THE CHEMISTRY OF A BIG CHURCH
‘When I was a child’ says the Apostle, ‘I spoke as a child – I thought as a child.’ The Apostle is, of course, reflecting on how the passage of time has brought with it stages of maturing. A person is born into this world utterly small – and not just physically small. A child’s view of the world is small. Their scope of consideration is small. Their vocabulary is small. The experiences are small. Thus, under the tutelage of their parents, their world becomes bigger. In fact, it is one of the primary roles of any parent to help their child to grow into a bigger person.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ,
Ephesians 4:15
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BUILDING BIGGER
Growing bigger requires building. The Apostle said that can only happen when a person is nurtured and built up with truth (Eph. 4:15). A child needs to hear the truth – especially these truths-
- The world does not revolve around you.
Be considerate of others. (Phil. 2:3)
Big people celebrate the triumphs and joys of others. - You always have reasons to be grateful.
Despite how unfair you think life is, be more thankful. (Col. 3:15)
Big people are thankful for what they have rather than what they think they should have. - Your wealth is not measured by how much you get, but by how of it you give.
Share your toys with others. (1Tim. 6:18)
“You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar - Speak well of others who have done better than you.
Bless and do not curse. (Rom. 12:14) - Let go of offences and forgive as a lifestyle.
Choose not to recall or rehearse to others how someone has hurt you. (Eph. 4:32)
Big people are more bruised and bumped more than small people. The difference is that small people talk about their bruises more.
Big people build people.
Big Churches aren’t about numbers because they are really churches of big people.
“If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”
-Zig Ziglar
INVESTING BIGGER
¶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Second Corinthians 9:6
Children don’t see the big picture of life. Their view of life is very immediate and small. As a person grows up and gets a bigger outlook on life and their place in it, they realise that most of life’s difficulties come to pass not to stay. Big people recognise that life has seasons. There are times of sunshine. There are times of rain. There are times of flourishing and blooming. There are times of dormancy. Children don’t understand life’s seasons. Children rarely realise that life’s seasons have little to do with lengths of time and more to do with lessons over time.
Big people don’t become big by accident, elapsed time, or just by the company they keep. They become big by investing into their souls, their hearts, their minds, their relationships, and their futures.
Big churches aren’t limited by how last Sunday’s, or the coming Sunday’s, service went. They are limited by how much they invest.
GROWING BIGGER
A person becomes bigger by becoming smaller. One of the clearest signs that you are in the presence of a big person is that they display the traits of teachability, keenness to learn, openness to new ways and ideas. When challenged to keep growing, the big person steps up and steps out into a time of stretching. This is why the description childish is not determined by age, but by bigness of attitude. That’s why big is not the same as old. It’s also why a person who stops growing in character and attitude becomes old before their time.
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:16
One of the hallmarks of a growing church is that its people are growing – especially its leaders. As Ephesians 4:16 challenges, there is always room for the growing believer to grow in love toward Christ and others. A big Christian leader is characterised by humility and love.
BUILDING, INVESTING, GROWING
Please pray for me to be building my life, investing into my life, and taking the humble steps to grow my life. Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same. The world is getting smaller in many ways. I think that as we each commit to our journey with Christ we can only get bigger. As we do we, will stand tall in this world of people who think they are big but are really only small. Not until they see the difference will they realise there is a difference.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John The Baptist (speaking of Christ) John 3:30
Pastor Andrew