Churches often begin talking about change when they become afraid of dying. They see declining attendance and tired volunteers. They know their budgets are strained, and that younger generations are missing. So, we look for the silver bullet: a new program, a new worship service, a new staff position, or a better communication strategy.
But I'm convinced the question of “How do we keep our church going?” is nowhere near as important as “Where is God already at work, and how are we being sent to join in?”
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples hiding behind locked doors. They were afraid, but Jesus did not give them a plan for protecting themselves. He said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
That's a reminder that the church was never meant to survive behind locked doors. It was breathed into life and sent into the world.
That means our programs, traditions, and structures are tools, not the gospel itself. Some tools serve God’s mission for a season. Others eventually need to be repaired, replaced, or retired. Faithfulness is not keeping everything exactly as it has always been, but remaining open to wherever the Spirit sends us next.
Paul reminds us, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Thankfully, we do not manufacture the church’s future. We plant. We water. We listen. We experiment. And we trust God with the growth.
I'm hopeful that more and more of us in the church realize we don't need a silver bullet. We need open doors, attentive hearts, and faith to follow the living Christ into the neighborhood.
No matter what, the church is going to change. What we decide is whether our changes will be driven by fear or shaped by love, prayer, and God’s mission.
Stay blessed...john
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