We live in a world full of ideas. There is no shortage of them. In reality, there are a lot of good ones out there.
Just because you find good ideas does not mean that they are right for you or your church.
One of the most challenging things as a church leader is the sheer access to numerous concepts these days. Years ago, people heard about ideas from the church down the road. You might go to an annual conference and listen to testimonies of what a church in another state was doing. Reading a book, you might find a great concept with which to consider.
Nowadays, I can expose myself to as many ideas as possible. Through the internet, I can get under the hood or behind the curtain to any size and style of a church, regardless of location. There is an endless flow of great ideas with which to consume.
You might discover a good idea that another church is using, but that good idea might not need to be your church’s strategy. Simply copying the latest trend may not help you accomplish the mission in your unique context.
I have often known leaders who change direction with every new idea. In addition to giving a congregation vision whiplash, they can never complete a path because they never stick with it for long.
Many churches can work hard discussing things that never come to pass. Scripture calls pastors to set things in order (Titus 1:5), and we can often discuss at length things and work towards stuff that we never complete. Why does that happen? Many of our initiatives, ideas, and studies as pastors and members get started, but we never count the cost (Luke 14:28) to see them to fruition.
We can’t put the church in order because we keep changing it. And it’s not as if we are changing it because we have noticed something neglected in Scripture. We are changing because of the latest trend we read about or heard about from our favorite church leader.
I have seen churches jump from being Purpose Driven Church to Simple Church to 9 Marks to you name whatever methodological flavor of the month you want to call. A discipleship strategy here, a vision casting piece there. Move from one author, idea, or example to the next and never get traction. Instead of going forward, they find themselves going backward.
Many churches never see the fruit, not because the ideas are bad, but they never adopted them long enough to see long-lasting change. It might not be that you have a model problem; it might be that you have a problem sticking to a model.
New isn’t always better.
Just because it worked somewhere doesn’t mean it will work everywhere.
Even if it is a good idea doesn’t mean that it should be your strategy.
A good idea in the wrong place is a bad strategy. Get to know what God wants you to do in your congregation and not expect to force Him to repeat blessing what you are xeroxing from another church.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.