A seasoned minister with a lifetime of experience was helping me plan for the future of the Church I lead. He was walking me through what to prepare and what to say. Then he paused and made a statement that made the entire conversation worthwhile.

He said, “Don’t assume the people you lead know what to do.”

Too often, Church leaders like me make assumptions about the people in our Churches. Those assumptions are rarely accurate. Maybe an idea was never explained clearly. Maybe they weren’t listening when it was. Maybe they’re new to the faith, or maybe they’ve been around for years, and things have changed.

Since that conversation, I’ve tried to do a better job of explaining not only what we believe as a Church, but also why we do what we do when we gather together.

It’s okay if someone doesn’t know something and is afraid to ask. As a Church leader, it’s my responsibility to anticipate that reality and turn every opportunity into a teachable moment.

People can’t be expected to know what they’ve never been taught. Never assume understanding. Keep teaching.