The Power of Vulnerability by Brene' Brown

Pastoring a Small Church by Becky Dietz

My husband is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Groom, TX.  Groom's population is around 600 and our sweet church has around 100 members.  We never dreamed we'd be in a church this size.  We started out in a medium-sized church and went to a mega church and then back to a medium-sized church where we stayed for 26 years.  And we've learned so much along the way.

We were members of our first church before Andy went on staff as a youth minister there, so when we left, it was a very emotional experience because it was like leaving family.  A family to whom we were very attached. When we went to the mega church, they probably had 300 youth...and it grew to around 600.  Andy didn't have a youth intern, so it was a big undertaking.  This is where we began to learn how to organize ministry...because we had to.  It was a little overwhelming at times.  And it was certainly hard to know everyone because we had so many services and a divided Sunday School.  It was almost a relief to go to a smaller church from there...an average-sized church.  Add to that, it was the church where Andy grew up, so we were home.  We loved our ministry there.  We grew spiritually.  God taught us so much and our friendships were deep.  And Andy impacted a lot of students...and a lot of adults.  Our own kids grew up in this church.

So we never dreamed we'd end up in a small church.  But I'm so glad we did!  Having experienced a church of every size, I have to wonder why pastors feel the desire to "move up."  Most pastors start out in a small church but aspire to go to a bigger...and then a bigger church.  I think they see it as success.  (I also think it's Satan's diabolical plot to make us feel discontented, disqualified, and disheartened.  He's such a liar!)  But after 36 years of ministering in a church of every size, if I had to choose a church size, I'd choose a small church.

Here's why I love a small church:

1. You get to really know the people.  Everyone.  
2. You know the state of your flock all the time.  
3. Every little step forward is huge in a small church.
4. Ministry is simpler.  
5. People love one another well.  Lots of people in small towns are related, so they know how to overlook faults.
6. People in small towns are hard workers.  
7. Small churches operate by volunteers.  And there are lots of them.  It takes everyone to make a small church run properly.
8. People minister to one another well.
9. When one person is discipled in a small church, it makes a huge difference!  Their excitement is contagious.
10. It's easy to impact an entire community.

If you're "stuck" pastoring a small church, be encouraged!!  God isn't concerned about the size of your church; He's looking at your heart.  Are you content?  Are you being faithful with what you have?  Are you looking for Him to work in your situation?  Are you expecting God to do big things where you are?  

The grass may appear greener in a bigger church, but that just means there's more mowing to do.  

Who are you?? by Sandra Langford

Well according to Ephesians 1 & 2...

1. I am an ambassador of Christ Jesus. I am a saint – consecrated and set apart.

2. I am faithful, loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus.

3. The grace (God’s unmerited favor) and spiritual peace (harmony, unity, undisturbedness) of God are mine from God my Father and Jesus Christ.

4. I am a daughter of God and therefore, a sister to Jesus Christ.

5. I am blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing among the heavenly realm by Holy Spirit.

6. I am loved by God.

7. I am chosen: picked out by God as His own. Even before He laid out His plans for this world He had me in mind.

8. I am holy – set apart for Him.

9. I am blameless in His sight.

10. I am above reproach before Him in love.

11. I am predestined, planned in love, predetermined, He knew me before I was made.

12. I am adopted, planned in love.

13. I belong to God because of Jesus Christ, my big brother.

14. God is my Father.

15. God took pleasure in planning me. He delighted in adopting me.

16. I am His pleasure.

17. His intent for me is good.

18. My Father is worthy of praise. He is my glory! (Proverbs 17:6)

19. My Father is merciful and marvelous, freely giving me gifts in the Beloved.

20. I am delivered, set free, redeemed.

21. I am forgiven by the riches of His grace.

22. He has abundantly lavished that on me in wisdom and understanding, in accordance with the riches, bounty and generosity of His gracious favor, goodwill and lovingkindness.

23. God tells me secret plans, the mystery of His will, plans He took delight in making, long range plans to unite all things in Him.

24. I am God’s own possession, He claimed me!

25. I am God’s heir.

26. God is working His purpose in me.

27. I have hope in Christ.

28. I am made to live to bring Him glory and praise.

29. I am stamped, marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit for security and a guarantee of my inheritance.

30. I can have a spirit of wisdom and revelation (insight into mysteries and secrets) to be able to truly know Him personally and intimately.

31. I am called, invited.

32. His power is in me and for me. It is immeasurable, unlimited and beyond anything: the same power that raised Christ from the dead and placed Him at God’s right hand is in me.

33. I am in subjection to, under, and expected to yield to Christ who has all authority and power.

34. I am a part of the church, His body, the fullness of Him filled with the presence, power and riches of God and of Christ.

35. He who causes to abound, supplies liberally.

36. In me lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete and Who fills all in all.

37. I am made alive together with Christ.

38. I was dead in my sin, BUT GOD because of His rich mercy and wonderful and intense love focused on me has made me alive in fellowship and in union with Christ. (I am united with the Anointed one!) He infused my lifeless soul with life.

39. By His grace I am saved, delivered from judgement and made a partaker of Christ’s salvation.

40. I am raised up with Christ to sit with him in heavenly places.

41. God will show me the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward me in Christ Jesus.

42. I am saved, kept safe, rescued, by grace (joy, delight, loving kindness, favor) through faith (conviction of truth, belief). It is a gift from God, not by my doing!

43. I am God’s workmanship (work of art, masterpiece, His poem) created by Him in Christ for good works God prepared beforehand for me to do.

44. My works are not the means of my salvation; they are the evidence of its presence.

45. I was a stranger, an outsider, separated, had no connection with Christ (the Anointed One), had no rights and no share in the compacts of the promises, no hope – BUT God gathered me and brought me near to Him by the royal blood of Christ, my Liberating King.

46. I have access to the Father, and can freely approach Him.

47. I am a citizen with God’s people. I am consecrated and set apart for Him.

48. I am a member of God’s holy family and a resident – I belong to His household.

49. I am being built on a solid foundation with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.

50. I am being joined together with other believers (Jews and Gentiles) harmoniously, stone, by stone – chosen and sealed in Him, rising up (growing, increasing) to become a holy temple in the Lord. (1Peter 2:5 I am a living stone built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood)