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Small Church Pastor
Coaching, Consulting, and Resources for Pastors of Smaller Churches.
Hot Tip
Copyright, Dave Jacobs 2008
| Ideas that work in a smaller church. |
Contentedness without
Complacency
Complacency
content: adjective
in a state of peaceful happiness : he seemed more content, less bitter.
• satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc., and not wishing for more : he had to
be content with third place | the duke was content to act as Regent.
complacent: adjective
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements : you can't afford to be
complacent about security.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” - Paul (I Tim. 6:4)
God wants you to be content with the size of your church without becoming complacent in regards to
discipleship and evangelism. I realize this is not an easy balance to achieve but it is one we must
move towards.
Would you describe your current attitude in regards to the size of your church as “a state of peaceful
happiness?” Could you say you are, “satisfied with a certain level of achievement, not wishing for
more?” Remember, we’re talking about the size of your church, not how well it’s doing in reaching the
lost, feeding the poor, making serious followers of Christ, etc. Are you content in being the pastor of a
small church? Can you embrace contentedness without becoming complacent about all the other
things the church is suppose to be and do? I hope so. But I also know from personal experience how
hard it is to be content with a smaller congregation.
Is it just me or does it seem like much of what pastors are exposed to in the church-related books they
read, the conferences they go to, ministerial meetings they attend end up making them feel more
discontent than content?
in a state of peaceful happiness : he seemed more content, less bitter.
• satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc., and not wishing for more : he had to
be content with third place | the duke was content to act as Regent.
complacent: adjective
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements : you can't afford to be
complacent about security.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” - Paul (I Tim. 6:4)
God wants you to be content with the size of your church without becoming complacent in regards to
discipleship and evangelism. I realize this is not an easy balance to achieve but it is one we must
move towards.
Would you describe your current attitude in regards to the size of your church as “a state of peaceful
happiness?” Could you say you are, “satisfied with a certain level of achievement, not wishing for
more?” Remember, we’re talking about the size of your church, not how well it’s doing in reaching the
lost, feeding the poor, making serious followers of Christ, etc. Are you content in being the pastor of a
small church? Can you embrace contentedness without becoming complacent about all the other
things the church is suppose to be and do? I hope so. But I also know from personal experience how
hard it is to be content with a smaller congregation.
Is it just me or does it seem like much of what pastors are exposed to in the church-related books they
read, the conferences they go to, ministerial meetings they attend end up making them feel more
discontent than content?
There still exists in much of “Churchianity” far too much emphasis
upon numbers and church growth. I’m not against numbers or
church growth, but I am against anything that makes pastors feel like
they don’t measure up, like they are unappreciated, unnoticed, like
they don’t count solely because their church is small.
Certainly it would be wrong to become complacent about
discipleship and bringing the name of Jesus to the lost, but could it
be just as wrong to not be content?
My dear friend, pursue contentedness without becoming
complacent. Reject those things that make you feel bad about
yourself or the size of your church. Ask the Father to give you
contentedness without complacency. Either contentedness is great
gain, as Paul says, or it’s not. I choose to believe Paul.
What are your thoughts?
Your friend,
Dave
upon numbers and church growth. I’m not against numbers or
church growth, but I am against anything that makes pastors feel like
they don’t measure up, like they are unappreciated, unnoticed, like
they don’t count solely because their church is small.
Certainly it would be wrong to become complacent about
discipleship and bringing the name of Jesus to the lost, but could it
be just as wrong to not be content?
My dear friend, pursue contentedness without becoming
complacent. Reject those things that make you feel bad about
yourself or the size of your church. Ask the Father to give you
contentedness without complacency. Either contentedness is great
gain, as Paul says, or it’s not. I choose to believe Paul.
What are your thoughts?
Your friend,
Dave