Small and Strong

Is bigger always better? That depends you say, “If you are talking about Monster Trucks, hamburgers, biceps or closet space than you bet.” However, there are things where bigger might not necessarily be better: jeans, needles, taxes, and candy. I remember a time when I was about ten years old I had a large jawbreaker that I thought would be fun to stuff in my mouth to see if it would fit. It did. The problem was I couldn’t get it out. As a few minutes passed my fear increased, my jaw tightened, I began to gag on my saliva, and the problem became serious. With the help of Mom and warm water the jawbreaker eventually popped out. Whew, what a relief and that jawbreaker lost all of its fun as I threw it in the trash. Bigger isn’t necessarily always better.

In our church culture we often have the similar view that bigger is always better. The large churches and mega churches (over 2,000) appear to have it all with sprawling campuses, professional praise & worship teams, awesome programs and special events, a highly visible pastor on TV/internet/radio, and a full coffee shop in their entryway. Why wouldn’t you think that bigger is better? Who wouldn’t want to get their Carmel Macchiato at Jehova Java, while jamming with the praise team, and reading your pastor’s latest book? We have, and you have, larger churches that greatly impact the community and beyond by their size – praise God, but does that mean smaller churches are inferior, weak and insignificant as long as they are small? Not necessarily.

The facts are: the overwhelming percentage (60%) of churches are small (under a 100 in attendance), the average church size is 77, and home/non-traditional settings for worship gatherings are increasing. Truth is Jesus influenced a small group of men for three years and entrusted them with the message of his words, life and sacrifice to change the course of humanity.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ina the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20

Small, medium, large or mega-churches can be strong, growing and influential or weak, dying, and insignificant. Size alone may not be “the” indicator of a healthy and strong church or in fulfilling the Great Commission.

My encouragement to primarily my Journey Church family, and to you who attend, pastor or lead a small congregation is that bigger is not necessarily better for you. Do not look wistfully at what God appears to be doing in a larger church or think “if only we had (ministries, resources, buildings) like the X church, then we could really impact our community.” God has a specific plan, purpose for you, and an invitation to partner with Him in the greatest mission in history that only you can fulfill.  For today, being a small strong church is exactly what God desires for you.