The Priority: Spiritual Renewal

Our God is a God of the new. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals a God who delights in bringing new life where there is decay, new hope where there is despair, and new joy where there is sorrow.

This truth sits right at the heart of Christianity itself. At its core, our faith is about renewal; God making all things new again through the power of His Spirit and the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is true for individuals, but it is true for churches as well. The Lord loves to renew his people again and again because His love never runs dry, His mercy never runs out, and His purposes never fail.

This theme of renewal isn’t a minor thread in the Bible, it’s one of the great melodies of God’s redemptive story. From beginning to end, the Scriptures sing of a God who brings fresh life out of what’s broken and worn out.

Just listen to a few examples:

·      2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

·      Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”

·      Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

·      Psalm 40:3 – “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”

·      Lamentations 3:22–23 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases… they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

·      2 Peter 3:13 – “According to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

We could go on and on, but the message is clear: our God is a God of renewal. This truth about God’s renewing heart is exactly where we must begin when talking about helping dying or declining churches experience true revitalization.

Before we talk about strategy, structure, or style, we must talk about spiritual renewal. Why? Because this is what the Lord cares most about, and what He has always cared about. Every lasting revitalization story begins not with clever plans but with God’s gracious renewal of hearts; pastors and people alike being humbled, awakened, and filled again with love for Jesus and His mission. Everything else whether it be church growth, healthy systems, or creative outreach strategies, flow downstream from spiritual renewal. Nothing can substitute the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit bringing renewal to His church.

In our day, it is easy for pastors and leaders to lean on methods, marketing, and man-made ideas. Don’t get me wrong, these things have their place, but none of them can raise the spiritually dead. What we need more than any man-empowered method is God-empowered renewal. We need the Lord to move in power. We need Him to bring new life where there is little to no life. We need Him to bring hope where there is little to no hope. We need Him to bring joy where there is little to no joy. Only God can do this. And when He does, no one can take the credit, only give Him the glory.

Before we plan new programs or polish new strategies, we must humble ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to move among us again. We must cry out for renewal, through prayer, repentance, dependence, and obedience. We must ask Him to do in our hearts and churches what we cannot do ourselves.

Because where the Spirit of God moves in renewal, everything changes. Hope is reborn. Hearts are softened. Churches come alive. Communities are reached. And the name of Jesus is lifted high.

Our God is a God of the new. He delights in renewal. And He loves to make all things new, again, and again, and again, all for His glory. This is why the cry of every pastor, every leader, every follower of Jesus should be this: “Lord, do it again. Bring renewal to your people. Renew our churches for the fame of your great name!”