For those who cling to the true God, it is said,
“Clear the way that they travel; widen the roads and make them smooth!
Take away any difficulty so that they may go easily!”
For the highest God above,
who is and always will be, the only One who is holy has this to say:
I live in the high and holy place,
yet I am with the low, the weak, and the humble.
I renew their vitality and revive their strength. (Isaiah 57:14-15 VOICE)
Today marks a significant change for our church: we are moving from one 10:00 a.m. service to two services at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The 10:00 a.m. service was not a problem, but as our congregation grew quickly, we simply outgrew the space. Eight months ago, we had about 170 people in attendance; now, that number has risen to around 270. So, what caused this dramatic growth? The preaching hasn’t changed, the music is the same, the location hasn’t shifted, and we haven’t run any flashy marketing campaigns. Instead, it’s been the Holy Spirit, bringing a diverse group of new people into our church. While the makeup of our congregation is changing, I see this as a truly healthy and exciting season in the life of our church.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)
If our main purpose as a church is to make disciples—followers of Christ—then creating space for new people is just one part of that mission. Discipling others involves building relationships, praying together, studying the Bible together, fellowshipping, worshipping, serving, and much more. It’s about putting in the effort to become more like Jesus, so that we may be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19 NIV). In all of these things, it is the Holy Spirit who unites us.
Making changes can have challenges, but when we are united in Christ and follow God’s leading he will guide us through them. When we cling to God, we will know the One who lives in the high and holy places, yet with the low, the weak, and the humble. When we make changes that make it easier for disciples to be born and developed, then we renew the vitality and revive the strength of the Church local and universal. Today, let us pray for all churches undergoing change.
Jesus, our Cornerstone,
Thank you for the call to salvation, sanctification, and service that you have on each of our lives. Thank you for the mission you give us to go and make disciples. Today, we pray for all churches in all places: may you strengthen them in their love, devotion, righteousness, and ministries to their local communities. Help every church fulfill the assignment you have for that body. We pray that, out of your glorious riches, you will strengthen your churches with power through your Spirit in our inner beings, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. We also pray that your people, being rooted and established in love, may have the power to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. As churches seek your Kingdom first and make changes, we pray your Spirit would be the only leader in those processes. Now, to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV)