Week 4: Small Acts, Big Impact
Date: Saturday, March 28th
Scripture: Matthew 5:16
Focus: Connecting Power to Purpose.
The Bible Study
As we prepare for the Residential Conference in April, we look at our “Good Works.” These are our Small Acts. When Power (God’s light) meets Purpose (our service), people see the results and give glory to God.
The Prayer Narration
In preparing these weekly prayers, I have worked alongside our Co-Chair, Olive Ruzvidzo, who has shaped this spiritual roadmap for our Lenten journey. As we approach our Residential Conference, we focus on the powerful truth that Small Acts lead to Big Impacts. We do not stand alone; we are part of a long, luminous line of women who have gone before us, proving that when spiritual “Power” meets a dedicated “Purpose,” the world begins to change.
Consider the 1700s, an era when a woman’s voice was rarely heard in the public square. Yet we see Mary Bosanquet—a Preacher, Author, Theologian, and Philanthropist. These were monumental roles for a woman of her time. Mary did not just wait for permission; she held a divine Power and transformed it into a Purpose through her bold actions. By writing to John Wesley to advocate for women preachers, she sowed the seeds for the ministry we celebrate today. We also remember Susannah Wesley, whose “small act” was simply opening her kitchen at Epworth. By encouraging people to worship in the heart of her home, she created a sanctuary that nurtured the very foundations of Methodism.
This legacy of “Small Acts” is woven throughout our Scriptures. We think of Naomi and Ruth, whose loyalty in the midst of grief reshaped a lineage; Lydia, whose hospitality birthed a church; Esther, whose courage saved a nation; and Hannah and Miriam, whose prayers and songs echoed through generations. Each of these women used the power they possessed—whether it was a home, a voice, or a simple act of faithfulness—to fulfill a God-given purpose.
In our own time, we see this same spirit in our past Presidents and Co-Chairs of MWiB. We know women whose “small acts”—a letter of encouragement, a local fundraiser, or a quiet word of wisdom—have made a tremendous, lasting impact on the lives of others. They will be remembered because they stood in a position of Power and used it to serve a Purpose.
As an organization, we have so much to be thankful for. We belong to a movement that Empowers, Encourages, Equips, and Evangelizes. As we look toward the future and the women who will follow in our footsteps, let us commit to being lights in the darkness. Every “Small Act” we perform is a spark that ensures a brighter, better future for all.
Discussion
- What is a “Small Act” you’ve witnessed recently that gave light to someone else?
- How does the phrase “Where Power meets Purpose” change how you view your daily chores or church service?
Practical Activity
“As we move from ‘Awakening’ to ‘Activation,’ where does your heart lead you? Choose one Small Act to commit to this year: is it combatting social isolation, easing poverty, or improving digital literacy? Consider how your unique ‘Power’ can meet a specific ‘Purpose’ to create a ripple of change in your community.
- Which specific area of service feels like the most natural fit for the ‘Power’ or gifts you identified in Week 1?
- What is the very first step you can take this week to turn that ‘Purpose’ into a reality?”
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for Methodist Women in Britain and all that we strive to achieve through our actions, words, and deeds. May this time of Lent, as we reflect on your Word, lead to a time of joy at Easter—when we remember the sacrifice of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she saw her Son die on the cross so that we might have life in all its fullness to do your will. We thank you for those whose small acts have led to big impacts; may we go forth in the knowledge that you are with us in all we do, as our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.”
