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Discussion Questions:
- What are the main differences between “remissioning” and “revitalization” in the context of church leadership, as described by Josh Hayden?
- Why does Josh Hayden emphasize the importance of listening—both to the congregation and to the neighborhood—before making plans for change?
- What potential dangers did Josh mention with the “shame spiral” that can occur when a congregation realizes it has not fully lived up to its mission? How can leaders pastorally navigate this?
- Josh talks about the shift “from tradition to innovation.” What practical steps did his church take to honor tradition while moving toward meaningful innovation?
- How does “creative destruction” play a role in helping a congregation find new life? Why might this be especially hard in a church context?
- Describe an example from the episode when shared experiences and group dialogue led to constructive change within a congregation. Why is collective ownership of change important?
- What are some ways leaders can avoid taking on the burden of change alone and instead engage wider participation within a church?
- Why is it important to give enough time for congregational experiments or changes to unfold, and what can happen if the process is rushed?
- How should church leaders approach the possibility of failure when trying new experiments or innovations, according to Josh Hayden?
- Why does Markus Watson stress that change should happen “with people, not to people”? How can this mindset shift foster healthier transformation in congregational life?
