"Look for Your Mini-Flock!"

Did you hear about the skunk who went to church? He had his own pew! I know, I hear some of your sighing, “That’s not even funny!” Blame this bad joke on my desperate attempts to surf online for something lighthearted about church pews. How about this? What do you get when you cross a shark with a skunk? The answer is - as far as way as possible! But that’s not my goal!

Image: adobe.stock.com

On a serious note, I have been trying to get folks to sit in the same pew each Lord’s Day. And if the church uses individual chairs, I’m encouraging folks to sit in the same area. I recently made this audacious remark from the pulpit during our traditional service, “These are my people!”  I said this as I pointed to where my wife was sitting with a group of Sunday morning friends, and then added, “That’s the pew we are purchasing!”

I have been emboldened by this suggestion to sit in a certain proximity because of a dear couple in our church who modeled this for years. And it paid dividends in building community! These sweet people were able to befriend, connect at a deeper level, and care for others by sitting together. If they noticed that “their people” were absent for a Sunday, they would move toward them the next time to ask why. If they noticed a sniffle, limp, or detected an issue, they were ready to pray in that moment about that perceived need. Their concern built lasting friendships!

Several years ago, when I was doing doctoral studies at Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, I took a seminar in biblical application with Dr. Dan Dorini. Professor Dorini is a gifted scholar-practitioner and author who is popular with the students, his denomination, and in great demand serving as interim pastor in large city churches. 

In a recent article for The Gospel Coalition, Dr. Dorini was asked this question, “What is the best piece of advice or word of exhortation would you give to a new elder?” This was his answer… “Come to church 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes late, praying for divine appointments with our people. When you step into the building look for (1) your mini-flock and (2) people you don’t know. People who won’t answer a call, text, or email will talk to you when they see you.”

I have been practicing this approach to help make our large church seem smaller. Some of us are frustrated by the limited time that a Sunday morning service can give to the welcome time or the “passing the peace” break. When we come early, stay late, and sit in the same area, we can develop a deeper interaction with others. The goal is to create friendship relations that extend caring concern while keeping up with others. It is amazing how much life we can do together in these preservice and after service times of connection!

There is a vivid account of a divine appointment in the Book of Acts. The Disciples selected Philip to serve as one of the early deacons (Acts 7), but he also had a larger calling in evangelism. On a later occasion, he received instruction from a heavenly messenger to “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26, NLT). This is where he would meet an Ethiopian official who would respond to Philip’s witness and be baptized into the faith. All because of the Holy Spirit’s prompting!

I have had some similar promptings recently and felt God’s leadership to follow through. Afterwards, all I could exclaim was that the results were a “God-thing!” It has reminded me that it wasn’t about me, but solely about what the Lord wanted to do through me. I know I have missed a lot of those promptings throughout my years of ministry, but I am trying these days to pray intentionally, listen carefully, and then act more boldly to move toward others when I sense God’s promptings.

Let’s turn our intuitive antennas toward caring opportunities that God gives us this week. And, as you seek out a seat in your worship center or sanctuary this Lord’s Day, be sure to “look around for your mini-flock” and connect with them!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2025 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

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