As a pastor/communicator, I’ve reached an unusual place in my life: I don’t know what to say next.
A little more than three years ago—when we knew that we were about to start Collective Church—I sat down at my computer and created a document with a bunch of ideas for sermons/sermon series. I thought that if I could just get enough ideas on paper, I would be able to get a head start on stay ahead for the duration of my time as a pastor. By the time the church officially started, that document had enough ideas to fill a couple of years.
Fast-forward to yesterday—Easter Sunday 2017. That’s the day that I preached from the last of the ideas on that original document. Truthfully, I’m a little bit surprised that I actually needed all of those ideas. Statistically, most new churches don’t make it as long as we have. Nobody is more surprised than me.
So now—as I mentioned above—I’m out of ideas. I have no plans past this summer (and even the summer sermon plans are pretty tentative). I need to spend some time figuring out what needs to be said, what questions need to be asked, and where the conversation goes from here.
Truthfully, I’m writing this more for myself than anybody else. I don’t even know if anyone will read this. I just needed to say it as a way of marking the moment—the moment at which I once again needed to stare at a blank piece of paper and find the next batch of words to say. It’s almost as if we’re starting the church all over again.
I’m excited about this new phase of writing and learning and preaching. I love that I get to do this work at a church that I’m proud to be a part of.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a blank screen that needs my attention…