Greg Nettle - Small matters: how churches and parents can raise up world-changing children

Greg and Jimmy are investing their lives in transforming a generation. Small Matters shows us how we can all make a world-changing difference in the lives of children.

Vince Antonucci, pastor, Verve Church; author, God for the Rest of Us

Jimmy and Greg weave together Scripture, research, and their experience to give you and me a remarkable tool that will change not just us but the kids we care about.

Kara Powell, executive director, Fuller Youth Institute

Greg and Jimmy have impacted hundreds of thousands of kids and families, and now they share powerful insights on how we can make a difference in our own corner of the world.

Jud Wilhite, senior pastor, Central Church; author, Pursued

Prepare to have your heart wrecked, your hope renewed, and your vision enlarged. Jimmy and Greg help us think small in order to do something big that matters.

Gene Appel, senior pastor, Eastside Christian Church

These are two of my favorite people writing on a topic so universal no one can disagree, but few have addressed with a fraction of the vigor and impact.

Pat Gelsinger, CEO, Vmware

Small Matters is a brilliant theological blueprint for how adults can train up the next generation to be world-changers of this generation! Read this book!

Albert Tate, lead pastor, Fellowship Monrovia

A must-read for everyone who is serious about seeing extreme poverty eliminated, communities transformed, and an entire generation of young people being given the hope of Jesus.

Tim Harlow, visionary leader, Parkview Christian Church; author, Life On Mission

Small Matters broadens the critical conversation needed to address what prevents todays children from thriving: we must reach those trapped by poverty and those held back by prosperity.

David Staal, president, Kids Hope USA

Greg and Jimmy not only help us to see why we must move kids from the edge to the center of our attention in our homes and churches, they show us how.

Ben Cachiaras, lead pastor, Mountain Christian Church

Greg and Jimmy are what my church calls hope traffickers. Even more, theyve perfected a model that is going viral. Its a movement none of us will want to say we missed.

Eddie Lowen, lead pastor, West Side Christian Church

In Small Matters, youll find how faith communities and families can partner to make sure the next generation is known more for its compassion than its consumption.

Reggie Joiner, founder and CEO, Orange

This book will remind us all about how much children matter to God and should matter to us. Jimmy and Greg are a great tag team for lifting children out of spiritual and physical poverty.

Dr. David Anderson, CEO, BridgeLeader Network; founder and senior pastor, Bridgeway Community Church

This brilliant message can change everything about the strategic place of children in the church and in the kingdom of God, where the little are big, and small matters.

Dr. Wess Stafford, president emeritus, Compassion International

When Jim and Greg have something to say on this and other issues, I listen and act. I encourage you to do the same. Our world and the kingdom will be the better for it.

Brian Tome, Crossroads Church

God is calling us to unleash biblically anchored, Christ-centered, world-changers. Grab this book and get the tools that will equip you to raise up world-changing children.

Craig Groeschel, senior pastor, Life Church

Other Books in the Exponential Series

AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church,
Hugh Halter and Matt Smay

Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a
Consumer Culture, Brandon Hatmaker

DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to
Make Disciples Who Make Disciples, Jim Putman
and Bobby Harrington with Robert E. Coleman

Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional
Church Movement, Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson

For the City: Proclaiming and Living Out the Gospel,
Matt Carter and Darren Patrick with Joel A. Lindsey

Its Personal: Surviving and Thriving on the Journey
of Church Planting, Brian Bloye and Amy Bloye

Missional Moves: 15 Tectonic Shifts That Transform Churches,
Communities, and the World, Rob Wegner and Jack Magruder

On the Verge: A Journey into the Apostolic Future
of the Church, Alan Hirsch and Dave Ferguson

Sifted: Pursuing Growth through Trials, Challenges,
and Disappointments, Wayne Cordeiro with
Francis Chan and Larry Osborne

Transformation: Discipleship That Turns Lives, Churches,
and the World Upside Down, Bob Roberts Jr.

(More titles forthcoming)

ZONDERVAN

Small Matters

Copyright 2016 by Greg Nettle and Compassion International, Inc.

Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition March 2016: ISBN 978-0-3105-2104-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Nettle, Greg, 1962- author.

Title: Small matters : how churches and parents can raise up world-changing children / Greg Nettle and Santiago Mellado.

Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2016. | Series: Exponential series | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015042926 | ISBN 9780310521037 (softcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Christian education of children. | ParentingReligious aspectsChristianity. | Child rearingReligious aspectsChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV1475.3 .N48 2016 | DDC 248.8/45dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015042926

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: DualIdentity
Cover photos: iStockPhoto, Lightstock, Compassion International
Interior design: Kait Lamphere

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 /DHV/ 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Greg:
To Sunshine (Tabitha) and Moonshadow (Elijah)the small matters who matter most in my life

Jimmy:
To my adventuresome father and compassionate mother, who travelled the world extending the love of Jesus to those in need

Contents

by John Ortberg