Program: The Power of Little Things

 The Power of Little Things

Materials: Food colouring, glass of water, box, pencils/pens, slips of paper

 

Song service

Welcome

Prayer-

Aim/motto/pledge/ song

Devotion 

Gem- Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Special music

Main feature

A story about small things

There was a little girl and her dad that lived in Africa. One day while on a journey, the little girl had her dad stop by the road. They saw a momma lion that had been killed and a baby lion trying to nurse from the corpse of the momma lion. The little girl loved the newborn baby lion. She begged her dad, Please let me keep the baby lion. She promised to feed it and take good care of the baby. She loved the lion.

The dad said, NO! You can’t keep the baby lion, we will take it to the refuge and leave it there!

The man’s daughter cried and cried, but please daddy, she wanted the baby lion all for herself.

The little girl refused to eat until the daddy let her keep the baby lion.

Finally, the dad gave in to his beautiful, little daughter. They hid the baby lion in the car and took it home and fed it.

The daughter was so happy, she just loved her daddy for letting her have the baby lion as her own personal pet.

The baby lion slept in the bedroom with the little girl. She would wake up at night and feed the little lion. The girl rushed home from school to love and care for the baby lion.

Soon the lion started growing, and the girl grew also. They were inseparable friends. They played and did all kinds of tricks to impress others. The girl would pet the lion until it purred. The girl fed the lion, gave it baths, and carefully loved and cared for the lion.

The dad started accepting the lion as part of the family. In time, they would play really rough together. This play developed rougher and rougher.

One day the dad was gone on a business trip,

and the teenage girl was playing with the 650 pound lion in the back yard. The lion knocked the teenage girl down to the ground, it accidentally scratched her. When the lion smelled her blood, he attacked her and killed her.

The dad called home and there was no answer.

So, he quickly returned home. His precious daughter was not in the house. He ran into the back yard, there was blood everywhere.

The lion was covered with blood and laying next to what remained of his beautiful daughter’s body.

You can blame the lion if you want, but the wild nature in the heart of the lion came to the surface in the action that destroyed the girl’s life. It all returns to the call to bring the lion into the man’s home as a pet. See, the man had made a poor choice years before. It was just a little innocent choice at the time.  We must learn to see that small choices can have large consequences.

The Power of Little Words

A single match, no bigger than your finger, can reduce an entire forest to ash. In 1988, a carelessly discarded cigarette sparked the Yellowstone fires that consumed over 793,000 acres. What began as something so small it could be snuffed out with a thumb became an inferno that raged for months.

Our words carry similar power. Like that tiny flame, they may seem insignificant when they leave our lips, but they can ignite consequences far beyond what we imagine.

Consider the butterfly effect in chaos theory—how a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil might set off a tornado in Texas. Our casual comments work much the same way. A thoughtless remark about someone's appearance at the supermarket can travel through social circles, morphing and amplifying until it becomes a reputation-destroying rumor. A parent's frustrated outburst during a stressful moment can echo in their child's mind for decades.

The poet Maya Angelou once said that people will forget what you did and what you said, but they'll never forget how you made them feel. Yet how often do we pause to consider the emotional weather system we're creating with our words?

Jesus said, “Every idle word” — every little word — “that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36). They can take only a few milliseconds to say, but the effect of words can last forever.

Arsenic is lethal not because of a single massive dose, but through small, seemingly harmless amounts consumed over time. Critical words work similarly. It's rarely one devastating comment that breaks someone's spirit—it's the accumulation of countless small cuts: "You're too sensitive," "That's not very smart," "You'll never change," "Why can't you be more like..."

These phrases, tossed off without thought, become the internal soundtrack of self-doubt that plays in someone's mind long after we've forgotten we said them.

 In James 3:5, we learn, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” (NKJV). The tongue is a very small part of our body when compared to something like our heart. But it can create problems as bad as a heart attack if we’re not careful with how we use it.

Of course, the opposite is also true. Just as words can wound, they possess extraordinary power to heal. A teacher's encouraging note on a struggling student's paper can restore self confidence. A manager's recognition of an employee's effort during a difficult project can restore motivation. A friend's timely "I believe in you" can pull someone back from the edge of giving up.

The same mouth that can destroy can also create. The same tongue that tears down can build up. Little words can make an incredible difference.

Centuries ago, wise teachers understood this principle. They knew that the tongue, though small, steers the entire ship of human relationships. They recognized that death and life are in the power of the tongue—not metaphorically, but literally. Words can kill dreams, aspirations, and hope. They can also resurrect them.

In our age of instant communication—texts, tweets, comments, and quick responses—the need for thoughtful speech has never been greater. Before we speak or type, we might ask ourselves:

• Is it true?

• Is it necessary?

• Is it kind?

• Will it build up or tear down?

• How would I feel receiving these words?

Every morning, we wake up with the power to be either a source of light or shadow in someone's day. We can choose to be the voice that says "you matter" or the one that whispers "you're not enough." We can offer the words that lift spirits or the ones that crush them.

 The Bible says, “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3 NKJV). The choice is ours, word by word, conversation by conversation.

In a world where so much seems beyond our control, our words remain one area where we hold complete sovereignty. Let us use that power wisely, remembering that the smallest spark can start the greatest fire—whether that fire destroys or illuminates is entirely up to us. Ask the Holy Spirit to help. Just like when you are about to run out of gas and your warning light flashes on your dashboard, God’s Spirit will step in and give you pause to reconsider what you are about to say.

The Power of Little Time

Time is one of the most valuable gifts God has given us, and yet it’s also one of the easiest to waste. A few minutes here, a few hours there — and suddenly, days, months, even years slip away. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” In other words, wise living begins with valuing time.

Think of Olympic athletes. The difference between a gold medal and no medal at all often comes down to hundredths of a second. A fraction of time can change the outcome of a race. If time matters so much on a track, how much more does it matter in eternity?

History gives us a vivid example. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was known for carefully structuring his day into 15-minute intervals. He believed wasting even a quarter of an hour was dishonoring to God. His discipline allowed him to preach more than 40,000 sermons in his lifetime and change the spiritual history of England. It wasn’t magic or talent alone — it was a wise use of little moments.

And the opposite is also true. Ecclesiastes 10:18 warns, “Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.” When we waste little bits of time, the “house” of our life starts to fall apart. It doesn’t happen in a day — but little by little, wasted hours become wasted years.

Discussion: In our contemporary context, what constitutes the squandering of our precious hours?

Even Jesus highlighted this principle. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His disciples to watch and pray for just one hour (Matthew 26:40). They fell asleep, and in missing that little time, they missed a chance to gain strength for the trials ahead.

So how important is a little time?

• A minute of prayer can calm an anxious heart.
  
  

• Five minutes in Scripture can plant a truth that carries you through the day.
  
  

• A short moment of kindness can change someone’s eternity.
  
  

A little time, when given to God, is never wasted. It becomes an investment into eternity.

The Power of a Little Speck

One tiny speck can change everything. A speck of dust in your eye will bring your whole body to a halt until it is removed. That’s the power of something small in the wrong place. In Galatians 5:9 Paul writes, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Just a pinch of yeast transforms the entire dough. That’s the power of a speck — it spreads.

Object Lesson:

Put a drop of food coloring into a glass of clear water. Show how one little drop spreads throughout, changing everything.

History reminds us that in 1665, London was devastated by the bubonic plague. The culprit? Fleas carried by rats. Tiny, almost invisible, yet the result was catastrophic. Over 100,000 lives were lost, not because of lions or swords, but because of something so small it could barely be seen.

Sometimes we’ll see a little speck in someone else’s eye and we can’t enjoy anything else. We don’t see anything wrong with ourselves because we’re so preoccupied with their little slight and we’re consumed with criticism. Jesus had something to say about this.

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:41, 42 NKJV).

The irony is profound. We strain to see a splinter in someone else's vision while a wooden beam obstructs our own. We critique our spouse's tone while ignoring our own harsh words. We judge a friend's priorities while neglecting our own responsibilities. We point out others' inconsistencies while blind to our own contradictions. The Pharisees exemplified this mindset. They could find fault with Jesus feeding the hungry because He did it on the Sabbath. They criticized Him for eating with sinners while missing the miracle of transformed lives. Their microscopic focus on rule-keeping blinded them to the magnificent revelation of God's love standing before them.

Choosing to overlook rather than magnify doesn't mean we become doormats or ignore genuine issues that need addressing. Rather, it means we refuse to allow small irritations to become giant obstacles to peace and relationship. 

Before we rush to correct the speck in our brother's eye, wisdom calls us to honest self-reflection: 

· Am I perfect in this area? "Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone" (John 8:7, NKJV) · What beam might be obscuring my own vision? Pride, unforgiveness, selfishness, impatience? 

· Am I showing the same grace I hope to receive? "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7, NKJV) 

· Is this worth sacrificing peace and relationship? "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18, NKJV) 

When we release our grip on others' small failings, we discover an unexpected freedom. Our emotional energy, previously spent hoarding complaints, becomes available for creativity, compassion, and connection. We begin to see people as God sees them i.e. works in progress deserving of patience and grace.

Thankfully, a speck can also be a blessing. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” The same God who warns us of little specks of corruption also tells us that a little speck of faith is enough to unlock His power.

So, the real question is: What kind of speck are we carrying? Is it a speck of compromise or a speck of faith? One spreads destruction, the other spreads hope. It only takes one.

The Power of a Little Humility

Humility doesn’t look powerful at first. In fact, it looks like weakness. Yet Scripture teaches us that God sees it differently: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:10).

Think about water. It always flows to the lowest place. That’s why valleys are fertile — water seeks humility. In the same way, God’s grace flows to the lowly. When we lower ourselves before Him, His blessing finds us.

History gives us an example in Abraham Lincoln. In spite of his authority, he was known for his gentle spirit. One story tells of Lincoln meeting a slave owner who mocked him, expecting retaliation. Instead, Lincoln treated him with respect, diffusing the man’s pride with quiet dignity. That humility didn’t make him weak — it made him strong enough to lead a nation through civil war.

Jesus Himself modeled humility. Philippians 2:8 says, “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” His humility brought us salvation.

It doesn’t take a grand gesture to show humility. A little apology, a little patience, a little willingness to serve — these little acts can open the way for God’s big blessings.

Those who view themselves with an attitude of humility are those that God can do the most through. Gideon said, “Lord, how can you use me? I am the least in my father’s house.” David said, “I’m the least, just a shepherd boy.” Paul said, “I am the least of the apostles.” That’s why God could do so much through them, because they saw how little they were next to Him. 

Activity:

Invite members  to write one act of humble service they can do this week (e.g., listening without interrupting, doing a kind act without being asked). Place slips in a “seed box” and encourage them to plant that humility into action.

The Danger of Little Sins

We often excuse “little sins.” We call them “white lies,” “small cheats,” or “just a little gossip.” But Scripture warns us about “little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song of Solomon 2:15). It’s not always the lion that destroys the vineyard, but the little foxes that sneak in unnoticed.

History has examples of this truth. The Titanic was not sunk by the massive iceberg everyone saw, but by the series of small decisions ignored: sailing too fast, skipping safety drills, and overlooking iceberg warnings. The “little things” added up to one of history’s greatest tragedies.

In the same way, a little compromise today can shipwreck our spiritual life tomorrow. One small act of dishonesty at work may grow into a lifestyle of deceit. One moment of unchecked anger can lead to broken families. Little sins don’t stay little. Small sins, left unchecked, grow into physical and spiritual destruction.

Proverbs 6:10–11 warns, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.” Notice that word again — little. What seems small today grows into spiritual bankruptcy tomorrow.

Neglecting faithfulness in the little things can lead to big trouble. As much as David brought down a giant with something little, a small indiscretion — a lingering lustful look — turned into adultery, deception, and even murder. He lost four of his sons and nearly the kingdom over something that started with a little look at Bathsheba taking a bath.

Yet I sense a trend in today’s churches to ignore the little details of Christian faithfulness. When someone identifies “little sins,” he or she is often accused of being petty or legalistic. Some churchgoing men say, “It’s just a look. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re just window shopping.” But the Bible says it can, and often will, turn into something much bigger. We know that addiction to pornography begins with just a little ad and addiction to drugs begins with just a little sample.

The Christian writer E.G. White puts it this way: “It is one of Satan’s most successful devices, to lead men to the commission of little sins, to blind the mind to the danger of little indulgences, little digressions from the plainly stated requirements of God. Many who would shrink with horror from some great transgression, are led to look upon sin in little matters as of trifling consequence. But those little sins eat out the life of godliness in the soul” (Review & Herald, November 8, 1887).

We need to understand the danger of “little” sins. Many Christians are going through life without recognizing how lethal they can be to our walk with Christ and, ultimately, to our very salvation. That’s why Jesus calls us to confess and forsake even the smallest sins. He knows that what starts as a spark can soon become a consuming fire. The danger of little sins is that they don’t stay little.

Don’t Mock at Sin

If your doctor said, “You’ve just got a little bit of leprosy, so don’t worry,” you’d probably start worrying and look for another doctor. You probably wouldn’t be too happy with him if he called your case of leprosy “just a touch of poison oak” either. But that’s something like what Christians are hearing today from many churches.

We have lost an appreciation for the work of Christ. We have downplayed sins with pithy jokes. We say, “Boy, I ate way too much at potluck. It was so good, I couldn’t stop myself.” I know it’s a simple joke, but it illustrates something important. Why do we overlook gluttony so easily? Likewise, instead of lying, we “exaggerate.” We don’t have dirty thoughts; we just “daydream.” We don’t abuse our spouses; we just have “heated disagreements.” We’re not prideful; we’re just “confident.” We’re not greedy; we’re just “motivated.” And we’re not lost; we’re just “experimenting with the world.”

It needs to stop. “Little sins” is an oxymoron, a total contradiction in terms.

When we think about the death of Christ for the sins of the world, is there even really such a thing as a “little” sin?

“Fools mock at sin” (Proverbs 14:9). Yet sin has led to the death of billions of people. Why do we treat some sins as if they were nothing? Well, Eve just ate a little piece of fruit, and look what happened! Yes, there are varying degrees of sin. But even a little sin can manifest a huge rebellion against the Lord. Just like a little faith can relocate those sins into the depths of the sea.

Closing Thought:

We’ve seen the power of little words, the power of a little time, the power of a little speck, the power of a little humility, and the danger of little sins. And what’s the common thread? Little things are never really little.

Jesus Himself said in Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” In other words, the way we handle the little things reveals how we will handle the big things.

Think about it:

• A little word can heal a broken spirit or wound a friend.
  
  

• A little time invested daily in prayer can transform an ordinary life into one filled with power.
  
  

• A little speck of faith can move mountains, while a little speck of compromise can poison the soul.
  
  

• A little humility can lift us higher than pride ever could.
  
  

• And a little sin, if left unchecked, can destroy what we’ve built.

When you add them all up, the message is simple: the little things matter. Mountains are built one grain of sand at a time. Rivers are formed by drops of rain. A life is shaped by small choices, repeated daily.

So this evening, God isn’t asking you for something grand, impossible, or out of reach. He’s simply asking: Will you be faithful in the little things? Because when we place the small into His hands, He can do something far greater than we could imagine. And one day, may each of us hear those words from our Lord: 

"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21, NKJV).