Is The Fellowship Breaking?

Matthew 4:8-10 (New International Version)
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me.""

I think Satan still tempts along this same line.  Oh, he's no longer tempting Christ, of course.  Now he is tempting the "little Christs," the Christians.  He still tempts those in leadership; those who are about to face a difficult test.  The words have changed a bit too.  Today, I think he presents this temptation like this:
"Again, the devil took him to a very high position and showed him all the people of the world.  "Your church is small," he said.  "All these people I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.""

The temptation to big-churchism.  Have we glorified the large church as the image of success?  How many times do we see that disapproving frown when a "big-churcher" finds out we attend a "little church."  Is a big church really successful?  Is a small one quite unsuccessful?  Could it be that the frown we see and the taunts we hear are reflections and echos of the tempter himself?

Where in the Bible are large churches glorified?  Where are they shown as the image of success?  Where are they even recommended?  Ahh, -- "and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." (Acts 2:41)  That's a pretty big church!  But it continues -- "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:46-47)   Hmm, pretty big houses to hold 3000+ people.  It seems the model here is smaller fellowships, as would be consistent with Hebrews 10:24-25: 

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

This appears to place Christianity in a social construct that requires interaction.  But this isn't just a social event.  These people are at the level of challenging and encouraging one another.  This is, by nature of men, a relatively small group.

We don't know the sizes of the churches Paul fathered, visited and wrote to.  Sure, some were quite large.  They were also listed by city.  The actual groups appear to have met in much smaller gatherings.  To write a letter to the church of Lexington would be to address a very large congregation indeed!

Are large churches inherently wrong?  No, I don't think so.  Many large churches have understood and applied the teaching of the Scriptures, working in smaller units that make up the larger church.

Are small churches inherently good?  By no means.  Many have lost their message, their passion, or their Savior, and have dwindled and died.

So what's the problem?  To focus on numbers is to lose focus on God.  I know of many "small" churches that are perfectly Biblical.  They remain small because they are senders!  I know of large churches that are perfectly Biblical.  They are large by remaining a conglomerate group, as well as smaller units.  I have seen all sizes that are not living up to the Good News they have been given.  The issue is not size; the standard is the Savior.

There is a temptation for those of a large church to look down on those of a small church, and say they must not be doing something right, or they would be big.  There is a temptation to make the goal "church growth," because size is the test of the church. 
There is a temptation to accept the offer of the devil, "All these people I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me."