BigSmall – positioning for a harvest

Ōkina ko

‘The Japanese have a word  (Ōkina ko) that translates as ‘BigSmall’. It denotes that something is both small and big at the same time. I love this word as for me it captures the essence of the gospel and of how our churches can practically start to think and function in their calling and mission.

A False Dilemma

So many leaders are wrestling with the challenge of how best to structure their communities; what vehicles to use in order to grow sustainably. Because of resources, we are often forced into asking ‘how much should I focus on small groups or should I pour my best time and resources into our larger Sunday gatherings?’ I believe this question is a false dilemma…

Restoring The Place Of The Home And Extended Family on Mission

Many are discovering that if we can avoid the trap of making small groups an optional ‘add-on’ but rather imbue them with intrinsic value as a core vehicle for mission and multiplication, investing personally and wisely into their leaders, then we can experience a harvest and the potential for multiplication. This is BigSmall. I believe that God is restoring the home, the ‘Oikos’ or extended family as the key vehicle of mission and church planting. Alan Hirsch points out that every seed has the potential to become a tree and that every tree has the potential to become a forest. This seed is the movemental potential of the gospel that is carried in every believer.

Have You Got A Church In You?

Julie and I hold to this principle and have sensed Gods call to explore a micro-church in our home in 2023. We invite you to an informal evening with us and with others as we explore the big/small mindset at 8.00pm at Lumberjack cafe, Camberwell Church Street on March 24th. Come and share your vision of church and hear others explore BigSmall thinking together.