The Quiet Strength of the Small Church

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by Bart Denny “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” — Revelation 3:8 (NIV) I have wrestled with a quiet burden that many pastors know all too well—even if they rarely say it out loud. If I’m doing this right… shouldn’t the church be exploding in growth? I’ve poured myself into small congregations with love, prayer, and the Word—only to measure progress in single digits, not surging crowds. For a long time, I wondered if that meant I was failing. But slowly, God has reoriented my heart. He’s shown me that the small churches I’ve pastored aren’t signs of weakness—they’re signs of His unique calling on my life. The roles I’ve held, the communities I’ve served, the saints I’ve shepherded—they aren’t consolation prizes. They’re my assignment from God Himself. And if you’re serving or worshiping in a small church, you need to hear this clearly: You are not less-than. You are not broken. You are not abnormal. You are ess...
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From Ritual to Revival: Learning to Pray Like Jesus

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by Bart Denny

Let’s be honest—prayer can sometimes feel like following bad GPS directions.

You start with good intentions, maybe even a few familiar phrases. But somewhere along the way, it gets repetitive, dry, or just awkward. Like winding up in a cornfield when you were supposed to be on Elm Street, you’re left wondering, “How did I end up here?”

If that’s you, you’re not alone. And you’re not without a roadmap.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He didn’t give them a lecture. He gave them a model. What we now call The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just something to recite—it’s a pattern that leads us from routine to relationship, and from ritual to revival.

In Matthew 6:5–13, Jesus doesn’t just teach us what to say. He shows us how to pray—with reverence, with relationship, and with purpose.

Pray with Reverence — Honor God’s Presence

Jesus begins with a warning—not against public prayer, but against performative prayer. The kind that’s more about impressing people than connecting with God.

“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen… Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matt. 6:6)

Prayer isn’t a stage. It’s a sanctuary. And the reward? It’s not applause. It’s presence.

When we pray, we’re entering into sacred space with a holy God. That’s why Jesus teaches us to begin with:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Before we bring our requests, we bring our worship. We pause. We remember who we’re talking to—the Creator of all things, holy and good.

Pray with Relationship — Trust God as Father

It’s stunning that Jesus calls God “Father”—and then invites us to do the same. To His first-century audience, that kind of intimacy was revolutionary.

“The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15)

When we pray, we don’t come to a distant deity—we come to our Abba. Our Dad. With trust. With belonging. With open hearts.

Pray with Purpose — Align with God’s Kingdom

Jesus shifts the focus of prayer outward:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

Prayer isn’t about getting God to bless our agenda. It’s about surrendering to His. It’s about being reshaped, redirected, and aligned with a Kingdom bigger than ourselves.

From asking for daily provision to seeking forgiveness and spiritual protection, every line of the Lord’s Prayer pulls us out of self-centeredness and into Kingdom-centeredness.

The Prayer That Shapes Us

Jesus didn’t give us this prayer to check a box. He gave it to form us. To mold our hearts. To make us disciples in conversation with our God.

When we pray like this, our desires begin to align with His. Our hearts begin to beat in sync with heaven. And God moves.

Let’s Pray Differently

What if we stopped praying small, safe prayers and started praying bold, kingdom-focused prayers that invited a disruptive move of God in our lives? Let's:

  • Pray for revival.
  • Pray for the lost.
  • Pray for the next generation.
  • Pray for a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit.

Let’s stop settling for ritual. Let’s return to real relationship with a holy God. Let’s embrace the Way We Pray—Jesus’ way.

Challenge of the Week

This week, take five minutes each morning to slowly pray through the Lord’s Prayer. Pause after each line. Reflect. Personalize it. Write down anything God places on your heart. And let the rhythm of Jesus’ words guide your time with the Father.

Let’s not forget how to depend on God.

Let’s become a people of prayer—not just in words, but in power.

About the Author: Bart Denny currently serves as lead pastor of Pathway - A Wesleyan Church in his hometown of Saranac, Michigan. He is a retired U.S. naval officer whose career started in the enlisted ranks on submarines and culminated in command of a warship. He holds a Ph.D. in Christian Leadership, with dissertation research focused on revitalizing small churches. Bart has served as a staff pastor, lead pastor, church consultant, seminary instructor, and mentor to emerging leaders, helping local churches reclaim their mission through prayer, preaching, and Christ-centered leadership.

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All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

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