Christians today often seem consumed with ‘big’. Big church, big numbers of people, big youth groups, big band, big sound. These big things seem to occupy much of our time and efforts.

In recent months I’m rediscovering God in the small things.

Lately my life has been most blessed by times when things haven’t been so big. Time spent with 3 young lads chatting through life and faith. A car journey spentwith 4 young lads where we actually get to interact and laugh authentically. A few hours spent one-to-one with a young teen who has experienced heartache in his young life.  Coffee and advice from a friend who I trust to speak Godly wisdom over my life. Privilege and blessing…

Yes, large gatherings are good and are a blessing too. But not at the expense of real, authentic relationship-building that happens in the small. I want to invest more in the small. I think all Christians should. The small interactions in our lives are often deeper, more open and more fulfilling. If all Christians were to pay attention to the small, then undoubtedly the ‘body’, the larger gathering of believers would be healthier and we all would be blessed as a result.

Pay attention to the small in your life.

Last Sunday evening we shared some thoughts with our young people about the future. We re-focused our vision on what we believe God wants to do in and through us at Woodlands. Let me briefly share our thoughts as we set about ‘dreaming awake’…

We believe that church should be a place where (young) people are SUBMERGED under the done work of Christ. We believe that it’s so important that our focus and energy must be directed towards presenting Jesus and the life he has already purchased for us. Not primarily a list of ‘to do’s’ for Jesus, but a focus on what he has already done for us.

We dream that as we marinate in this week in and week out, there will develop an environment where young people worship freely, where they love unconditionally and where they serve spontaneously.

From within this environment and with our vision now fixed outward into the world, our dream then becomes this: that we will EMERGE to connect with the lost and connect the lost to Christ. Missionaries into our culture, with the confidence of the done work of Jesus firmly behind, within and in front of us.

I love how my 3 year old, Caleb, tells big dramatic stories…dreams of adventure, danger and rescue that seem to swirl around inside his vibrant little head.  Many children do the same. Yet sadly, too often and all too quickly, the dreams fade and disappear…often accompanied by the words, ‘welcome to the real world, kid’.  Sad, isn’t it? Very sad.

For me, and hopefully for us at Woodlands, it’s time to dream again.

‘In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die, where you invest your love, there you invest your life…’ (Mumford & Sons) Great and appropriate lyrics indeed.