BIG CHURCH or SMALL CHURCH ?

As you know, if you have followed this blog lately, that the subject of church has been a major topic. This week I ran across a statement that grabbed my attention, here it is "A small church with a big vision has greater impact than a big church with a small vision"! Read it over a few times before you decide that Gramp is just not in favor of large churches. This statement is not about the size of churches, but about their vision! It's only common sense that a big church with a big vision would have a greater impact than a small church with a big vision. Right?

What makes a church "successful" in the eyes of God? Is it their large buildings? Is it their multi-million dollar budgets?---I think not! If we read Paul's first letter to the church he planted in Thessalonica we get a true picture of a church that is having a great impact on their city. "And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May He, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again with all His holy people." (1Thess 3:12-13). God looks at the heart of a church to see if they are "successful", and here Paul mentions two characteristics that are vital for a successful church---"love for one another" and "holiness". Sad to say, in many churches today we don't see much of either of these two essential requirements!

In our western 21st century culture, we are taught that looking out for number one is important, and independence is seen as a virtue to be attained at all costs. This is completely opposite to the teaching of scripture, for example read (Phil 2:1-5), and (Col 3:12-17) to see how church members should relate to each other. Then when people in the world see this, they are more apt to be interested in hearing the "Good News" of the Gospel! So no matter what size of church you are part of, and you definitely should be part of one, (Heb 10:23-25), let us all strive to meet this scriptural standard laid down by the apostle Paul. Then when God looks at our local church, He will be pleased with our church heart, no matter how many people attend the services!

Sincerely submitted.

Gramp