From Comfortable to Courageous: Reclaiming the Mission of the Church

One of my favorite sayings is, “No faith is required when you’re comfortable.”

I remember a time when I was pastoring a small-town church, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. The church and I were finally in sync. Ministries were running well, there was a predictable rhythm to my weekly routine, and the church’s finances were stable. The bills were paid on time, our programs were humming along, and, on the surface, all seemed well.

But looking back, I realize we had slipped into a comfort zone—both me as the pastor and the congregation I was leading. Instead of dreaming bold dreams of how we could impact our community for Christ, we focused on maintaining what we had. Our decisions were shaped more by a desire to stay comfortable than by a willingness to take God-sized risks where faith was required.

We were having church, but we had stopped being the church to our community. And that’s a dangerous place to be because, as Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

The Drift Toward Comfort

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you feel that way right now.

Every church and every pastor can fall into this trap. Ministry has a natural rhythm, and there’s even a life cycle to churches, similar to that of living organisms. In the beginning, a church is full of excitement and vision. Over time, things mature, plateau, and, if nothing changes, eventually decline.

George Bullard’s Church Life Cycle illustrates this progression:

1. Birth – Passionate mission, strong vision, and bold, risk-taking faith.

2. Growth – Clear mission, expanding ministries, outward focus.

3. Maturity – Programs and structures solidify, focus begins to turn inward.

4. Decline – Maintenance mindset sets in, innovation stops, mission fades.

5. Death – The church exists only to preserve tradition or survive.

Whenever I walk a church through this model, I ask, “Where do you think you are in the cycle?” More often than not, leaders look at each other, and someone admits—sometimes with tears—that their church is in decline or even nearing death.

The slide downward begins the moment faith is replaced by comfort. But here’s the good news: at any stage, a church can experience rebirth—if they are willing to step out of their comfort zone and back into courageous, faith-driven mission.

Why Churches Slip Into Comfort Zones

Ministry is hard. It’s natural to long for a break. Even Jesus withdrew to rest and pray. But there’s a difference between healthy rest and unhealthy comfort.

Here are some common reasons churches slip into a comfort zone:

• Fear of Failure – When attendance or giving dips, churches often circle the wagons, stop trying new things, and play it safe to avoid making things worse.

• Nostalgia for the Past – We cling to what worked “back then” instead of discerning what God is calling us to do now.

• Conflict Avoidance – We avoid difficult conversations or bold decisions because we don’t want to upset anyone.

• Misplaced Metrics – Success becomes about attendance numbers or budgets instead of transformed lives.

• Spiritual Complacency – We mistake busyness for true discipleship and confuse activity with impact.

These factors create an inward-focused church that is more concerned about comfort than calling.

Breaking Free from Comfort

One of my other favorite sayings is, “Mission trumps everything!”

The way out of a comfort zone is to return to mission. Here are five steps to help your church—and you as a leader—move from comfortable to courageous:

1. Return to Your “Why”

The church exists for one purpose: to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). If our primary focus is anything else—programs, tradition, even survival—we’ve missed the mark. Pastors must model a disciple-making life for their people.

2. Identify Your One Excellent Mission

When a church has a clear and compelling focus, it avoids maintenance and survival mode. What has God uniquely equipped your congregation to do for His Kingdom? Discover that one mission and align everything around it.

3. Take One Bold Step of Faith

What is one risky action your church can take in the next 90 days to impact your community for Christ? Faith grows when we move into uncharted territory.

4. Celebrate Discomfort

Discomfort isn’t failure—it’s a sign of growth. When you feel stretched, you’re learning to lean on God instead of your own strength. Celebrate moments when faith requires you to step beyond what feels safe.

5. Equip and Send

Pastors are called to equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Shift your members from spectators to active disciple-makers. Empower them to serve and send them out to live their faith in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

A Challenge to the Church

“No faith is required when you’re comfortable.”

Jesus never called His church to comfort. He called us to take up our cross, embrace risk, and follow Him into the unknown. Your church’s future depends on your willingness to trade comfort for calling.

Where is your church on the life cycle? Are you thriving, merely surviving, or slipping toward decline?

This month, I challenge you to take one uncomfortable, faith-driven action:

• Walk through your neighborhood and talk with people you’ve never met.

• Strike up a conversation with someone at a coffee shop and genuinely listen to their story.

• Start a new ministry that meets a tangible need in your community.

Whatever it is, make sure it gets you out of your spiritual recliner and causes you to trust God for what happens next.

Don’t let comfort replace faith. The world desperately needs a church that is courageous, mission-focused, and willing to risk everything to make disciples of Jesus Christ.