Left Behind in a Megachurch World: How God Works through Ordinary Churches

by Ruth A. Tucker

Megachurches are springing up all over the country, but the truth is that very few churches have over one thousand members. In fact, the average church in America has around only one hundred. In Left Behind in a Megachurch World, Ruth A. Tucker weaves together an interest in church growth and spiritual formation to provide a narrative-based look at congregations whose numbers are "plateauing." Filling a noticeable gap in literature designed to encourage the smaller church, this insightful and well-researched book opposes the idea that numbers are the only way to measure success. Tucker's unique writing will relieve small churches from the pressure to grow and encourage pastors, laypeople, and small congregations to remain open to God's work in their church.

Genres: Christian

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Ruth A. Tucker (PhD, Northern Illinois University) has taught mission studies and church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Calvin Theological Seminary. She is the author of dozens of articles and eighteen books, including the award-winning From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Visit her website at www.RuthTucker.com.

Reviews

[Randy Corn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at McKay for only $2 and it was well worth much more than that. The subtitle is, “How God Works Through Ordinary Churches.” It was not what I expected. I had read some articles by this woman in Leadership and Christianity Today and had been impressed. In this volume some of her life story filters in and thus I have a more complete picture of her. There is some real humor, some good illustrations, and more than a little wisdom in this volume.

The basic idea of the book is that, while megachurches are becoming more common, they are far from the majority and that most of the ministry that goes on in the world, is done by much smaller churches. The author is not arguing for small churches, but she is saying that they have a real place in this world. In fact, she seems to indicate it is probably better for the spirituality of the pastor not to be associated with a megachurch. It does somehow seem to be contrary to the ideal of humility that you see in Jesus.

The complaint that I have with this book is that it seems to loose its focus from about half way to the end. Also, while the writer mentions the subject of discipleship or spiritual formation, she does not hint at what to do in those areas. I would have like to have had a paragraph saying, “this is what I have read that is meaningful to me.”

[Jeff Poling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cathartic read in some ways, but i would caution against reading it just because one hates megachurch. it's easy and popular to hate on big churches, and while there may be good reasons, God loves His church. that's the one word of warning.

it's refreshing in that it does remind you what the point of church is - following Jesus communally and in close proximity. it's also honest about the mess, the failure, the frustration, the ordinariness, the disputes, the dying, etc. it made me miss "small church" to be sure, and has revitalized my own pastoral perspective.