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Microchurches: A Smaller Way
When Jesus thought about the church, what did he imagine? Most churches are small, and rightly so. With power being redistributed in our time, networks of smaller enterprises are both growing and thriving. The yearning for participation and empowerment has us all looking for versions of church that make room for everyone. Perhaps, after all our hand wringing and insecurity about the size of our churches, we have missed the point. Microchurches can be strong, beautiful, accessible and potent portraits of just what Jesus had in mind, if not for all time, at least for ours. This book is a guide to understanding, appreciating and if you are up for it, starting a micro church.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2019
124 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 11, 2020
For me so much of what makes a book good or worth reading is it’s ability to open up a new world of possibility to the reader. With fiction and fantasy, this looks like a literal new world of wonder and story and imagination, with memoir and biography, a new world of human experience, connected to, and yet unique to my personal experience, and with non-fiction, an idea or or challenge that creates fresh dreams or stirs the heart in such a way that the reader is left wanting more out of life because they have been challenged to believe that more is possible for them and those around them.
The best ideas don’t need to be written down to be remembered because they impact your life in such a way that you would be hard pressed to forget them. The idea of “micro-church” has been such a thing for me, a thorn in my mind (in the most beautiful way) ever since I first learned about it from the Underground. In his offering here Brian paints a beautiful picture of what this small but potent expression of the church can be, and why it is such a gift in our time. I love this book for its ideas, I cherish this book for its practical and helpful advice and guidance, and I highly recommend this book for the strength of its ideas alongside the humility of its presentation. It is a book written to serve you, and invite you into a deeper love and commitment to Jesus and his people. Read it!
The best ideas don’t need to be written down to be remembered because they impact your life in such a way that you would be hard pressed to forget them. The idea of “micro-church” has been such a thing for me, a thorn in my mind (in the most beautiful way) ever since I first learned about it from the Underground. In his offering here Brian paints a beautiful picture of what this small but potent expression of the church can be, and why it is such a gift in our time. I love this book for its ideas, I cherish this book for its practical and helpful advice and guidance, and I highly recommend this book for the strength of its ideas alongside the humility of its presentation. It is a book written to serve you, and invite you into a deeper love and commitment to Jesus and his people. Read it!
April 4, 2025
Brings value and dignity to microchurches without devaluating the larger embodiments. Shows how microchurches are uniquely set up to empower the everyday believer in the mission of restoring their communities through the grace of God. A future movement of the church may be smaller and yet connected in networks which can be flexible, malleable, and able to work together to solve complex issues.
May 7, 2021
Started it thinking, “I just want to learn about this, I can’t start a microchurch right now.” Finished it thinking “...should I start a microchurch right now?”
Great book - recaptures some of the vitality that had leaked from our conception of church and casts a compelling vision for what the church could be. Would recommend if you’ve ever considered church planting but thought you couldn’t do it.
Great book - recaptures some of the vitality that had leaked from our conception of church and casts a compelling vision for what the church could be. Would recommend if you’ve ever considered church planting but thought you couldn’t do it.
September 11, 2022
New required reading for all aspirational/emerging (and actual) church planters and leaders in my ministry context. Grateful for the Underground, for the author, and the work of prophetic innovation they have faithfully undertaken. A gift to the Church in our day.
April 23, 2025
"Smallness is an emerging spiritual discipline for the modern leader and the microchurch is its monastery." (p.x)
With these words the author concludes his preface to this, the revised edition of his original book on microchurches. In such terms he champions the place of the small in the land of the big, the United States of America. Perhaps partly because of this, some of the early chapters have a hint of defensiveness about them, almost as though he has to address the underlying expectation that big means successful, prosperous and blessed. He suggests that this is, in fact, a scandal: "to believe at the deepest levels of our convictions that bigger is better" (p.15).
In this context, Sanders' suggestion that smallness is both a spiritual discipline and somehow monastic, adds a sense of the holy and mystical to simple, small, "microchurches." But beyond that, he offers a range of enticing, if not compelling, small church concepts. He defines microchurches as pure and basic: "the simplest unit of the church. The coalescing of three intentional practices: worship, community, and mission" (p.10). He proposes a "fundamental shift" from consumerist approaches to church, "to believing the church is something like a family that each of us pursues in the course of our life with God" (p.18). He suggests that the church is called to "worship like monks, live like family, and engage the world like missionaries" (p.30). Aspirational stuff.
Sanders sounds a call to reformation: "every generation should critique their inherited form" (p.32) and prophesies that "contextualised and diverse church networks will soon take the place of the local church as we know it" (p.33). Bold.
Identifying the "ecclesial minimum" as worship, community and mission (he has his own, interesting, view on the sacraments; see chapter 10), the first half of the book assigns a chapter to each. Worship is defined broadly as the "applied lordship of Jesus" - a gathering where Jesus leads and is obeyed. Community is forged through fictive kinship and the fire of shared mission. Mission isn't something to be added to the program of a church; rather, mission is one of the things that makes a group of disciples a church. Each chapter is liberally illustrated with real-life examples from Sanders' microchurch movement, the Underground.
The second half of the book features a step-wise, iterative approach to establishing a microchurch. It is practical and prayerful while retaining its aspirational character. Ideation and iteration are key elements, all the while insisting on finding the expression of church suitable for the context God has called you to. It is the very opposite of a cookie-cutter approach, leaving any would-be church planter with a lot to think about, and just as much to pray about.
Overall, this is an important contribution to the emerging church movement. Important reading for anyone thinking about simple church, small church or emerging church.
With these words the author concludes his preface to this, the revised edition of his original book on microchurches. In such terms he champions the place of the small in the land of the big, the United States of America. Perhaps partly because of this, some of the early chapters have a hint of defensiveness about them, almost as though he has to address the underlying expectation that big means successful, prosperous and blessed. He suggests that this is, in fact, a scandal: "to believe at the deepest levels of our convictions that bigger is better" (p.15).
In this context, Sanders' suggestion that smallness is both a spiritual discipline and somehow monastic, adds a sense of the holy and mystical to simple, small, "microchurches." But beyond that, he offers a range of enticing, if not compelling, small church concepts. He defines microchurches as pure and basic: "the simplest unit of the church. The coalescing of three intentional practices: worship, community, and mission" (p.10). He proposes a "fundamental shift" from consumerist approaches to church, "to believing the church is something like a family that each of us pursues in the course of our life with God" (p.18). He suggests that the church is called to "worship like monks, live like family, and engage the world like missionaries" (p.30). Aspirational stuff.
Sanders sounds a call to reformation: "every generation should critique their inherited form" (p.32) and prophesies that "contextualised and diverse church networks will soon take the place of the local church as we know it" (p.33). Bold.
Identifying the "ecclesial minimum" as worship, community and mission (he has his own, interesting, view on the sacraments; see chapter 10), the first half of the book assigns a chapter to each. Worship is defined broadly as the "applied lordship of Jesus" - a gathering where Jesus leads and is obeyed. Community is forged through fictive kinship and the fire of shared mission. Mission isn't something to be added to the program of a church; rather, mission is one of the things that makes a group of disciples a church. Each chapter is liberally illustrated with real-life examples from Sanders' microchurch movement, the Underground.
The second half of the book features a step-wise, iterative approach to establishing a microchurch. It is practical and prayerful while retaining its aspirational character. Ideation and iteration are key elements, all the while insisting on finding the expression of church suitable for the context God has called you to. It is the very opposite of a cookie-cutter approach, leaving any would-be church planter with a lot to think about, and just as much to pray about.
Overall, this is an important contribution to the emerging church movement. Important reading for anyone thinking about simple church, small church or emerging church.
February 12, 2025
This is the second of Sanders' books on microchurches that I've read, and they both have been tremendously helpful in casting a compelling vision for the church outside the confines of institutional models, instead advocating for the creation of decentralized, mission-driven communities that prioritize relationships over hierarchy. As someone who is presently engaged in helping form a microchurch network, I found Sanders' insights both affirming and challenging—his call to embrace smallness, reject personality-driven leadership, and structure churches around mission rather than maintenance resonates deeply with me and the work we are trying to accomplish.
Sanders argues that microchurches thrive in their vulnerability, agility, and deep contextualization. Being small is a strength. Rather than relying on a top-down strategy, they instead are uniquely positioned to engage the world organically by shaping ("contextualizing") their mission to the needs of their communities. His writing is both practical and theological, emphasizing that the church was always meant to be dispersed, a "priesthood of all believers" rather than a spectator-based institution. His critiques of consumer-driven, performance-based church culture are convicting, yet he does not dismiss larger churches outright—he simply makes the case that small, mission-focused expressions are urgently needed to go where the larger churches have thus far failed to reach.
I particularly appreciated Sanders’ exploration of what it takes to start and sustain a microchurch. His framework of ideation, iteration, codification, and expansion aligns well with the entrepreneurial and adaptive mindset required to create something both meaningful and sustainable, something I've been attracted to as I prepare for my own transition from the military into civilian life. He acknowledges this approach is not without challenges: accountability in decentralized networks, the risk of isolation, and the temptation to prioritize comfort over mission—he but also provides thoughtful suggestions for approaching these challenges.
Sander's blueprint is encouraging. He doesn’t offer a rigid model to follow, but rather a way of thinking about church that frees us to be creative, responsive, and deeply faithful to God's calling in our lives. I highly recommend this book if you find yourself wondering why the traditional church model struggles to reach the lost these days.
Sanders argues that microchurches thrive in their vulnerability, agility, and deep contextualization. Being small is a strength. Rather than relying on a top-down strategy, they instead are uniquely positioned to engage the world organically by shaping ("contextualizing") their mission to the needs of their communities. His writing is both practical and theological, emphasizing that the church was always meant to be dispersed, a "priesthood of all believers" rather than a spectator-based institution. His critiques of consumer-driven, performance-based church culture are convicting, yet he does not dismiss larger churches outright—he simply makes the case that small, mission-focused expressions are urgently needed to go where the larger churches have thus far failed to reach.
I particularly appreciated Sanders’ exploration of what it takes to start and sustain a microchurch. His framework of ideation, iteration, codification, and expansion aligns well with the entrepreneurial and adaptive mindset required to create something both meaningful and sustainable, something I've been attracted to as I prepare for my own transition from the military into civilian life. He acknowledges this approach is not without challenges: accountability in decentralized networks, the risk of isolation, and the temptation to prioritize comfort over mission—he but also provides thoughtful suggestions for approaching these challenges.
Sander's blueprint is encouraging. He doesn’t offer a rigid model to follow, but rather a way of thinking about church that frees us to be creative, responsive, and deeply faithful to God's calling in our lives. I highly recommend this book if you find yourself wondering why the traditional church model struggles to reach the lost these days.
August 6, 2021
This is a quick read, but there was quite a bit of good, thought-provoking content in it. I had picked it up because I thought it might have some interesting thoughts about not only current small group ministries (a purpose the author would not be a fan of) but also how churches can function in situations where they have to be small. I have always been intrigued by the underground church, and this title kind of hinted at a similar theme, so I was intrigued.
Microchurches suggests that a small, focused congregation is extremely well-positioned to meet a particular need in its community. If there are multiple groups like this, each one is able to focus on its passion and do something that no one else could do. So many big entities try to do and be everything, and perhaps that is not the most effective way. The author's church only has approximately 30 people in it. Every so often, members leave to form their own microchurch. That new entity might have a different passion, but now there are two churches focused on doing good things with in their own area.
Reading this book in Vermont is kind of interesting because we already have a plethora of small churches. It is not like establishing microchurches seems particularly countercultural here. However, keeping our focus and doing what we do excellently is a lesson that we all can learn.
Microchurches suggests that a small, focused congregation is extremely well-positioned to meet a particular need in its community. If there are multiple groups like this, each one is able to focus on its passion and do something that no one else could do. So many big entities try to do and be everything, and perhaps that is not the most effective way. The author's church only has approximately 30 people in it. Every so often, members leave to form their own microchurch. That new entity might have a different passion, but now there are two churches focused on doing good things with in their own area.
Reading this book in Vermont is kind of interesting because we already have a plethora of small churches. It is not like establishing microchurches seems particularly countercultural here. However, keeping our focus and doing what we do excellently is a lesson that we all can learn.
May 7, 2022
It’s a good book. It lays out a case for the power of small. I think it overvalues the small as something more akin to THE tool of the church rather than A tool all while claiming to affirm the bigger church model. It’s clear that the author believes the old model is ineffective and should be replaced but won’t come right out and say that so there is a bit of this way and then that way argument but it’s a USEFUL book. That said it’s not a handbook for microchurch. It lays out a very general case but promotes such diversity in microchurch expression that it really CANT be a training book for doing microchurch planting.
Again, a good read and useful, just pretty introductory and a bit overzealous for a model.
Again, a good read and useful, just pretty introductory and a bit overzealous for a model.
July 5, 2021
Brian Sanders has laid out a clear and concise vision for microchurches. What’s presented is simply, at the risk of being a bit reductionistic, another organization of church. And to be sure, another organization doesn’t sound all that exciting, especially when people are deconstructing the very existence of the church. But I do think that the author is fairly persuasive that microchurches will be more adaptable for ministry in the decades ahead. What’s left is for those of us committed to institutional churches to consider how we can support and not hinder these smaller church expressions. In sum, the book is well-written, theologically sound, and culturally astute.
September 2, 2020
So I'm still learning more about microchurches and forming an opinion, but this was an interesting read. In the first part, the author lines out his reasoning and argument for why these small churches are a small unit of the larger Church and why they are vital to doing the work of the church. In the second part, he dives into considerations if you are interested in starting your own and examples of how it has been done.
October 18, 2022
Rating books like this is hard!
Rating a book of fiction is easy. Was it written well? Did it keep your attention? Were the characters developed well? Those are easy questions to answer.
Rating a book like this is more difficult. I gave this five stars because it was well written and gave me a lot to think about. It didn’t necessarily answer all of my questions and I didn’t agree with every jot and tittle, but I did enjoy reading it and appreciated the authors point of view.
Rating a book of fiction is easy. Was it written well? Did it keep your attention? Were the characters developed well? Those are easy questions to answer.
Rating a book like this is more difficult. I gave this five stars because it was well written and gave me a lot to think about. It didn’t necessarily answer all of my questions and I didn’t agree with every jot and tittle, but I did enjoy reading it and appreciated the authors point of view.
October 24, 2020
Encouragement for Seeking to Live Life in Jesus Together
The book has great encouragement and ideas for me as part of a Microchurch type group recently begun. Both the general foundation and specific examples are helpful in the quest to truly live life in Jesus with others in mission.
The book has great encouragement and ideas for me as part of a Microchurch type group recently begun. Both the general foundation and specific examples are helpful in the quest to truly live life in Jesus with others in mission.
September 30, 2023
Inspirational and practical and concise , this book is full of real world experience. Presented with humbly and wisdom, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding more about the micro-church expression of the kingdom. There's wisdom here for serious disciple makers in general. I'm going to read Brian's other book The Underground.
October 1, 2023
Good Book for Thinking Outside the Box
This book is geared towards ministry leaders who are thinking outside of the box for ministry. This book is entrepreneurial in its content and helps ministry leaders think of ways to expand the Kingdom of God beyond the traditional church model. I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars as I'm skeptical of house
church models.
This book is geared towards ministry leaders who are thinking outside of the box for ministry. This book is entrepreneurial in its content and helps ministry leaders think of ways to expand the Kingdom of God beyond the traditional church model. I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars as I'm skeptical of house
church models.
March 19, 2021
This book has really good insight on starting anything new and gives a very concrete but broadly applicable model for moving from vision to action.
August 5, 2021
helpful breakdown example of their principles of transformation through worship, community, and mission
November 18, 2022
Definitely thought provoking. A solid and practical guide to a new way of expressing church. Refreshing.
June 1, 2021
This is a wonderful introduction to the micro church model - it’s clear and easy to understand. If you’re interested in being a part of or starting a mission- one that brings the gospel to people where they are instead of trying to convince them come into an existing setting - this is a great place to start.
January 1, 2021
This was not what I thought it was, when I purchased it. I thought that it was a book talking about ministry in a small church. What I found is that Brian Sanders is a part of underground, a group that is a proponent of "house churches" for lack of a better term, and that he is an advocate and apologist for that type of group ministry. I was impressed with his conviction, and the way that conviction is lived out in his life and the life of his family. There was much that I learned from this book, and profited by the time I spend listening to it on Audible. I would recommend it to anyone that feels called to start a small group ministry that they want to function as a church.
January 10, 2020
A fresh look at our work in the church
God has gifted the body of Christ in many ways. The microchurch is a more distinct representation of this gifting. Encouraging church members to branch out while maintaining accountability is the future of the harvest.
God has gifted the body of Christ in many ways. The microchurch is a more distinct representation of this gifting. Encouraging church members to branch out while maintaining accountability is the future of the harvest.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews