When you read the Gospels, you will see that even Jesus had a hard time persuading people to embrace something new. He taught new ways of thinking about the kingdom of God. He demonstrated new approaches to dealing with sinners. He even introduced new ideas about how to keep the Sabbath. Unfortunately, Jesus’ innovations were not well received by most of the religious leaders.
Contemporary congregations often find it difficult to embrace innovation. What can you as a leader do about that?
The new year will undoubtedly bring new surprises. If we have learned anything in the past three years, it’s not to assume that everything from the recent past will continue into the future. Change can happen quickly. We have also learned to explore new opportunities, often when we least expect them.
The new year is a good time to encourage people to open up to new possibilities. While there is always a bit of risk involved, let’s not forget that leadership is more than maintaining the status quo. Leadership involves intentional movement into the future, which requires change and innovation. It is understandable that congregations struggle to embrace innovation; the stability within the church helps reassure members who can do little to stop the dynamic changes happening in their lives and in our culture. Nevertheless, a church that cannot change is a church that cannot thrive.
For this reason, it is essential that leaders understand how to articulate why doing something new matters in the first place. Check out this week’s resources to learn how you can encourage curiosity and embrace new people as you help the congregation learn new ways of doing new things.
