Podcast Episode #389
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio
Whether a church is in decline, plateaued, or growing, sticking to the status quo can hurt the church. Church is often needed, and to lead change, you often have to break out of the status quo.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- When I see “status quo” I relate it to lack of courage, lack of foresight, lack of vision, and comfort.
- It’s entirely possible for a growing church to be hanging on to the status quo.
- What would happen if our churches prayed fervently asking God to give them a receptive heart and open eyes to needed change.
- Breaking out of the status quo requires much courage.
- When you make a major change in the church, you’re going to find out who the bullies are.
- The more you listen to outside voices, the more ideas you’ll have for your church.
- Pastors and church leaders should be proactive in acquiring more knowledge.
- You can’t effectively lead change on your own.
The seven keys to breaking the status quo are:
- Few churches focus their prayer efforts here
- The courage factor
- Dealing with the gnats and bullies
- Listening to outside voices
- The learning factor
- Finding a coalition
- Then prayer . . . again
Episode Sponsors
Midwestern Seminary is interested in helping you get to the field faster. And they’re serious about training leaders for the church. That’s why they’ve created the all-new Accelerate Program. In Midwestern’s Accelerate Program, students earn both Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Divinity degree in just 5 years of intensive study. That’s a B.A. and an M.Div. at the same time. This innovative residential program combines rigorous academic training with practical ministry preparation, resulting in one of the most effective programs around, so that you can pursue your ministry calling as soon as possible.
Two degrees in five years – all in one program: Accelerate at Midwestern Seminary. Take the next step by visiting mbts.edu/accelerate.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
Hey Thom, In the phrase ” Church is often needed, and to lead change, you often have to break out of the status quo.” Did you mean, “Change is often needed… .”
John
Serious question. Seriously. If something is working, why am I supposed to change it?
I don’t believe in change for its own sake. Many times there’s wisdom in the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Nothing works forever with excellence (which should always be our goal). The statement said that sticking to the status quo CAN hurt the church. It does not say that it IS hurting the church. But, good leaders should always be looking for ways to do things better.
If we rest on the status quo, we stop growing. And, disciples are expected to grow.
Can change itself be a sacred cow?
In the bible, God has very clearly given us His paradigm for how all christian endeavors are to be birthed and implemented.
When man does God’s work, God’s way he will have God’s blessing. Man makes his mistake when he follows that ”which seems right to him, but in the end yields death.”
It’s so utterly simple and yet we have so convoluted it all as to render it ineffective in relation to what we see portrayed in both Testaments.
It’s very interesting to read the varying perspectives on change here in the comments.
Working in corporate America I have seen “change for the sake of change “ enacted over and over to the point that people are demoralized and jaded. But those changes are rarely thought through, they’re simply the advice of an outside consultant with little knowledge of company history- and no compassion for people.
In the church I have seen firsthand the dangers of sticking to the status quo – of being afraid to touch something that may be only barely working for fear of upsetting a few.
All of Thoms points are dead on. Church leaders need to constantly be on their toes- guarding the doctrine and keeping focused on the mission. And just as important is keeping the flock focused on the mission as well. When comfort and complacency set in the mission begins to fail.
Change is necessary but it must be done with love and compassion.