The Ministry Power of God's Eternal Presence
Your church doesn't need to recapture past glory or anxiously engineer future success.
Russell Moore's recent Christianity Today reflection on the Transfiguration reveals a profound truth that shifts how pastors approach church growth. Drawing on Malcolm Guite's poetry and C.S. Lewis's pastoral letters, Moore explores how God's timelessness means he doesn't just observe our church's past struggles or future potential from a distance. He is present in every moment simultaneously. When we worry about declining attendance from five years ago, God is there in that exact moment, not as a memory but as a present reality. When we stress about next year's budget shortfall, God is already there with us. This isn't theological abstraction—it's the practical foundation for sustainable ministry.
Moore notes how Peter wanted to freeze the Transfiguration's glory moment by building monuments, much like churches desperately trying to recreate some imagined golden age or anxiously controlling an uncertain future. But God's glory in the wilderness moved on its own rhythm; sometimes the Israelites camped, sometimes they marched forward, always following his presence rather than their plans.
Here's what this means for your church: Advent reminds us that "God is with us" is the operational reality of your ministry. Church growth driven by nostalgia for past attendance numbers or anxiety about future survival misses the point entirely. Thriving churches trust that God's presence is already working in yesterday's disappointments, today's challenges, and tomorrow's uncertainties.
Three ways to lead from this reality this week:
Audit your leadership language. In your next staff meeting, count how many times you reference "getting back to" past metrics versus "moving forward with" God's current work. Nostalgia-driven language creates discouragement; presence-focused language builds faith.
Reframe your year-end planning. Instead of opening with attendance comparisons or budget anxiety, start your December planning sessions by asking: "Where have we seen God's presence most clearly this year?"
Preach the eternal present. This Advent season, help your congregation see that God isn't watching their past failures or future fears from a distance. He's there with them in both. This truth transforms how people approach everything from personal struggles to church involvement.
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Ministry Intel
5 Signs Your Church Is Ready for a Reset | Lifeway Research
Every church eventually reaches a season requiring reassessment and realignment for greater gospel impact. Tyler Harden identifies five readiness indicators: your people genuinely want to reach new people (not just say they do), leadership senses a God-sized vision stirring, your team demonstrates missional alignment rather than operating in silos, you're attracting first-time guests even in small numbers, and you're willing to invest time, treasure, and talent in transformation. Harden emphasizes that vision should always outpace current resources: if you can reach the goal with what you have today, it's an exercise, not a stretch.
Consider this: Which of these five signs is strongest in your church right now? That's your starting point for a reset conversation with your leadership team. Build momentum from existing readiness.
How to Take a Sabbatical | RightNow Media
With less than 20% of pastors describing themselves as personally flourishing, Drew Fitzgerald argues that sabbaticals are the key to pastoral longevity. He outlines three essential sabbatical purposes: rest (both passive sleep recovery and active participation in joy-bringing activities), spiritual growth (relating to God as a disciple rather than a pastor), and preparation (listening to God about leadership direction and church vision).
Action step: If sabbaticals aren't part of your church's pastoral care, present this research to your elders this month. Frame it as protecting your long-term effectiveness. Churches that invest in pastoral rest retain healthier, more effective leaders.
Growth Toolkit
Christianity Today's 2025 Advent devotional features honest narratives exploring darkness and light in the human experience, suitable for personal pastoral enrichment or congregational resourcing. These reflections provide ready-made seasonal content that deepens spiritual formation without additional preparation time.
Free downloadable Christmas outreach bundle including sermon resources from Carey Nieuwhof, video clips from "The Chosen," devotionals, and sermon kits, plus church map listing for visitor discovery. This kit equips your church to pursue evangelism opportunities at a time when spiritual openness is highest.
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