Small Is Big

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My wife and I recently celebrated our 43rd anniversary. Getting married brought major life changes for Debi and me. Bringing our first child into this world then upended any sense of normalcy we had developed after settling in together. It amazes me how such a small person can have such an enormous influence.

Just leaving the house suddenly required significant planning and forethought. And the work involved in taking a trip was over the top. I still have memories—and a few nightmares—from our first vacation at the beach with a child under three and another at six months!

More recently, a friend told me how his family had picked up and moved to another state because of a desire to find better medical care for their ailing son. The man and his wife sold their home and spent a season in an apartment without a bedroom for themselves because they wanted better for their little boy.

Small Is Big

When our church first began developing small groups nearly four decades ago, we knew they were going to be significant. But little did I realize how much of my life’s work would involve dealing with people in smaller settings. Throughout the years, I have conducted church services, planned conferences, and spoken to large groups, but small groups have always stood at the core of my ministry efforts. I didn’t necessarily plan it that way; small group environments simply seemed like an effective means to spur individual growth.

Looking back over the past forty years, I feel more strongly than ever about the importance of Christian small groups. As important as larger meetings are, they lack necessary opportunities for personal interaction. Not only do people need to be connected, they also need to process truth in a nonjudgmental environment. And small groups can fill that need!

Small Is Big because small groups can have an enormous influence on the trajectory of a person’s life. Having seen the fruit firsthand, I am compelled to do what I can to help others grow as small group leaders. So, for the foreseeable future, I’ll be providing a monthly post to encourage, strengthen, and equip those who are serving as small group leaders for the glory of God. I’d love for you to come along for the ride!