Derived from reported research findings, non-research writings, and personal observations and experiences relative to health services, this paper focuses on the small rural community, suggesting research hypotheses and community planning possibilities. Specifically, this paper: (1) outlines five frequently expected functions/outcomes of community health services (improved health status; provision of primary care; security of care; medical-legal functions; and community development); (2) identifies five types of resources useful in achieving health outcomes (health manpower; health facilities; health habits/lifestyles; environment; and genetic stock of the population); (3) discusses the relationship between functions and resources and the sources of differing expectations re: that relationship (a chart is presented identifying such relationships as empirically verified or logically expected, questionable, or nonrelevant, NR). Improved health status is correlated with all resources but physicians and facilities (labeled questionable); primary care provision is correlated with all resources but heredity (labeled NR); security of care is correlated with all but health habits, environment, and heredity (labeled NR); medical-legal functions are correlated only with physicians (all other resources labeled NR); community development functions are correlated with all resources except lifestyle and heredity (labeled NR). (JC)