Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Wednesday September 16
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Romans 16:5-Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
1 Corinthians 16:19-The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Colossians 4:15-Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
Philemon 1:1-2-Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
2 John 10-If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
Several years ago, I was blessed to be part of a house church. There were many great blessings attached with this experience! Indeed, many of the churches in the New Testament were smaller churches that often worshipped and planned sharing the Gospel from people’s homes!
Let’s think about some of the strengths that are often characteristic of smaller churches.
In every chapter so far, I have given examples of churches doing just that. I’ve called these churches strategically small not because they are small on purpose (for the most part), but because they recognize that being a smaller congregation has its benefits. More to the point, they are putting those benefits, that hidden potential, to good use. These churches recognize that running a small church as if it were a big one undermines the smaller congregation’s key strengths. In a culture, even a Christian culture, that values size, celebrity, and institutional visibility, these strategically small churches are underreported and underappreciated. Hearing their stories has renewed my hope in the future of the church, and the small church in particular. I hope their examples have done the same for you. We’ve identified several unique strengths that the small congregation has to offer. They are authentic and nimble. They have everything they need to empower the laity for the work of ministry, to facilitate and celebrate intergenerational relationships, and to develop and deploy new leaders. The churches we’ve encountered in these pages have learned to leverage these strengths to great advantage. As a result, we have seen what a small church can do when it stops thinking of itself as a failed effort to get big and starts capitalizing on its own unique strengths.…A final characteristic of strategically small churches is that they do their ministry in a spirit of abundance.…If we think we can fulfill our calling to make disciples only when we can provide exciting worship and fellowship experiences for children, youth, and young adults, we will always be keenly aware of how we lack the space, talent, and leadership to make those things happen. If, however, we recognize that young people desire mentoring relationships above almost anything else, we can begin to see our congregation as a treasure trove of experienced Christians who are eager to shape the spiritual lives of young people. (Brandon J. O’Brien, The Strategically Small Church: Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective, 155-164 (Kindle Edition): Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers)
None of this is to throw off on bigger churches. Thank God for those! As long as a church (large or small) is adhering to the Bible, God will be pleased and will bless her spiritually (Philippians 4:19; Acts 2:42-47; 9:31). Yet this does remind us that smaller churches are not a failure, and that the Lord can work mightily through them.
What are some other advantages that you can think of to smaller churches?
What more can we do in our church-small or large-to be an active member and help it to grow?
Lord, thank You for large and small churches. Amen.