Perfectly Wrong

I’ve never made a March Madness bracket worth bragging about, and apparently, I’m not alone! Of the millions of brackets users created on Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, and the NCAA’s platforms, not a single one is perfect this year.

• In contrast, ESPN reported that 30 users uploaded brackets where every single pick was wrong! Entertainingly, one username was “I understand it now.” I guess he or she actually didn’t!

It’s easy to be wrong in predicting the NCAA Tournament’s winners, and it’s easy to be wrong in the world of church renewal too. Maybe you would say that your “bracket” of predictions has been all wrong in the past!

• Below are a few of the most common myths I encounter about church renewal, along with updated paradigms that better reflect today’s reality.

Common myths about church renewal

Myth 1: Preaching doesn’t matter anymore

• People can listen to their favorite nationally known preacher on YouTube any day of the week now. Some say this means information is plentiful, and the quality of your teaching no longer matters as much.
• My experience has found just the opposite. People know what good preaching is, and they’re less willing than ever to sit through a poorly researched, poorly delivered message. In fact, my church found that the people who live within a five-mile radius list “quality sermons” as the second most important factor in choosing a church!

Myth 2: Greeting is no longer important

• Some people want to visit churches anonymously without being asked a bunch of questions. Megachurches find people with this tendency gravitate toward them.
• However, just because some people prefer to begin their journey under the cloak of anonymity, it does not mean that everyone does. In an isolated, lonely world, many people are starving for community. In fact, our neighbors listed “warm and friendly encounters” as the most important factor in choosing a church.

Myth 3: People want a flashy show

• In the recent past, many churches used a strategy to grow by making worship an extremely polished and even theatrical show. Haze, moving lights, very loud audio, and even secular songs became common.
• Today, especially among younger people, there is significant push back to all this. They long for authenticity over everything else. They are seeking something transcendent and different than the world — not another concert.

Myth 4: New programs are the answer

• To be effective, strategies and methodologies need to occasionally change. However, churches that constantly add new programs quickly find themselves spread too thin to do any of them well.
• Most often, the best approach is to balance the novel with the familiar. Slow and steady, especially in established churches, is a more effective way to bring about change. Additionally, church renewal leaders need the courage to not only begin new ministries but also end old ministries that are no longer effective.

Myth 5: The pastor is the problem/solution

• Increasingly, pastors are playing high profile roles in churches. Churches that have charismatic leaders or dynamic speakers often point to the pastor as their reason for growth. Churches that are dying similarly tend to point their finger at the pastor.
• However, the truth is that every believer has a role to play in the church’s mission. Activating the council, staff, and laity appropriately is the only way to truly accomplish the huge task in front of us. Engaging the entire congregation in the ministry is the best way forward!

Church renewal isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about bringing a congregation to a place of deep spiritual health and passion through intentional discipleship. Need help along the journey? Reach out to us today, and our consultants can walk you through next steps!