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May 18, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Little Church That Could, by Larry Davies
Do you remember the famous children's book: "The Little Engine that
Could"? A train full of toy animals, dolls and every kind of thing boys
or girls could want was stranded and could not get over the mountain to
the village of children on the other side. What would they do?
A shiny new engine, asked by the dolls and toys to help, replied, "I
pull the likes of you? I am a passenger engine. Indeed not!"
A big engine, stopped by the toy clown waving a flag, said, "I am a
freight engine. I am a very important engine indeed. I won't pull the
likes of you!"
A rusty old engine replied: "I am so tired. I must rest. I can not. I
can not. I can not."
A very little engine was asked next by the dolls and toys and saw the
tears in their eyes before replying, "I'm not very big, but I think I
can. I think I can. I think I can." "Puff, puff, chug, chug, went the
Little Blue Engine. 'I think I can -- I think I can -- I think I can --
I think I can -- I think I can -- I think I can -- I think I can.'"
We all know the ending of the story. "'Hurray, hurray,' cried the funny
little clown and all the dolls and toys. 'The good little boys and
girls in the city will be happy because you helped us, kind, little
blue engine.' And the little blue engine smiled and seemed to say as
she puffed steadily down the mountain. 'I thought I could. I thought I
could. I thought I could. I thought I could.'"
There are plenty of churches who behave much as the engines in the
story. There are people all around who desperately need to hear the
hope only God's church can offer. What would they do?
There is the shiny new church that says to people in need: "I'm too
busy paying for my new building! I cannot help you."
There are large mega churches who reply: "I'm too busy with my own
ministries. I cannot."
Then, there are far too many established churches caught up in their
own struggle to simply pay the bills who say: "I'm too tired and
discouraged to help you!"
With God's help, we thought we could!
There was one very little church, however, which had once been vibrant
and full of life, but was now struggling. On a typical Sunday morning
there would only be ten or twelve people but they prayed about the
needs of their community and two from their church joined a year-long
intensive Bible study. During one class both people felt the need to
open their very little church to an after-school ministry for local
school children: "With God's help," they said, "I think I can -- I
think I can -- I think I can?"
Within a few weeks, thirty children were being dropped off at the same,
very little church where they would be greeted with cookies and begin
an hour and a half of fun, music, games and a Bible study. Over the
next few months and years, some of those children along with their
parents began attending this same little church. "With God's help: I
think I can -- I think I can -- I think I can."
One man in the same community had a heart attack and nearly died. While
in the hospital, he made a vow to serve God more faithfully and come to
this same very little church. Another man, discouraged with church life
brings his whole family looking for a fresh start. Both men become a
source of inspiration and motivation for others. "With God's help: I
think I can -- I think I can -- I think I can!"
A new year-long Bible study is started, but this time the very little
church now has its own class full of people who are looking for answers
and seeking ways to serve God. One woman in the class persuades her
whole family into joining the Bible study, while another woman begins
teaching youth in the Sunday school. A couple living together repents
and asks to be married in the same little church. "With God's help: I
think I can -- I think I can -- I think I can!!" "Hurray, hurray,"
cries this preacher and people everywhere as this very little church,
now much bigger should be smiling as she puffs steadily on in service
of God.
And God replies: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
The little church says: "With God's help, we thought we could -- we
thought we could -- we thought we could!!" With God's help, you can
too!
---------
(c) 2008 Larry Davies < LarryDavies@SowingSeedsofFaith.com>,
Sowing Seeds of Faith <http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com>.
RELATED LINKS:
* Time to Build
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200301/20030130_build.html
* The Role of Vision in the Church
http://www.heartlight.org/hope/hope_980513_vision.html
* Reconstruction
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200003/20000324_reconstruction.html
* Sowing Seeds of Faith
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200805/20080518_churchcould.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SEE THE MORNING, by Chris Tomlin
Award-winning artist Tomlin offers a whole new set of soul-inspiring
easy-to-sing songs about God's faithfulness.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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