Are There Abusive Laity Within Your Church?

Church revitalization is hard work—but sometimes the greatest resistance does not come from outside the church. It comes from within.

Across North America, many pastors and church revitalizers are facing a quiet but destructive reality: abusive lay leaders who undermine spiritual leadership, damage trust, and stall renewal. This is not simply conflict or disagreement. It is a pattern of toxic behavior that, if left unaddressed, can devastate both pastors and congregations.

A Silent Crisis in the Church

Jesus warned His disciples that He was sending them out “as sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). While the church is meant to be a place of refuge and grace, it can also become an environment where spiritually unhealthy individuals exert destructive influence.

In many declining churches, pastors are not simply discouraged—they are targeted. These abusive laypersons often resist change, cling to power, and respond with hostility toward leaders who seek renewal. Their behavior is frequently tolerated by the broader congregation, creating what can best be described as a “holy hush.”

The result is devastating. Thousands of pastors leave ministry each year, many not because of calling or competence, but because of sustained abuse from within the church.

What Does Abusive Laity Look Like?

Abusive laypeople are rarely obvious at first glance. On Sundays, they may appear charming, committed, and even spiritual. But beneath the surface, their behavior tells a different story.

Common patterns include:

  • A constant need for control

  • Manipulation behind the scenes

  • Verbal attacks or intimidation of the pastor

  • Resistance to accountability

  • Stirring discontent and anxiety within the congregation

  • Weaponizing “concern” or “tradition” to oppose leadership

  • Alternating between repentance and repeated abuse

These individuals are not interested in reformation—they are interested in dominance. When confronted, they often double down rather than change.

Why This Matters for Church Health

Unchecked abuse does not remain isolated. It spreads.

When toxic individuals are allowed to operate freely:

  • Trust erodes across the congregation

  • New members quietly leave

  • Lay leaders burn out or disengage

  • Pastors become isolated and discouraged

  • Decline accelerates

Ironically, churches that refuse to confront abuse often justify their inaction by saying they want to preserve unity—only to lose it anyway.

The Biblical Responsibility to Address Abuse

Scripture does not call the church to tolerate destructive behavior for the sake of peace. Jesus clearly outlines a process for dealing with sin and unrepentant conduct within the body (Matthew 18:15–20). The apostle Paul repeatedly warns churches to watch for divisive individuals and to separate from those who cause harm to the body (Romans 16).

Grace does not mean avoidance. Love does not mean silence. Accountability is an act of faithfulness.

What Pastors Should Do When Under Attack

Church revitalizers, in particular, are frequent targets because renewal threatens long-standing power structures. When attacks come, pastors must:

  • Take refuge in the Lord through honest, persistent prayer

  • Refuse to retaliate in kind

  • Seek wise counsel outside the congregation

  • Document patterns of abuse

  • Lead the church to address behavior biblically and transparently

This work requires resilience. Church revitalization is not for the thin-skinned. Even biblical heroes—David, Paul, and historic leaders like Jonathan Edwards—faced fierce opposition from within God’s people.

A Word to Healthy Lay Leaders

Healthy congregations are not built by pastors alone. Faithful lay leaders play a crucial role in protecting the church.

If you are part of a congregation experiencing tension:

  • Stand visibly with your pastor

  • Pray for him and his family

  • Refuse to participate in gossip

  • Encourage accountability, not avoidance

  • Speak truth with courage and humility

Silence often empowers abuse. Support interrupts it.

Moving Forward: Preventing Toxic Culture

Churches that experience lasting renewal take proactive steps to address toxicity before it spreads. These include:

  • Setting clear behavioral expectations for leaders and members

  • Addressing negativity early and consistently

  • Encouraging open communication

  • Celebrating progress and small wins

  • Modeling healthy conflict resolution

  • Holding both pastors and laity accountable

Toxic behavior, if ignored, becomes self-perpetuating. Confronted biblically, it can be redeemed—or removed for the sake of the body.

Final Thought

The church is called to be a place of healing, not harm. Abuse—whether from leaders or laity—undermines the witness of the gospel and damages the people God loves.

Revitalization requires courage: courage to confront sin, courage to protect shepherds, and courage to believe that health is possible. When abusive behavior is addressed with truth and grace, renewal has room to grow.

R.E.N.E.W.: A Practical Framework for Church Revitalization

Church revitalization often begins in discouraging places—declining attendance, limited resources, and the quiet fear that the church’s best days may be behind it. Yet renewal is not only possible; it is deeply biblical. Revitalization does not come from panic-driven change or copying the latest model. It comes through intentional, Spirit-led leadership and faithful perseverance.

The R.E.N.E.W. framework offers a simple, practical roadmap to help church leaders move from stagnation toward sustainable health and renewed mission.

R — Recognize the Need for Change and Restart with Wisdom

Every revitalization journey begins with honesty. Churches remain stuck not because leaders lack faith, but because they struggle to admit that what once worked no longer does. Renewal requires the courage to acknowledge reality—and the humility to begin again.

Restarting does not mean reckless change. One of the most common revitalization mistakes is over-starting: launching too many initiatives too quickly without adequate preparation. Instead, wise leaders slow the process down, break large challenges into manageable steps, and focus on daily faithfulness.

It is never too late to start over. But wisdom grows when leaders reflect honestly on past failures and allow those lessons to shape a healthier future.

E — Engage the Community and Discern Where God Is Already at Work

Isolation is deadly to churches. Renewal begins when leaders intentionally turn outward and re-engage the surrounding community. Healthy churches become known for meeting real needs—through compassion ministries, relational outreach, excellence in worship, or clear gospel proclamation.

Rather than asking, “What should we start?” ask, “Where is God already moving?” Look for partnerships, community initiatives, and opportunities to serve the unchurched. God has never abandoned your neighborhood. Revitalization happens when the church joins what He is already doing there.

N — Nurture the Faithful Core While Reaching New People

The remaining members of a declining church are not the problem—they are the foundation. These faithful servants have stayed, prayed, given, and served through difficult seasons. Effective revitalization honors their faithfulness while inviting them into a renewed vision.

Spend time across generations. Listen to their stories. Celebrate small wins. Build morale intentionally. Culture shifts when people feel seen, valued, and hopeful again.

At the same time, revitalization must reach beyond the core. New people require new approaches. Relational warmth, contextualized ministry methods, and visible joy in leadership create space for newcomers. A hopeful church is a welcoming church.

E — Evade Common Pitfalls by Moving Slowly and Strategically

Church revitalization is not a sprint; it is a long obedience in the same direction. Many efforts stall because of avoidable missteps: launching too early, underfunding key initiatives, ignoring unresolved conflict, or neglecting outward mission.

Healthy leaders test ideas before scaling them. They train leaders personally. They resist the temptation to copy other churches and instead pursue God’s specific calling for their context. Accountability, patience, and perseverance matter more than speed.

Revitalization is not about returning to survival mode—it is about long-term transformation.

W — Wait on the Lord, Walk with Jesus, and Welcome God’s Work

At its core, revitalization is a spiritual work before it is a strategic one. Leaders must begin with Christ, continue with Christ, and finish with Christ. Prayer is not a supplement to revitalization—it is the engine.

As leaders walk faithfully with Jesus, God often brings unexpected encouragements and surprising breakthroughs. Past wounds become sources of wisdom. Former failures become testimony. Progress may feel slow, but movement matters more than perfection.

Trust the Lord’s timing. Keep walking. God is faithful to renew His church.

Church revitalizer, you are not alone.
The R.E.N.E.W. framework is not a formula—it is a faithful pathway. As you lead with courage, clarity, and dependence on Christ, God is able to breathe new life into your congregation.

Contact us if you would like to talk about RENEW in your context.

Reflection:
Which step in the R.E.N.E.W. framework most reflects your church’s current season?

Six Practical Steps to Move a Stuck Church Forward

The pace of change in today’s world is unlike anything the church has experienced before. Cultural shifts, generational transitions, and changing community expectations often leave congregations feeling disoriented—or stuck. Many churches sense that something is no longer working but struggle to know how to move forward.

Church revitalization rarely begins with a new program. It begins with honest awareness, spiritual leadership, trust within the body, and a renewed desire to connect with people beyond the church walls. When those elements are present, meaningful change becomes possible.

If your church feels stalled, the following six practices can help unfreeze unhealthy patterns and create space for renewal.

1. Recognize When You Are Trapped in Routine

One of the first steps toward revitalization is admitting that certain habits, strategies, or ministries are no longer producing fruit. Many churches repeat familiar patterns simply because “that’s how we’ve always done it,” even when those patterns are no longer effective.

Recognizing this does not mean dishonoring past efforts. In fact, it means honoring them honestly. Previous attempts were often faithful responses for a different season. The challenge is becoming willing to let go of what no longer works.

Progress in revitalization is often incremental. There may be moments where it feels like two steps back for every three steps forward—but forward movement is still movement. Breaking routine is uncomfortable, but it is often necessary for growth.

2. Become Open to Other Points of View

Revitalization leaders cannot—and should not—carry the entire burden alone. Healthy renewal environments invite multiple voices into the conversation, focusing on solutions rather than simply naming problems.

Lay leaders often bring valuable insight. Because they are not carrying the same leadership weight, they may see possibilities that pastors and staff miss. When leaders create space for collaboration, ideas sharpen, creativity increases, and ownership expands.

Listening well communicates trust. And trust is essential if a congregation is going to walk together through change.

3. Examine Your Thinking Patterns

Revitalization requires leaders to regularly evaluate how their thinking shapes their decisions. What worked in one church—or even in a previous season of the same church—may not work now.

Leaders must ask hard questions:

  • Are my assumptions still valid?

  • Am I reacting out of habit rather than discernment?

  • Is God inviting us into something new?

Scripture reminds us that God is always doing new work. Letting go of outdated thinking is often a spiritual act of obedience. Sometimes revitalization does not require a complete overhaul, but a thoughtful adjustment in strategy, perspective, or pace.

4. Assess Your Next Steps Honestly

Before taking action, leaders should examine their motivation. A helpful diagnostic question is:
Am I doing this out of preference, practice, pattern, or panic?

Preferences can limit growth when leaders insist on doing things simply because they like them. Practices can become ineffective when repeated long past their usefulness. Patterns can trap churches into rigid systems that resist change. Panic can push leaders into short-sighted decisions that prioritize comfort over mission.

Healthy revitalization requires intentional evaluation and wise counsel. Testing ideas with trusted leaders helps prevent costly missteps and strengthens the quality of decision-making.

5. Learn From Mistakes Without Losing Heart

Blunders are part of the revitalization journey. Leaders who take faithful risks will occasionally make mistakes. What matters is how those mistakes are handled.

Healthy leaders acknowledge their missteps, take responsibility, apologize when necessary, and learn from the experience. Transparency builds credibility. Congregations are often more forgiving—and more trusting—when leaders are humble and honest rather than defensive or distant.

Avoiding mistakes is not the goal. Faithful leadership, growth, and learning are.

6. Align Plans With Core Beliefs and Values

Revitalization efforts must align with a church’s core values. These values—often unwritten—shape how a church functions, makes decisions, and relates to people. They clarify expectations, guide relationships, and provide direction for strategic planning.

Core values are not doctrinal statements; they are convictions about how ministry is lived out. When revitalization plans conflict with deeply held values, resistance increases. When they align, momentum builds.

Leaders should regularly ask:

  • Do our values reflect the heart of Jesus?

  • Are our strategies consistent with Scripture?

  • Are we reinforcing who God has called us to be?

Clear values act as a compass during seasons of transition.

Moving Forward With Hope

Church revitalization is difficult—if it were easy, it would already be happening. That is why leaders need support, prayer, wise counsel, and patience with the process. Renewal unfolds over time as leaders remain faithful, adaptable, and dependent on God.

Healthy churches are not those that avoid change, but those that discern it wisely and walk through it together. When routines are examined, voices are welcomed, thinking is renewed, mistakes are owned, and values are clarified, revitalization moves from theory to reality.

Faithful steps, taken consistently, create space for God to do what only He can do—bring new life to His church.

Church Revitalization That Actually Works: Practices That Lead to Lasting Renewal

Church revitalization is rarely accomplished through quick fixes, rebranding efforts, or the latest ministry trend. Sustainable renewal happens when a congregation becomes healthy at its core—spiritually grounded, missionally focused, and willing to change for the sake of the gospel. Revitalization works best when leaders intentionally cultivate the conditions that allow God’s people to grow, serve, and move forward together.

Healthy turnaround is not accidental. It is the result of practices consistently applied over time, rooted in humility, clarity, and dependence on God.

Where Conflict Is Managed and Ego Is Surrendered

Revitalization efforts almost always stall in environments marked by unresolved conflict and unchecked ego. Churches move forward when conflict is minimal or, when it does arise, is addressed quickly and biblically without destabilizing the congregation. Leaders who refuse to deal with tension honestly often allow it to quietly sabotage renewal.

Equally important is the posture of the pastor. When a leader’s need for control, recognition, or personal agenda dominates, revitalization slows. Healthy churches make Christ’s leadership visible above any one personality. Pastors who lead with humility create space for trust, shared ownership, and spiritual growth.

Clarity of identity also plays a vital role. Congregations that understand who they are, why they exist, and what God has called them to do waste less energy chasing every new idea. A shared mission anchors the church during seasons of change and gives direction to revitalization efforts.

Where Worship Is Alive and Community Is Intentional

Revitalization is not primarily structural—it is spiritual. Churches experience renewal when worship draws people into genuine encounters with a living God. When God’s presence is evident in gathered worship, hope increases, resistance softens, and hearts become more open to change.

Healthy revitalization also shifts the church away from spectatorship. Laity are encouraged and equipped to use their spiritual gifts in meaningful ways. Ministry is no longer something done by a few for the many, but a shared calling embraced by the whole body.

These churches intentionally build community rather than settling for anonymous attendance. People are known, connected, and valued. As a result, revitalizing congregations believe their best days are ahead—not behind—and that hopeful confidence fuels courageous faith.

Where Collaboration and Discipleship Take Priority

Strong revitalization honours the past without being trapped by it. Healthy churches respect their heritage, theological convictions, and denominational distinctives, viewing them as assets for mission rather than obstacles to progress. Renewal does not require abandoning identity; it requires applying it faithfully in a changing context.

Revitalized churches also understand that ministry is collaborative, not competitive. They value partnerships within their denomination and beyond, recognizing that the kingdom of God is larger than any single congregation.

Most importantly, discipleship replaces consumer Christianity. Success is no longer measured by attendance alone, but by spiritual maturity. These churches pursue depth over hype, formation over entertainment, and obedience over comfort. They aim to produce followers of Jesus, not religious consumers.

Where Members Are Growing and Leaders Embrace Change

In a revitalizing church, membership is defined by discipleship, not by a name on a roll. Members see themselves as active participants in God’s mission, committed to growth, service, and spiritual responsibility.

Leadership understands that revitalization always requires change—and is willing to lead through it with courage and humility. Pastors ground their leadership in daily spiritual disciplines, recognizing that renewal flows from prayer, Scripture, and dependence on God rather than technique alone.

Healthy churches remain open to new relationships and new people. They resist becoming closed systems and reject secrecy in favor of clear, honest communication. Transparency builds trust, and trust sustains change.

Where God’s Leadership Remains Central

Ultimately, effective church revitalization is about recognizing and responding to God’s active presence. Renewed churches understand that “God among us” is not a slogan, but a lived reality. They seek to discern where God is leading and align their decisions accordingly.

A strong relational fit between pastor and congregation strengthens this process, allowing leaders and people to move together rather than in opposition. Prayer is not treated as an accessory to revitalization but as its foundation—shaping decisions, guiding relationships, and sustaining hope.

When conflict is addressed, ego is surrendered, worship is alive, disciples are growing, and God’s leadership is central, revitalization moves from a hopeful concept to a lived experience of renewal. Church revitalization that works is not flashy—but it is faithful, transformative, and enduring.

Changing the Culture of Your Church from Maintenance to Mission

Most churches do not struggle because they lack vision. They struggle because their culture no longer supports the mission they say they believe in.

Culture is not a statement on the wall or a paragraph in a constitution. Culture is what actually happens—week after week—when decisions are made, people are welcomed, conflict arises, and change is proposed. Every church already has a culture. The question leaders must face is whether that culture is shaping the church toward faithfulness and mission—or quietly holding it back.

Changing the culture of a church is possible, but it requires clarity, patience, and courageous leadership.

Why Culture Matters More Than Strategy

When churches encounter decline or stagnation, the first response is often to add something new: a program, a ministry, a service time, or a fresh initiative. While strategy has its place, strategy alone cannot overcome a misaligned culture.

Culture determines what is normal, what is celebrated, and what is resisted. If the underlying culture values comfort over mission, control over trust, or preservation over faithfulness, even the best ideas will struggle to gain traction. Leaders end up exhausted, volunteers burn out, and frustration grows.

At Mission Shift, we often say:

Culture will either carry your mission forward—or quietly sabotage it.

Four Culture Shifts That Drive Real Change

Healthy church cultures do not emerge by accident. They are shaped intentionally through a series of leadership-driven shifts.

1. From “Us” to “Them”

Churches drift inward by default. Over time, energy, resources, and conversations begin to revolve around the needs and preferences of those already inside the church. When that happens, the mission to reach those outside slowly fades.

A healthier culture expects guests. It plans worship, communication, and ministry with people far from God in mind. This does not mean abandoning discipleship—it means remembering that the church exists not only to care for believers, but to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.

2. From Membership to Ownership

Membership language often reinforces entitlement: What do I get? Why wasn’t my preference considered? Who is responsible for fixing this?

Ownership reframes the conversation. Owners ask different questions: How can I serve? What is my responsibility? How can I protect and advance the mission?

When ownership becomes normal, people stop waiting to be asked. They take initiative, give generously, and assume responsibility for the health of the church.

3. From Staff-Driven Ministry to Equipped Leaders

In many churches, ministry slowly becomes centralized around paid staff. Leaders are expected to perform while others observe. This model exhausts pastors and limits the church’s capacity.

Scripture presents a different vision. Leaders are called to equip God’s people for ministry. When all believers are trained, trusted, and empowered, the church’s reach expands far beyond what any staff could accomplish alone.

Culture shifts when leaders stop doing everything and start developing others.

4. From Programs to Clear Next Steps

Activity does not equal effectiveness. A church can be busy without being healthy.

Healthy cultures provide clarity. People know what their next step is and how to take it—whether that step involves worship, community, service, or mission. Programs exist to move people forward, not simply to fill the calendar.

When leaders evaluate everything through the lens of movement, unnecessary complexity begins to fall away.

How Culture Actually Changes

Church culture does not change because of one sermon or one leadership meeting. It changes through consistent leadership practices over time.

Preach the Culture You Need

Every message shapes expectations. Leaders who want to change culture preach consistently about mission, ownership, service, generosity, and discipleship—not as abstract ideals, but as lived commitments rooted in Scripture.

Explain Reality and Vision Clearly

Leaders must be willing to name reality honestly. That includes acknowledging where the church truly is today and where its current trajectory leads if nothing changes.

At the same time, leaders must paint a clear picture of a preferred future—what the church could look like if it aligned fully with its mission. When leaders repeat the same language and vision over time, a shared understanding begins to form.

Train People for New Expectations

New expectations without new skills create frustration. If leaders want people to serve, lead, and reach others in new ways, they must provide practical training.

Training communicates trust. It tells people they are needed and capable. Over time, confidence grows and culture begins to shift.

Keep the Mission Constantly in Front

Every church has an unspoken goal. In many declining churches, that goal is survival.

Healthy leaders continually elevate a bigger, biblical goal—making disciples, reaching the lost, and serving the community. Stories, testimonies, and celebrations help people see how their faithfulness connects to something larger than themselves.

Embracing Change as a Faithful Response

Following Jesus is a journey of transformation. While God does not change, His people are continually called to grow. That means change is not a failure—it is a sign of faithfulness.

When churches begin shifting from inward focus to outward mission, from entitlement to ownership, from performance to participation, something powerful happens. Momentum builds. Hope returns. And the culture begins to move.

At Mission Shift Church Consulting, we believe culture change is not about chasing trends. It is about realigning the church with its God-given purpose—so that mission once again drives everything.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If your church senses that something needs to change but is unsure where to begin, you are not alone.

Mission Shift Church Consulting helps leaders:

  • diagnose church culture honestly

  • guide change without unnecessary conflict

  • and build healthier, mission-focused churches

Let’s start the conversation.

Leading a Congregation Through Change: Why Preaching Matters More Than You Think

Few realities unsettle a congregation like change. Even healthy change can feel threatening in a church that has experienced decline, conflict, or prolonged uncertainty. And yet, revitalization without change is impossible.

In these moments, preaching becomes more than weekly proclamation. It becomes one of the primary ways a congregation learns how to interpret what is happening—spiritually, emotionally, and theologically.

When handled well, preaching helps people move from fear to trust, from nostalgia to mission, and from resistance to shared ownership. When handled poorly, it can deepen division, inflame anxiety, or erode trust.

The difference is not charisma or cleverness. It is pastoral wisdom rooted in theological clarity.

Change Is Not a Leadership Preference—It Is a Biblical Reality

Throughout Scripture, God’s people are repeatedly called forward into unfamiliar territory.

Abraham is asked to leave what is known. Israel must pass through the wilderness before reaching promise. The early church must continually adapt its structures in order to remain faithful to its mission.

In other words, change is not a modern leadership invention. It is often the very means by which God renews His people.

For churches in need of revitalization, change is rarely optional. Structures, habits, and assumptions that once served the mission may now hinder it. Preaching must help congregations understand that movement does not mean abandonment of faithfulness—it often means obedience.

Why Change Feels So Threatening in Declining Churches

Resistance to change is rarely about preferences alone. More often, it is rooted in loss.

People grieve:

  • The church they remember at its peak
  • Traditions that carried emotional meaning
  • Roles that once gave them identity or influence
  • A sense of stability and certainty

When pastors treat resistance as rebellion, they misdiagnose the problem. Much resistance is actually unacknowledged grief.

Effective preaching during seasons of change does not rush people past loss. It names it, honors it, and then gently calls people forward.

Preaching as Sense-Making During Disruption

When churches experience change, people ask questions—often silently:

  • What is happening to our church?
  • Why are we doing this now?
  • Is God still with us?

Preaching provides a theological framework for answering those questions. It helps congregations interpret events not merely through emotion, rumor, or nostalgia, but through the lens of Scripture.

Rather than reacting to every concern, wise pastors consistently anchor change in God’s redemptive purposes. Over time, this builds trust. Congregations may not agree with every decision, but they learn that their leaders are guided by conviction rather than impulse.

The Danger of Weaponizing the Pulpit

One of the greatest temptations during seasons of resistance is to use preaching defensively.

This may look like:

  • Indirectly targeting critics through sermons
  • Framing disagreement as spiritual failure
  • Shaming people into compliance
  • Overspiritualizing leadership decisions

The pulpit was never meant to be a weapon. It is a shepherd’s staff.

Preaching that leads people through change is firm but gentle, clear but humble. It forms hearts rather than forcing outcomes. The goal is not silence or compliance—it is faithfulness.

Biblical Themes That Help Congregations Navigate Change

Certain themes are especially powerful when a church is navigating uncertainty:

  • Trust in God’s leading, even when the path is unclear
  • Repentance and renewal, especially where complacency has set in
  • Mission over comfort, reminding the church why it exists
  • Hope beyond decline, rooted in God’s ability to bring life where things appear dry

Texts such as Ezekiel 37, Isaiah 43, Nehemiah 9, and Revelation 2–3 give language to both loss and hope. They allow preachers to tell the truth without surrendering to despair.

Addressing Fear from the Pulpit—Without Fueling It

Fear thrives in silence and ambiguity. One of the most pastoral acts a preacher can do is to name fear honestly without allowing it to dominate the narrative.

Instead of threatening language—“If we don’t change, we’ll die”—faithful preaching invites trust: God is not finished with His people.

Fear is not conquered by pressure. It is displaced by confidence in the character and faithfulness of God.

Preaching Through Conflict with Spiritual Maturity

Conflict is not a failure of leadership. It is often a sign that important values are at stake.

Preaching during conflict should:

  • Recenter the church on Christ, not personalities
  • Call for humility, patience, and love
  • Clarify biblical priorities without escalating tension

Passages like Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and Philippians 1 remind congregations that unity is not uniformity—but it is always rooted in love and shared purpose.

Moving a Church Toward Shared Ownership

One of the most important shifts revitalization preaching can foster is the move from ownership to stewardship.

Declining churches often think in terms of “my church,” “our way,” or “what we’ve always done.” Renewing churches begin to ask, What is God calling us to steward for the sake of others?

Language matters. Preaching that consistently speaks of “we,” “together,” and “God’s mission” reshapes identity over time.

The Preacher’s Heart Matters More Than the Plan

Finally, preaching through change exposes the preacher’s own heart.

Pastors must guard against:

  • Control driven by fear
  • Resentment toward resistance
  • Isolation that erodes wisdom

Preaching that leads others well flows from a leader who remains rooted in prayer, open to correction, and dependent on the Spirit.

Revitalization is not sustained by technique alone. It is sustained by leaders who trust God deeply enough to lead courageously.

A Final Word of Encouragement

Leading a congregation through change is one of the most demanding aspects of pastoral ministry. It requires patience, courage, and spiritual resilience.

But preaching remains one of God’s primary instruments for renewal.

When preaching is biblically grounded, theologically clear, and pastorally wise, God uses it to lead His people through fear, loss, and conflict into renewed faithfulness and mission.

Change may be inevitable—but renewal is possible when God’s Word is proclaimed faithfully.

Why Your Church Needs to Be More Like Canadian Tire and Less Like Eaton’s

I grew up flipping through the Eaton’s Christmas catalogue like it was the Sears Wish Book on steroids. Downtown Eaton’s stores felt like palaces. Then, in 1999, it all vanished. Bankruptcy. Lights out. Gone forever.

A few blocks away, The Bay kept limping along. They tried a luxury makeover with Saks, launched a website nobody used, and kept paying rent on massive downtown buildings nobody visited. Today they’re still open — sort of. But if you’re under 35, you probably walk past The Bay and think, “Oh yeah, my grandma buys towels there.”

Then there’s Canadian Tire. Same company that’s been around since 1922. Same red triangle. Same “Canadian” in the name. Yet somehow they’re bigger, more profitable, and more relevant in 2025 than they were in 1995. They added autocentres when people wanted more than wrenches. They built giant new stores. They nailed online ordering and curbside pickup before most churches figured out Zoom. They launched one of the best loyalty programs in the country. Same mission. Completely updated methods.

Three iconic Canadian brands. Three different responses to a changing world. Three very different outcomes.

And every local church is writing the exact same story right now.

The message of Jesus never changes — full stop. But the methods we use to deliver that message must change, or we will slowly (or suddenly) become irrelevant to the very people Jesus died to reach.

Revitalization isn’t about chasing trends. It’s not about becoming “cool” or copying the megachurch down the road. It’s about ruthless obedience: refusing to let our love for the past keep the next generation from a future with Jesus.

  • Eaton’s churches say, “We’ve never done it that way before,” and one day the doors close for good.
  • Bay churches make a few cosmetic changes, survive on the generosity of the 55+ crowd, and slowly fade into a museum.
  • Canadian Tire churches ask, “What has to change so that more people can meet Jesus?” — and then they actually do it.

Here’s the scary truth: most of our kids aren’t rejecting Jesus. They’re rejecting the version of church we keep serving them on 1995 (or 1965) china.

So let’s stop being shocked that young families aren’t showing up for 1995. Let’s start asking what we’re willing to lose so they can gain Christ.

Because Jesus didn’t call us to preserve our preferences. He called us to make disciples of the people who don’t look like us, sing like us, or even vote like us.

Canadian Tire didn’t become stronger by clinging to the past. They became stronger by staying married to the mission while changing everything else.

Imagine if we loved the mission of Jesus that much.

Imagine if we decided that reaching the next generation was worth killing every sacred cow we’ve been feeding for over thirty years.

That’s what revitalization actually is. And the good news? We still have time to choose which story will be ours.

Let’s not leave a legacy of “Remember when this place used to be full?” Let’s leave a legacy of “Look what Jesus is still doing here.”

Who’s ready to pick up the wrench and get to work?