DO NOT DESPISE "LITTLE THINGS"

"Do not despise little things."

So often, we buy into the "bigger is better" syndrome.  If it's bigger, then it must be blessed by God and must be right.  And we then draw the opposite conclusion.  If it's small, it is because of a small dream, small-minded people with no ambition or purpose.

But is that always true?

Last Sunday, I had a wonderful experience of small being right.  (Not sure that small is going to remain small, however.)

I supplied in a small town for a small church.  Being in so many churches in the past several months that were strictly older congregations, doing the "same-old, same-old," and expecting different results doing the same thing, or expecting to die, I was shocked when I preached at this small town church.

First of all, the inside of the church was beautiful--beautifully decorated (rather than run-down), clean and neat, open cheerful surroundings.  Surprise number 1.

They had quite a few kids coming in during Sunday school time, (but that was only the tip of the iceberg).  When church started, probably 1/3 of the congregation for church were kids and teens.  (They have "youth group" on Wednesday night.)

Surprise #3 was that, in this small town, with several other churches, or church buildings that I saw, they had an almost full auditorium for worship.  Whoa!

Surprise #4 was that, my wife and I noticed they had the newest hymnal that our denomination puts out, which has many newer songs and choruses as well.  Forward thinking congregation--not past oriented congregation.

Surprise #5--they did their music well (with volunteer leaders), and the pianist did a great job playing the hymns and people participated.  AND, the song leader said that they "had" to (meaning they should) learn some new songs, though they did not know them all.  (This was an older man, not a young person who said this.)

Next, they did a couple of choruses with recorded music, but again, people participated.  There was  willingness to use "worship" choruses that were about God and actually "TO GOD."

And the congregation was a mix of all ages!

My wife and I were blown away.  What a joy to be in a small town congregation that had vision, purpose (they talked about visits they had made and ministry they were involved in with churched and unchurched people).  A joy to be in a church with a willingness to "do things differently" if that helped the church to reach and teach and grow--and to do so with all ages.

Some of our churches in larger towns and cities could learn some good lessons from visiting this congregation in this small town! 

But instead, many of us will just "despise" little things, and think there is nothing that could occur in a small town.  Some said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth," I believe.  And so they missed the Messiah.

Bigger isn't always better.  Small doesn't have to just learn from big.  Big also can learn from small, if each is open to God.  God is the God of the small and the big.  And He can use "even me."

The kingdom of God and God's purpose exists everywhere.  And God loves people in large cities and in small towns as well.

Don't despise little things, but learn the lessons God may have from the little things and little places.  And be blown away at the purpose and the leadership and the openness to God.

Wow!