The Small-Church Pastor reads fast, but you will want to slow down as Steve Bierly seems to reveal firsthand knowledge of your church, your committee meetings, and your true feelings about the church under your care.
Any step forward is a step in the right direction.
Just as parents rejoice at each bit of growth they see in their young child, we should praise God for each small step the church makes. We are to consider ourselves missionaries in the foreign world of the small church, Bierly says, taking along no preconceptions of what the church should look like in our particular setting, and spending time learning the unique culture of our church. They also work to maintain their traditions, so attempting to make changes too quickly or changes that are too drastic can end in failure, mistrust, or even a moving van. Instead, the pastor is supposed to work with the family to find solutions that seem reasonable to everyone. He also brings up the darker reality of the minister who fights the church, seeing them as the enemy to growth, career, and accomplishment.