Andrew Hillier – message outline, Village Church, Devonport, 5th January, 2025
As we step into a new year, many of us dream big—setting ambitious goals, imagining larger achievements, and striving for visible success. Our culture often equates significance with scale: bigger projects, broader influence, and faster results. But while dreaming big is natural, this constant pursuit of “more” can distract us from the power of small, faithful steps.
As we reflect today on being faithful in the small and trusting God with the growth, let’s take a moment to invite Him to speak into our hearts.
Opening Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for this new year, full of opportunities to walk faithfully with You. Open our hearts today to see the beauty and importance of the small things in our lives. Help us to trust You with the seeds we plant and to build a foundation rooted in Your love. May Your Spirit guide us as we hear Your Word, and may our lives reflect Your Kingdom in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
True transformation—whether in our faith, relationships, or community—rarely comes from grand gestures or instant change. Instead, it’s a process of steady, faithful action over time. This is the challenge for 2025: to embrace the small, trusting that God will use it to do something extraordinary.
The world is obsessed with quick fixes: crash diets, viral fame, overnight wealth, or instant career success. But Scripture teaches us that God’s Kingdom begins with small, unassuming seeds—seeds that grow into something enduring and beautiful. Today, we’ll reflect on this truth through three key principles:
- Faithfulness in the small.
- Trusting God to grow the seeds we plant.
- Building a lasting foundation in Christ.
Let’s begin by grounding ourselves in several passages of scripture, starting with Luke 16:10.
1. Faithful in the Small
Key Passage: Luke 16:10
“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.”
I want to focus on Luke 16:10, a key piece of scripture with profound lessons for us. For context, this teaching follows closely after the Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15, where Jesus highlights God’s heart for faithfulness, stewardship, and using resources with an eternal perspective.
In addressing His disciples, Jesus was preparing them for the weight of their calling as His followers and future leaders of His kingdom mission. They were entrusted not only with the gospel message but also with their own lives and resources, which were to reflect God’s values.
In Luke 16:10-12, Jesus introduces the “Faithfulness Principle,” teaching that those who can be trusted with little can also be trusted with much, while those careless with small things won’t be entrusted with greater responsibilities. He emphasises that even the smallest, everyday moments—how we handle money, time, or relationships—are sacred opportunities to demonstrate faithfulness. These seemingly small acts reflect the substance of our faith and prepare us for the eternal riches and responsibilities of His kingdom. Nothing is insignificant to God; every act of love and stewardship shapes our destiny and equips us for the greater role He has prepared for us in His eternal plan.
In a world that prizes visibility and big wins, it’s easy to overlook the significance of small, daily acts of obedience:
- Praying with someone in need.
- Offering kindness to someone who feels unseen.
- Stewarding resources wisely, even when no one notices.
- Showing up consistently for others, building trust and connection.
These small actions may feel insignificant, but they’re training grounds for greater opportunities. They’re also moments where God’s Spirit can move powerfully.
Illustration: Think about David. Before he became king, he was a shepherd, faithfully tending sheep. That unseen obedience prepared him to lead a nation. Faithfulness in the small prepared him for the big.
(personal story also shared as part of service)
Reflection: What “small things” has God placed in your life right now? Are you treating them as opportunities for growth or dismissing them as insignificant?
2. Out of Small Things, Big Things Grow
Key Passage: Matthew 13:31-32
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Jesus uses the mustard seed to teach us a profound truth: big outcomes often start with small beginnings. The Kingdom of Heaven itself began with a few faithful followers—ordinary men and women who planted seeds of faith, love, and obedience.
Illustration:
I recently came across a book titled Small is Beautiful by a radical economist, E.F. Schumacher. In this book, Schumacher challenges the modern obsession with “bigger is better” and argues for the value of small, sustainable, and thoughtful solutions to big problems. His insights are surprisingly relevant to our faith journey.
At a conference where Schumacher once shared thoughts from his book, he used a simple but powerful illustration:
“Think about a plane landing. The wheel of the landing gear is small, almost insignificant compared to the size of the entire aircraft. But without it, the plane couldn’t touch down safely. That small component plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of the entire flight.”
In the same way, small actions—often unseen and overlooked—can have an enormous impact. They may seem insignificant at the moment, but God can use them to accomplish something far greater than we imagine.
Reflection: What seeds of faith, love, or service can you plant this year? Trust that even the smallest act can have ripple effects far beyond what you can imagine.
3. Building a Foundation That Lasts
Key Passage: Matthew 25:40
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Jesus must be the foundation of our lives. But a foundation isn’t built overnight—it’s laid one layer at a time. Building something that lasts requires patience and consistency.
Key Truths for a Lasting Foundation:
- Daily Faithfulness: Like a tree that grows slowly but steadily, our faith deepens through small, daily practices—prayer, Scripture reading, and acts of love.
- Focus on Relationships: Investing in people, especially the “least of these,” reflects Christ’s love and builds a Kingdom foundation.
- Trust God with the Results: We may not always see the outcome of our efforts, but when we commit our work to God, He ensures it will endure.
Illustration: I began my working life as a carpenter joiner / builder so I understand the process of building a house. If you skip steps—like laying a solid foundation—the structure won’t last. The same is true in our faith and lives. The small, unseen work we do today creates a foundation that can bear the weight of God’s plans for tomorrow.
Wrap-Up and Challenge
As we embrace this new year, let’s shift our focus from grand resolutions to small, faithful steps:
- Be present in your daily moments.
- Plant seeds of kindness, generosity, and faith.
- Build a foundation rooted in Christ that will stand the test of time.
Challenge: This week, identify one small, intentional act of faithfulness you can commit to. It could be praying for someone, writing a note of encouragement, or serving in an unseen way. Trust that God will use it to create something extraordinary.
Closing Prayer
Lord, as we step into 2025, help us to see the value in the small things. Teach us to be faithful in the little, to plant seeds of love and kindness, and to trust You with the growth. May we build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ, knowing that out of little things, You grow something eternal. In Jesus’ name, Amen.