Current Thoughts: Church Renewal

Church Renewal

We are entering a season when the pace in our churches stretches pastors thin. But it is also a time for us to think about and plan for the next year. Here are some challenges. Church renewal often comes up in my meetings with both ministers and laypersons. I have never heard anyone say “we don’t want renewal,” but I have often observed a sense of puzzlement and even despair about what to do. Sometimes resistance to doing those things that need to be done is evident.

Most of the time it feels like these faithful, concerned Christians are looking for a program that is sure to boost the vitality of their congregation. There is no such program—despite what you may hear about “Dr. Love’s Church Renewal Conference.” Church renewal is more difficult and more resource consuming than most people imagine. The good news is that God is able, and God has more than enough.

Given our Baptist polity, church renewal is especially difficult from a denominational perspective. There is no denominational authority by which a church or its leaders can be channeled or directed into renewal.

It is my personal conviction that there are five interrelated imperatives for churches that seek renewal. These become my challenge to you for 2003.

First, turn up the spiritual thermostat. A church is not a debate club, a philosophy soirée, a political action committee, or a social service agency. A church exists to connect people with God and with one another at the spiritual level. That is what reconciliation is all about.

How will you lead your church to be an incubator for the spiritual life? Will worship assume a spiritual climate? Will the practice of prayer and spiritual discernment invade every aspect of church life? In particular, how will you care for your own spiritual life? How will you become the “spiritual director” of your church?

Resources: Spiritual Leadership by Richard Blackaby and Henry Blackaby, published by Broadman & Holman; Concerts of Prayer by David Bryant, published by Regal; Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, published by Zondervan; Spiritual Formation for Pastors by Michael Gemignani, published by Judson Press; My Soul Thirsts by Steve Korch, published by Judson Press; A Spiritual Formation Workbook by James Smith, published by HarperSanFrancisco; The Essence of Spiritual Religion by Elton Trueblood, published by Harper & Row; The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard, published by HarperSanFrancisco.

Second, tell the story of Jesus. Jesus Christ is not optional to the Gospel of the Kingdom. Often we have forgotten, are confused about, or embarrassed by the story of Jesus. We need to tell it and tell it often. We need to tell it in all its mystery, its grace, and its offense.

How about preaching one of the Gospels from start to finish in 2003—focusing on who Jesus is and what Jesus did? How about forming study groups around the life and work of Jesus? How about studying how Jesus Christ continued to empower the church in Acts?

Resources: Christ the Center by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, published by HarperCollins; Mark’s Story of Jesus by Werner Kelber, published by Fortress; Encounters with the Living Christ by Robert Setzer, published by Judson Press; The Challenge of Jesus by N.T. Wright, published by Intervarsity; The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, published by HarperCollins.

Third, elevate the teaching task of the pastor. If we accept the Commission that the essential task of the church is to “make disciples,” then teaching is an unavoidable task in the church. But it is not just teaching that transmits information or sharpens skills, it is teaching that changes lives.

While the pastor is not the only teacher, and may not even be the best teacher in the church, it is a fundamental task of the pastor to insure that teaching for changed lives is taking place. This has a higher priority than many of the other things churches have traditionally expected of pastors.

Can you make teaching a priority in 2003? Do you need to “re-negotiate” what the church expects of its pastor? Has stewardship education in your church been exempted from discipleship? What is your discipleship strategy for Christians—both new and seasoned?

Resources: The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, published by Macmillan; The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, published by Multinomah; Living Water for Thirsty Souls by Marvin McMickle, published by Judson Press; Authentic Evangelism by William Tuck, published by Judson Press; Anytime, Anywhere by William Turner, published by Judson Press; Discipleship for African American Christians by William Turner, published by Judson Press; Journey to Jesus by Robert Webber, published by Abingdon.

Fourth, accept the Great Commission. Our challenge to witness to Jesus Christ, spread the Gospel of the Kingdom, make disciples, and carry a cup of water in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to wherever people dwell is not a multiple choice test. Both the content and the geography of the Commission are multifaceted. We are not given the option of making disciples or carrying water. It is both. We are not given the option of doing mission and ministry in our own community or in far away places. It is both. The Commission is comprehensive.

How will you exemplify the Great Commission in your own life and ministry? Can you lead your church to designing strategies and allocating resources that are consistent with its Commission?

Resources: The Flaming Center by Carl Braaten, published by Fortress; Urban Disciples by Jenell Paris & Margot Eyring, published by Judson Press; Reclaiming the Great Commission by Claude E. Payne & Hamilton Beazley, published by Jossey-Bass; The Validity of the Christian Mission by Elton Trueblood, published by Harper & Row; The Call to Conversion by Jim Wallis, published by Harper & Row.

Finally, cultivate hospitality. The early disciples were called “Christians” because they loved one another. We live in a time when hospitality is superficial if not totally absent. Even worse, our culture has defined the standard of behavior in many of our churches. Our incivility is the root of destructive conflict in our churches. It strains the relationship between minister and church. It fuels neglect and disregard of one another. If there is one place where the church needs to be counter-cultural, this is it. We need to show hospitality to those outside our number, among ourselves, and in our ministerial relationships.

Is your church truly hospitable, or just “friendly” among its own numbers? Does the behavior in business meetings reflect worship and discernment or politics and power? How can you lead the way to a culture of Christian hospitality?

Resources: Paul’s Idea of Community by Robert Banks, published by Eerdmans; Community 101 by Gilbert Bilezikian, published by Zondervan; Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, published by Harper & Row; Congregational Fitness by Denise Goodman, published by Alban; The Careless Society by John McKnight, published by Basic Books; Discerning God’s Will Together by Danny Morris and Charles Olsen, published by Alban; Making Room by Christine Pohl, published by Eerdmans; Behavioral Covenants in Congregations by Gilbert Rendle, published by Alban.

This has been way too long. I apologize. I hope you understand its length is driven by passion. My prayers are with you and your churches.

printer friendly pdf | Current Thoughts Index | GRR Home

Church Renewal

Please visit us at www.abc-grr.org