A Moment With Pastor Fred

Happy New Year! In a few weeks we’re going to begin a new expository series in the book of Acts. I’ve taught this before but have never preached thru it. I am excited! The series is going to be entitled – “The Church on a Mission.”

I’ll never forget – and will forever appreciate a comment a deacon made years ago in another ministry. He was a godly senior saint. Leadership was discussing the pros and cons of changing pulpit translations. Some argued against the change – they liked the one they had been born and bred on. Switching gears threatened comfort zones and security. This dear man said, “If we want to minister to this congregation only – then I don’t see any reason to change. However, if we want to reach the lost, if we want to impact the next generation for Christ then we must change.”   

This man’s comments are true in a number of scenarios. It is easy to get comfortable at church – this is the music I like, or these are the seats that make church feel like church or this is the bulletin format I’m used to reading, etc. But church  isn’t about us – it’s about our commission, to make and to mature disciples for Christ. Yes, if we want to maintain status quo – then why introduce change at all?  

There are scores of churches that do just that – and guess what? They’re dying. Research suggests 80% of churches in the USA are currently in decline. Change is hard but it is essential for growth demands it. May any changes we introduce be rooted in our passion for God and His glory and the mission he gave us to fulfill here. It will be interesting to see how the church changed in the book of Acts. The church was on a mission – and so are we.