Have you heard this phrase yet? If not, you will at some point. In the world that I know well – the modern church, this idea is gaining traction and growing in its use, as some people who disdain larger churches pursue smaller communities of faith and expressions of Christ-centered community.
But this article is not about the best size of great church. I want to talk about how I struggle with confusing important and unimportant moments because of their size. And I think I am not alone in this struggle.
I had a tough conversation this week with someone I really care about. This person is someone I care about a ton and I have incredible vision for what God is going to do through their giftedness and talent. Yet, the problem really related to that person’s character and we needed to talk about some potential roadblocks that were beginning to get in the way.
In my life, I tend to focus all of my time and energy on big moments. When I am in front of a big crowd or when I have the mic and the podcast recording is rolling. I confuse that moment as much more important than a conversation in my apartment during a March Madness game. I get confused that “mentoring” happens over coffee at and a book about spiritual formation, rather than in a car on the way to a Spring Training game.
When I look at the life of Jesus, he did all of his mentoring in the midst of life happening. When I look at His life, I see him taking a small conversation with a promiscuous woman (John 4) or a tax collector (Luke 19) or a bunch of partiers (Matthew 10), just as seriously as he did a sermon on a mountainside (Matthew 5-7) or a message in a synagogue (Luke 4). To Jesus, every moment, conversation and opportunity was important.
If small is the new big, then i think our lives should begin to value the “as-we-go” moments and the unexpected conversations, just as much as the moments when the spotlight is on us. I am trying to live “small is the new big” as I seek to connect people to Jesus and empower them to serve the world.
-Scott
Good word, dude. I totally relate. We gotta stay aware of Him moving through the “big” and the “small”–never know what He could be doing through us! Thanks for the reminder.
Scott – I would have to agree that Small is the New Big. In business as well as life we surge from one flavor of the month using continuous improvement methodology convincing we are new and improved and seeking affirmation of our new flavor (nothing to do with ice cream). In your syllabus I thought, “Is this something new or have seen something like this before?” Not doubting your original thought and its application but so many times plagiarism is reinventing the wheel. This is not reinventing the wheel. You have to think small sometimes or the big will run your over like road kill. For example, my parents one summer decided that I was old and big enough to join the rest of the family to hoe (cut) our weeds in the bean fields. As we pulled up to the first 140 acres it looked like a large sea of green with weeds stitched in every few feet. First thinking that I am nine years old and will be 30 by the time we finish this my father said it can be done…one weed, one step, at a time.
You help, guide, and give spatial leadership one person, one Small step, at a time.
Seven