In 1519, Martin Luther proclaimed, “Change the church!” In 2023 it still needs changing! Many Christians want to change the government, but our responsibility is to change the churches so that they are led by God’s Spirit. Let’s wake up and recognize that church as we know it isn’t changing our self-focused culture but following it.

Although they’re thousands of different denominations of churches, they function basically the same. They sit people in rows and control them from the front. God doesn’t change, but Christians are supposed to change “from glory to glory.” Unfortunately, churches tend to dig in and persistently resist God’s call to change and to let people be led by the Spirit.

Churches and individual Christians are called to ongoing transformation–to grow in grace and glory, not to sit in place stuck in a dry sermon story. Churches should change by interactively training people to embrace humility, pray continually, draw near to God, and turn away from sin. See 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The great concern about the growing emptiness of churches isn’t just being empty of people but being empty of God’s Spirit. If churches would obey God’s Spirit and let Him change their actions and attitudes, He would bring spiritual awakening to their land.

We need God-The-Builder. Our efforts to build the kingdom of God are totally ineffective. See Psalm 127:1.

Church should be a gathering for genuine heart-connection and one-another-ministry, not just for brief pre- and post-program small talk. Pastors need to be careful that they don’t manipulate and control God’s people like Pharoah did. God said, “Let My people go.”

If you have a relationship with Jesus don’t hide it in church. Describe it to the world!

I was just challenged to choose a Bible text for 2023. Mine is: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14. It’s easy to assume that we are children of God, but the test is whether or not we are being actively led by God’s Spirit. Make church Spirit-led ekklesia again!