Is the Mega Church the Problem? Or Are We Missing the Fruit?

There’s been a growing skepticism toward mega churches. Words like “celebrity pastor,” “production,” and “crowd over community” swirl around. I’ve heard the critiques—and they’ve made me pause, pray, and look a little closer at what really matters.

I’ve seen the lights, the fog machines, the tightly timed services. I’ve also seen the longing in people’s eyes as they lift their hands in worship, desperate for a real encounter with God.

But as I opened the book of Acts again, I was struck by a simple, Spirit-prompted question:

What if the problem isn’t the size of the church… but the fruit it’s producing?

Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question all along...

The Early Church Was a Mega Church

Let’s not forget: the early church exploded almost overnight.

It started with just 120 believers gathered in the upper room, waiting in obedience and prayer

(Acts 1:15).

Then, in Acts 2, after Peter’s first Spirit-filled sermon, 3,000 people were saved and baptized in one day (Acts 2:41).

A few chapters later, the number grew to 5,000 men—and that doesn’t even include the women and children (Acts 4:4).

They gathered in large public spaces like Solomon’s Portico (Acts 5:12), yet they also met in homes, shared meals, and lived out radical community (Acts 2:46–47).

The early church was both large and deeply relational. Their growth wasn’t driven by marketing or charisma—it was driven by the Holy Spirit and people’s hunger for truth.

What Matters to God Isn’t the Size—It’s the Fruit

The New Testament doesn’t critique church size—but it does reveal what God values most.

You won’t find mention of cafés, bookstores, or sold-out worship events in the book of Acts. But you will find people radically devoted to Jesus, transformed by truth, and filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s the kind of fruit God celebrates.

Throughout Scripture, God doesn’t criticize large gatherings. What He consistently addresses is the condition of the heart and the integrity of the church:

• False teaching (Galatians 1:6–9)

• A lack of love (Revelation 2:4)

• Pride, hypocrisy, and religious performance (Matthew 23)

  
  

And what does He honor?

• Salvation

• Unity among believers

• Devotion to His Word

• The power and presence of the Holy Spirit

• The church functioning like a healthy body—each part doing its work (Ephesians 4:16)

So, if a mega church is making true disciples, staying anchored in Scripture, and stewarding its influence with humility—praise God.

That’s not just big attendance. That’s eternal impact.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the size of the crowd—it’s about the substance of the mission.

The Real Issue Isn’t “Mega”—It’s Mission Drift

I’ve heard it often— “It’s just getting too big. I don’t feel connected anymore.”

Sometimes, people walk away from a growing church not because of what’s wrong—but simply because it’s growing.

But that made me pause and ask: Shouldn’t growth be something we celebrate?

In Acts, Peter didn’t stand before the 3,000 and say, "Hold on—we’re growing too fast. Let’s cap the baptisms today." He preached the gospel, and the Spirit moved. People repented and the church multiplied.

Isn’t that what we’re called to as disciples?

To go and make disciples of all nations—not to keep the crowd small enough to stay comfortable?

If we find ourselves shrinking back when the church expands, it may be time to ask: Is my discomfort really about church health—or is it about my personal preference?

Because growth in itself isn’t the issue.

The real issue—the one we should pay attention to—is mission drift.

Mission drift can show up subtly. A church may start focusing more on platform than people or shift from preaching the gospel to simply inspiring crowds.

Leadership may become more about image than shepherding.

These signs don’t always mean the church is failing—but they’re worth paying attention to. Because when we drift from the mission of Jesus, everything else starts to unravel.

How to Discern a Healthy Church (Big or Small)

It's easy to form opinions about a church based on surface-level things—its size, style, or popularity. But just because a church is big doesn’t mean it’s shallow. And just because a church is small doesn’t mean it’s deep.

Size isn't the standard. Fruit is.

Jesus never said, "You’ll know them by their crowd size." He said, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16).

That means we’re called to be discerning—not cynical, not suspicious, but Spirit-led and anchored in truth.

Instead of asking, “Do I like this church?” maybe the better question is:

“Is this church helping me love and follow Jesus more deeply?”

Because a healthy church—whether it meets in a living room or a stadium—is one that lifts up Christ, equips believers, and bears fruit that remains.

So, what does lasting fruit look like?

• The gospel is clear. Jesus is central—not just inspirational.

• Lives are being transformed. You see repentance, growth, healing, and freedom.

• The church is accountable. There’s transparency, healthy leadership, and room for correction.

• The Holy Spirit is welcome. Not manipulated, not ignored—but embraced with reverence.

• People are known, discipled, and sent. It’s not about keeping crowds—it’s about equipping the saints.

  
  

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”—Acts 4:32 (ESV)

That kind of unity doesn’t come from branding or clever vision statements. It comes from a people completely surrendered to Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.

They weren’t just attending the same church—they were living as one body with shared hearts, shared purpose, and shared resources. They weren’t competing for influence—they were laying down their rights for the good of others.

They didn’t cling to their possessions—they saw everything they had as available for Kingdom use. To be of one heart and soul, to live with open hands, to hold nothing back from God or from each other—that is amazing fruit. That’s not surface-level Christianity.

That’s supernatural community. That’s what happens when the Holy Spirit leads, and Jesus remains the center.

It’s the kind of church we should long for—not because of its size, but because of its surrender.

Final Encouragement

God isn’t asking us to bash the big or romanticize the small. He’s simply inviting us to look deeper—beyond what’s seen, beyond our preferences, and into the fruit that’s being produced.

The early church was both massive and deeply personal. Crowds gathered—but hearts were transformed. The gospel was preached boldly—and homes were filled with prayer, meals, and mutual care. It wasn’t about how big it looked—it was about how real it was.

So maybe instead of assuming bigger means shallow or smaller means faithful, we ask a better question: Is Jesus truly being lifted high here?

Because if you look a little closer, you might be surprised by what you find.

Maybe your church—yes, even the one you’ve been unsure about—has been producing fruit all along. Maybe lives are being changed right under your nose. Maybe God is working in ways you haven’t fully seen… yet.

Let’s be people who look for fruit. Let’s celebrate when the gospel is preached, when people come to Jesus, and when disciples are made—whether it’s 3 or 3,000. Because if heaven rejoices over one, what kind of praise must have echoed when 3,000 said yes...

Prayer

Father,

Thank You for building a Church that’s bigger than our preferences, styles, or comfort zones. Thank You for reminding us that what matters most isn’t the size of the crowd, but the fruit being produced.

Help us to see Your Church the way You do—not through the lens of skepticism, but through the eyes of the Spirit. Give us discernment to recognize where You’re truly moving, and humility to celebrate it—even when it looks different than we expect.

Guard our hearts from pride, comparison, or complacency. Keep us anchored in Your Word, devoted to Your mission, and sensitive to Your Spirit. Let our lives bear fruit that lasts—fruit rooted in love, truth, and surrender.

Make us people of one heart and soul, united by the gospel, eager to serve, and bold in our witness. May we never grow numb to the miracle of salvation—whether it’s one soul or 3,000.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.