I got to know my good friend, Sarah Cordray, through the doctor of ministry program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Through her, I saw a wonderful picture of small church ministry that I had, frankly, never considered. As I listened to her and read her work, I began to pay closer attention to what God is doing through people and through churches that may seem “small.”
Especially when you work in the church, you can become inundated and overwhelmed with all of the programs for and the advice from large churches. I thank God for their ministry and witness, but, unless leaders of smaller churches keep a God-focused perspective, they may miss what God is doing among the small. Leaders of small and medium sized churches may come to believe that, unless our congregations can do the ministry, have the music programs and youth programs, and have all the staff that these large churches have, we’re not doing real ministry. Even worse, we may come to equate small with insignificant.
Sarah’s focus on a “gospel of the small” helps me look at what is happening in and through our congregation’s programs. It helps me look at the relationships and connections people make. It helps me look at what God is doing in, with, and through the small. You see, God is patient. God is not like a bull in the china shop of our hearts. Instead, God wants to reveal Himself to us. Most of us yearn for some grand sign from God – we want a burning bush, a miracle, some message from God that is so loud and clear that we can’t possibly miss it. That focus is on us and what we want rather than on God and what God is calling us to. You may be familiar with the following verses from 1 Kings and God’s revelation to Elijah:
And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
~ 1 Kings 19:11-12 [NKJV]
This past week, as I’ve reflected on the Scriptures for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (especially, Micah 5:2-5a and Luke 1:39-55), I see God at work through Bethlehem, “one of the little clans of Judah”. I hear the Magnificat as Mary proclaims: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” In other words, through her, God’s small acts that may have gone unnoticed or unobserved by others are being made known for all to see in spite of “the lowliness of His servant.”
Even within our own congregation, two small stories reveal ways in which God’s gospel is at work through the small.
- One of our members took her car in for inspection. The mechanic saw Bethel’s magnet on her car and made the connection that we do a lot of community outreach through the Lifelong Learning Institute, 12-step groups, ESL, citizenship, and GED classes. This led to a conversation about Christmas activities at the church.
- We recently installed a coffee station for all people who use our building. Having a coffee service grew out of the necessity of needing more space. That led some of our people to suggest combining efforts so we could offer this hospitality to Bethel members and community members throughout the week. Since getting the coffee station up and running, I’ve heard from a few people who have run into other people that they would not have known had it not been for having a simple coffee station. Personally, I’ve enjoyed a number of conversations and my soul has been encouraged by them.
Small examples. No one is likely going to write a book about the 5 easy steps to creating a successful coffee station ministry. But relationships are happening. Connections are being made.
How in the busyness of this season and in the busyness of our lives, can God work through us and reveal His gospel through the small?
Epicurious Lutheran 