left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help
me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are
worried and upset about many things, 42 but only
one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen what is
better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Was it wrong for Mary to serve? Where did her
fault lie? Make the connection between Mary
and the mega churches?




Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches?
Week Three: Talking with your mega church
friends.
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your
strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as
ourselves. This includes our mega church
neighbors who “attend” a mega church.
We say “attend” because people can stop by a mega
church frequently without becoming a member.
 Good way to start: “Are you an official member?”
 The attitude of the mega church member will likely
be different from that of a visitor.


“The best suggestion for you is to keep your
neighbor’s eyes on Christ. You are not trying to
convince him that your brand of church is
better than his. You want first and foremost for
your neighbor to be a Christian” pg. 80





“We need to realize that to many mega church
members, you and I are a part of what they are
trying to free themselves from.”
“Medieval”
“Out of date” or “Not with it”
“Sleepy church”
“The mega church member will likely either
pity you or view you with some disdain.”

We you hear a mega church neighbor
characterize Lutherans in an unflattering way,
you need to be “comfortable in your own skin.”


It will be hard to talk with a mega church person
unless we are comfortable being a Lutheran.
Turn the attention/direction back on them: “When
you sit in the auditorium and listen – really listen –
do you learn about Christ? Is the message about you
or is it about Christ?”
 Those piercing questions may cut through all the awe
they experience from the size and cool presentation.


Mega churches will rave about their churches,
campuses, presenters, and bands.
Unfortunately their focus is off base.
Asking Biblical questions can revert the
attention of where it should be:



What happened on Good Friday?
Can you tell me what happened on Easter?
Who is Jesus Christ? What are his two natures?

“From my experiences, the criticism that the
mega church message is an inch deep and two
miles wide is not too far off the mark. When
you ask someone if they know the Lord’s
Prayer, and they ask, ‘Does it go like this, ‘Now
I lay me down to sleep?’ you know that the
mega church isn’t doing much in the way of
teaching the Christian faith.” (pg. 79)

In order to have a meaningful discussion with
your mega church neighbor, be ready to
discuss the basic truths of Christianity.




Week One: What is a mega church?
Week Two: What makes a mega church unique
from other churches?
Week Three: Talking with your mega church
friends.
Week Four: What makes the Lutheran church
unique? What can we gain from the mega
churches?
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Should the Lutheran church adopt mega
church methods?
If mega churches are wildly successful,
shouldn’t Lutheran churches act like them?
What would that mean:
Get rid of the organ/piano and get a band.
 Get rid of the altar, cross, and baptismal font.
 I’ll get rid of the robe and exchange it for a Hawaiian
shit.
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What are some of the positives or negatives of
adopting the mega church methods?
“The ready adaptation to culture, the adoption
of business models designed to get more
members, and the focus on what people want
out of worship that fosters a “me-centered”
environment.” pg. 85
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We preach law and gospel, sin and grace, and
we practice the sacraments in baptism and
communion.
We use our form of liturgy not because we’re
stuck in it, but because the liturgy for
thousands of years has been the best tool for
proclaiming Jesus.
“If you are going to stand in contrast to what is
wildly popular, you better be comfortable with
your identity and the way you worship.”
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“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as
Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’
sake.”