We know it’s important that God wants everyone to hear the gospel. So at the outset it makes sense to have:
More people.
More campuses.
More services.
More visibility.
I have attended such churches where there are so many people. And here’s the deeper question,
Does the shepherd really know his sheep?
That may sound uncomfortable, but it’s worth asking.
Because biblically, pastoring was never merely about public speaking. It was about care.
What Does “Pastor” Actually Mean?
The English word “pastor” comes from the Latin pastor, meaning shepherd.
In the New Testament, the related Greek concept often points to ποιμήν (poimēn) — shepherd.
A shepherd was not primarily a platform personality.
A shepherd:
- Knew the sheep
- Guided them
- Protected them
- Fed them
- Watched over them personally
This is deeply relational language.
Shepherding was never designed to be distant.
It wasn’t celebrity.
It wasn’t brand-building.
It was close, attentive care.
Shepherding Requires Proximity
A shepherd who never truly knows the condition of the flock is functioning differently than the biblical picture.
That doesn’t mean large churches are automatically bad… But it does raise serious questions.
For example:
Does your pastor actually know you?
Not your face.
Not your handshake.
Not your attendance.
You.
Your struggles.
Your growth.
Your burdens.
Your blind spots.
And on the other side:
Do you actually know your pastor?
Not the sermon version.
Not the stage version.
The real person.
Because genuine shepherding is not merely visibility.
It’s relationship.
A Smile Is Not Shepherding
Many well-meaning pastors are kind people.
They may greet you.
Smile warmly.
Shake your hand.
And that matters.
But kindness alone is not the full biblical idea of shepherding.
A brief greeting is not the same as deeply knowing, guiding, correcting, and caring for souls.
Parenting Is a Helpful Analogy
Think about children.
How many children should someone have?
That answer will vary—but ideally, people should not take on more than they can faithfully nurture.
Because parenting is not just producing children.
It’s raising them.
Feeding.
Teaching.
Correcting.
Being present.
Now apply that to spiritual care.
Pastoring is also deeply demanding.
So we should at least ask:
At what point does growth outpace genuine shepherding?
Because “more” is not automatically “better.”
Sometimes “more” simply means less depth.
The “More the Merrier” Model Can Become Dangerous
Modern church culture can subtly imply that more people means more impact but:
- Leadership can become less accessible
- Relationships can become more institutional
- Inner circles may form
- Early members may remain deeply connected while newer people struggle to truly belong
This dynamic is more common than many admit.
A church may feel warm on stage……but relationally closed underneath.
Jesus and Depth Over Scale
This is important:
Jesus Christ ministered to crowds…
But He invested deeply in a smaller group.
He had the multitudes.
He had the seventy.
He had the twelve.
He had the three.
Jesus did not treat depth and breadth as the same thing.
He understood focused discipleship.
Now, this doesn’t mean every pastor should only care for twelve people literally.
But it does challenge the assumption that endlessly scaling one person’s shepherding role is automatically healthy.
The Danger of Platform Replacing Presence
One of the biggest modern tensions is confusing preaching with pastoring.
Preaching is essential.
But preaching alone is not shepherding.
A person can preach to thousands…
…while truly shepherding very few.
That distinction matters.
Because biblical leadership is not merely delivering content.
It includes:
- Knowing
- Watching
- Caring
- Correcting
- Walking with people
When Church Becomes a System Instead of a Family
Many people have experienced this:
A church starts intimate.
People know each other.
There’s genuine closeness.
Then it grows.
Systems increase.
Programs expand.
Structure improves.
But sometimes…
Actual relational depth decreases.
Not always intentionally.
But often practically.
And people can begin feeling less like family…
…and more like attendees.
This Isn’t an Attack on Large Churches
Let’s be fair.
Large churches are not automatically spiritually unhealthy.
Many do incredible work.
But scale should never remove honest reflection.
The issue is not simply size.
The issue is whether structure still supports real shepherding.
Can care actually happen?
Can people truly be known?
Can correction and discipleship remain personal?
Or has growth created distance that the Bible never intended?
A Better Question
Instead of asking:
“How big is this church?”
Maybe ask:
“How many are being shepherded?”
Because church is not merely about gathering crowds.
It’s about forming people.
Final Thought
The goal of church is not simply attendance.
It’s transformation.
And transformation often requires being known.
So before assuming bigger means better…
Ask:
- Does this church truly shepherd people?
- Does leadership actually know the flock?
- Am I being discipled… or just attending?
Because a shepherd is not merely someone you hear.
A shepherd, by biblical design, is someone who actually knows and guides.
And perhaps one of the greatest modern church questions is this:
Have we confused growing audiences…with genuine pastoring?
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