Desire to Re-member

Abstract

In this chapter, we show how megachurches satisfy attendees’ desire to belong in a community of like-minded others. We describe the process by which attendees go from being spectators to being active members, and the key role that small groups play in this process. Small groups connect attendees to others, allow them to feel accepted, make a large church feel small, and provide them with emotional energy in between weekend services. Megachurches offer a wide variety of small group options in an effort to meet their attendees’ every need, which include small groups focusing on marriage that become a critical factor in creating what we call megachurch marriage culture.