Back when I was at theological college, my home church linked me up with a smal, struggling church for a summer placement. One of things we did over the summer was talk about their future. They had some big ideas including moving from the village where they met to the nearby slightly larger town that had no Gospel witness with the view that this might place them better to reach the population. They had other ideas too.
Towards the end of my placement, our home church came over to join us for a combined prayer meeting. We arranged the chairs in circles to make it more informal. I remember one of the elders from our home church talking to the deacons of the struggling church.
“Did you enjoy how things were tonight?”
“Yes, it was fantastic.”
“What about if you left the chairs like this for Sunday?”
“No, we could not possibly do that, they always are arranged in straight rows.”
Earlier, they had been telling the elder about all their big ideas. His challenge to them at this point was that there was no point having the big dreams and ideas that seemed far off and distant if they couldn’t do the small things today. It was good advice.
In Haggai 1:8, God says to the people:
“8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “
I think you can pick up the undertone as “Don’t be worrying about whether or not it’s the right time or if you are able to do the big project. Just get started with the small things. Go and chop down some trees, cut up the wood, make a start.”
In chapter 2:1-10, God asks them to look at the new building as it takes shape. Yes, it looks small in comparison to the old building and perhaps compared to their ambitions. However they were to take courage and know that God was with them. Furthermore, they could look forward and trust that God would step in and shake the earth so that all that was needed for his house and his glory would come. It was always going to be he would make it happen, always he how would establish his house, always his timing.
I believe there is an encouragement for us here. Whether this is the individual believer, local church or even a wider movement of believers, just get on with the small things, make a start and trust God to complete the work.
This might mean for example being willing to share your testimony or a word of encouragement one to one or in the church gathering before worrying about whether you have the gift of prophecy or are called to preach. It might mean that a church considering a possible building project simply starts putting money aside, writes a specification, starts to look around at possibilities.
In terms of church planting, we can worry about whether or not we have the people to send to a plant and particularly whether we’ve got the leaders. Alternatively, we can keep multiplying community groups and encouraging them to have a vision for their locality. We can start training people to teach, disciple, care for others in order to grow new leaders who may eventually lead a plant.
And, if you are considering church planting (here comes the cheeky appeal) you could move into a locality where a Gospel witness is needed or open up your own home now and start to share the good news with neighbours, perhaps linking up with us for training, mentoring and partnership.
I think the crucial point is just to start doing something, even if it feels like the spiritual equivalent of just cutting up a bit of wood.
Faithroots 