본 논문은 오늘 한국적 상황에서 대형교회들이 어떻게 작은(개척/ 미자립)교회들을 지속가능한 방법으로 도우며 상생할 수 있을지에 대한 질문으로부터 시작되었다. 연구자는 이 질문에 답하고자 최근 새로운 방법으로 작은교회들을 도우며 상생하는 3개 교회의 모델들을 사례연구하고 비교분석 하였다. 연구자는 이 상생 프로그램들이 가지고 있는 특징들과 공통점들로부터 얻은 선교적 통찰에 근거해서 대형교회와 작은교회들 간의 성공적인 상생협력을 위한 제언을 다음과 같이 정리하였다. 첫째, 지역교회는 하나님 나라의 신학으로 개교회주의를 극복하고 서로 협력해야 한다. 둘째, 지역사회는 지역교회들이 협력해야 할 선교지이다. 셋째, 교회는 하나님의 선교에 참여하는 선교공동체이다. 넷째, 성도는 하나님의 선교적 백성들이다. 다섯째, 지역교회들 간의 관계는 상호존중의 파트너십에 근거한 네트워크이어야 한다. 여섯째, 상생협력이 지속가능할 때, 상생운동으로 성장할 수 있다. 한국교회들이 하나님에 의해서 세상, 즉 지역사회로 파송된 선교공동체임을 인식하고 상호 존중의 파트너십을 가지고 하나님의 선교에 참여한다면, 양극화를 극복하고 상생협력을 통한 부흥을 경험할 수 있을 것이다.

Now, it presumes that dependent church, which is economically poor and numerically small, among Korean churches is 60-70 percent. Such dependent churches are on the increase. The first reason is that birthrate in Korea will be fallen and the number of young people will be fallen in Korean church. The second reason is related to the change of dwelling style. In Korea, high-rise apartmentsincrease in number now. The difference between churches, which are located in the religious site, and churches, which are not located in the religious site will be deepened. The third reason is that the faithfully mature members in small church will move into the big church. It is more serious that the small churches will disappear finally. In this situation, the study on the growth of church is focusing on the system of the bigger church. Even though most of Korean churches are small church, leaders of Korean church concentrated on the bigger church. As a result, the study on ministry and philosophy for small church is overlooked. In this respect, the successful model and developmental possibility of small church should be suggested for survival through the consistent self-change of small church. Therefore, this article will focus on directions for small church. Small churches should be aware of their biblical self-identity. Therefore, I will articulate the notion of the remnantin the Hebrew Bible. And I will find out the biblical basis for small church through the parable of mustard seed in New Testament. Finally I will try to suggest that the Bible provides us the balanced perspective which emphasizes the church as the community of faithful people of God not as small or big church.

Jesus proclaimed at Matt 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus shared comfort with the minority and blessed them with the hands of healing. It is a picture of a church that should be a community in which even a few prayers gather and bear testimony calling the name of Jesus. If just two or three people get together, this meeting is not recognized as a church in reality. A rule of Korean Methodist Church says that a newly settled church has to be composed of more than 12 members who have been baptized. Korean Presbyterian Church, on the other hand, sets up a rule that a criterion of establishing a church is more than 15 baptized christian. At this stage, it is strongly needed to discuss what Jesus get together with even a few people means to the reality of modern church and to the argument of minor church in Korea. This study is just a general view for the establishment of the identity of small church. This paper is to introduce the concept of a small church in America. Then the approach to Korean situation is researched with the evaluation of missiology. It is desired that this study may be the foundation which sets up the criterion for the small churches in Korea.