What Makes Small Churches Great Churches: Part 4: Joy

This is the fifth article in the series on the importance of small churches. The previous articles are:

The Introduction (an overview and rationale for the series)
Part 1: Truth (an overview and rationale for the series)
Part 2: Mature Love (the imperative of having a loving fellowship)
Part 3: Unity (the importance of unity)


To some, visible demonstrations of joy require having contemporary music, praise bands, projection screens, near professional singers, and a sound system that “raises the roof.” No doubt joy has an outward expression and large congregations have the financial resources to enhance their worship experience to foster a celebrative atmosphere, but joy took place long before praise bands and American Idol. Small churches make great places to display joy. We must remember that rejoicing is not confined to a sanctuary during worship service times, but rather is a way of life in response to the love of God. Paul makes that clear with his exhortation to the Philippians to “rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice (4:4).”

Small churches are great churches when they rejoice in the Lord and the salvation He provides. Paul emphasizes the theme of joy throughout his short letter to the Philippians. Comparing his usage of the terms “joy” and “rejoice” reveals that in Romans the two terms appear seven times in his sixteen chapters and in Philippians they occur eleven times in four chapters. Paul wanted the Philippians to realize that an attitude of joy overcomes disagreements which allows them to fulfill their mission of advancing the gospel.

Throughout the letter of Philippians, Paul provides five foundations for joy in local congregations. Churches that rejoice in these foundations let the small irritations slide that come with knowing people for a long period of time. They allow Christians to unite as ministry partners to advance the gospel. Read more