Theology that focuses on how I can get blessing and prosperity, and liturgy that seeks to make me happy: these can certainly be problems in very large churches (2000 or more in worship each week). But the problem of individualism – seeking my personal fulfillment – is everywhere in the atmosphere of contemporary America; and so these problems are just as common in midsize and smaller congregations.

I suspect we will be neither accurate nor helpful if we assess that the big churches have sold out to the world, while we alone are the remnant who remain true to the gospel. Instead, we will probably do better if we ask what it is that these megachurches have learned to do, at their best, in order to offer effective Christian ministry to thousands of people week by week. Here are three lessons that seem to form a common thread in many such ministries.

Worship needs to invite strong personal involvement. Music, prayers, drama, and liturgy all need to focus on helping people offer their hearts to God. If entertainment as an overall concept invites us to sit and watch while other people do thrilling things – throw a football, sing a song, perform a drama – then worship is the opposite of entertainment, because it desires for no one to be a spectator, but for everyone be a participant in the thrill of falling in love with God all over again.

Preaching needs to aim for personal encounter with God. The thing that each of us needs most – ahead of prosperity, health, or self-fulfillment – is to hear God’s voice addressing us in some deep place in our soul. So preaching needs to be not about Bible knowledge, nor about some political agenda, nor about how to acquire personal blessing. Instead, it needs to be about providing an opportunity for people to sense the prompting of the Spirit in a genuine encounter, so that they can respond in faith and action.

Program needs to incorporate people into a community of mission. Most churches have fellowship events and committees, but the largest congregations often seem to emphasize helping people team up to make a difference in this world for the sake of the kingdom: both with hands-on mission projects, and with gladness in ‘giving back’ in thankfulness for God’s blessings.