What Does God Require of Your Church?

In a recent conversation, a pastor friend asked this question: “Does God require all the things I think my congregation needs?” Great question!

Depending on our experience and faith family, we each have ingrained idea of “this is what a church looks like.” When I was involved in a church start several years ago, we worked hard to offer everything that our denomination (at that time) told us that good church needed—Sunday morning and evening worship, Bible Study (Sunday School) for all ages, Wednesday night service, and financial support for missions. It was a lot of work for a small group of people, but we did quite well!

Over the years, what has come to be expected of a church has changed and even more so during the Pandemic. We have pared down to the essentials and it has not looked the same in every case. I wonder, however, if we have included God in the conversation about what is “essential”?

Most often, God speaks through God’s Word, committed leaders, the people of the faith community, and unexpected opportunities. Each of these serves as a check or balance on the others.

First, although we may have difficulty finding a direct parallel in scripture to the contemporary situation, we do know that God calls us to worship, encourage each other in the faith, and carry out God’s mission in the world. How we do these things is negotiable, however.

Second, Christian leaders study, pray, learn, and listen to provide some direction for the church. Ultimately, however, they are shepherds and sheep tend to wander around. Exercising leadership is never an easy task.

Third, as Alan Roxburgh says, “The Spirit of God is among the people of God.” We must provide opportunities for believers to pray, study the Word, and listen to each other to discern the leadership of God for the congregation.

Fourth, we are sometimes confronted by unexpected opportunities that point us in new directions. Like the manna God provided to the Israelites, we are sometimes surprised by God’s provision or challenge. Manna means “a sudden and unexpected source of pleasure or gain.” Although few would see COVID-19 as pleasure, it has been turned into a gain for some congregations as they have tried new things and cast off the old.

There is no single answer to the question, “What does God require of my church?” The question does give us a chance to stop, think, and discern what we are called to do in this time and place.

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