In recent years, our family has been part of a large church (about 1000 attending weekly) and now a small church of about 15 families. The dynamics of relationships in these two settings is interesting. One example is when a family in the church moves to a new house (in our same area, not across country). In the small church, an announcement is made inviting anyone who can help. In the large church, such a personal request for help would not be made to the entire group.
If folks in the large church do learn of the need, some close friends will come to help. If other acquaintances in the large church hear of the need, they will assume other close friends will help and will not likely come. After all, they assume that if all 1000 folks came, the response would overwhelm the situation so they don't respond. Church attenders that don't know the family in need will very likely not respond or give it a second thought.
In the small church, all hear of the need. Even mere acquaintances of the family in need will likely come since they know there's not a lot of other folks to help out. Even strangers to that family will know others in the church and will know they are responding. They will come help since they are familiar with at least one other who will respond. In this way, newcomers quickly form relationships with many other families in the church as they spend the day on a worthy project. Existing relationships are strengthened further and new relationships are begun.
I've seen this in our small fellowship. When someone asks for help on moving day, at least 8 of our 15 families will respond. Everyone who doesn't have a schedule conflict will be there, not out of duty but from the joy of being together and helping a family. Usually there are so many men and boys involved that there is a line of men outside the moving van waiting to load furniture or a box. Logjams at doorways are frequent. Some who come a little late are amazed that the truck is half loaded and the work is almost finished. The ladies help pack/unpack, direct traffic, keep little ones out of the way, and make lunch.
In a large church, a family will get help from close friends and family and it is a joyful thing for those involved. But the feeling is different with a small church - the whole church is involved and you can feel the strength of the kingdom of God. You see a body working together. Not only is a family moved, but the kingdom of God is somehow mysteriously advancing right before your eyes. Somehow Jesus has taken the "little" that the smaller group has to offer and multiplied it 100-fold and there is plenty to spare.
