Change in the local church

Change is not an option. It is life in God’s kingdom. God changes us. He has begun his good work in us in baptism and will continue it until the last day of resurrection.

Change does not need to be feared. A lot of the time it is the Spirit calling us into it. Change is God’s people responding to the opportunities God gives us.

We make change difficult because we are turned in on ourselves with disordered loves of people and things above our love of God. We allow this to rule us rather than trusting God’s promises.

Change is possible for a local church. In fact, it is always needed. And change that is fruitful in a local church is founded on trust and vision.

Pastors and leaders need shared trust based on God’s word and strong relationships so that change can be implemented with clarity and compassion. If leaders trust the Lord and each other, they can call people to trust the Lord and their leaders.

The vision for change comes from the pastor and leaders asking questions such as: Why has God put us here? Where is God working in our local community and how can we work with him to draw people into a loving relationship with him? What is our calling as a kingdom community?

Vision for change comes from listening. When leaders listen together, ask for comments, care for their people, dwell in God’s word and work on those questions, look out! God gives vision. His people can go in faith into the changes ahead.

It is a wonderful thing to trust each other and trust the Spirit into change that bears the fruit of the kingdom: Christians growing in faith and being disciples of Jesus, biblical learning, baptisms, affirmations of faith, new possibilities to connect with our community and serve it in Jesus’ name.

• Visit www.lca.org.au/spread-the-word to find promotional materials (A5 flyers, PowerPoint slides and social media posts) to help you spread the word about our Story of the Week.
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