Why Pastors Lose Curiosity: Stay Sharp in Ministry

Twenty-six years ago, I was in an extensive interview for a new role in a new ministry far from home. After many of the predictable comments and questions, one of the interviewers had a mic-drop moment.

He said, "Our last guy was in this role for eight years, but he didn't demonstrate eight years of experience. He gave us one year… eight times in a row. He didn't grow and didn't evolve. We need someone who will not replay the past over and over, but will demonstrate learning agility, a growth mindset, and the kind of curiosity that will keep us moving forward. Can you do that?"

Twenty-six years later, I'm still reflecting on that profound question.

For many of us, we spend the first decade of ministry chasing "experience" and building our resumes. We accumulate knowledge and a bag of ministry hacks that become muscle memory, making us more efficient and comfortable with our roles and routines.

But what if routine robs us of awe, wonder, and genuine growth? What if an obsession over certainty and familiarity crowds out curiosity?

Curiosity may be one of the great antidotes to the toxins of pride and rigidity, and a vital catalyst for lifelong development. But how do we remain curious?

Scripture reminds us that there is a "mystery" of godliness, a mystery of the gospel, and the mystery of Christ in us. In The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer wrote, "To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too easily satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart."

Too many in ministry have found Him and then have quickly reduced Him to doctrinal statements, carefully crafted past-tense testimonies, and pithy principles that no longer engage the heart and mind. Too many of us are "easily satisfied religionists" who have refined a profession and stopped discovering the person.

Curiosity's Diagnostic: Signs Your Ministry Growth Has Stalled

Experience, education, and longevity are both assets and liabilities in our Christ-following and leadership. Without curiosity, these qualities quickly trend toward liabilities. Here are some questions that may expose a lack of curiosity in your ministry today.

What if your old sermon illustrations were retired and replaced with fresh, personal examples? Do you invite your co-workers to give genuine feedback on how you lead and how you might learn from their vantage point? When was the last time you asked your family members to identify areas where you are stuck in a rut or resistant to change? Do you read the Scriptures for genuine discovery or confirmation bias? Is the peak of your curiosity in your past, present, or future?

Curiosity's Development: How Ministry Leaders Stay Agile and Relevant

Ministry leaders who remain pliable, agile, and relevant possess an ongoing curiosity. When leading themselves, they ask questions like, "Is the mystery of 'Christ in me' still mysterious?" In leading other staff or volunteers, they ask, "What are some things you wish I knew about your approach to ministry?" In leading those above them in the org chart, they ask, "What can you teach me that I've failed to learn thus far?"

Engage in a "questions audit" that documents the type and number of questions you ask yourself and others. Pay attention to the frequency, sincerity, and intended audience of the questions you ask. Do you ask too little and assume too much?

Examine your ability to actively listen to others as they present problems and ideas to you. Rather than replying with a quick answer, ask at least three follow-up questions to elicit their curiosity and yours. Is there more that you would like to say about this? How did we get here? If we weren't afraid of failing, what would we do?

Experiment with ways to break from familiar norms. If we lacked the familiar resources, how would we…? If we could start from scratch, how would we approach this? If we could leverage wisdom from an individual or team that has no idea how we operate, how might they handle this situation?

Curiosity's Deception and Destination: Settlers or Explorers

Too often, seasoned leaders default to a dangerous deception. We long to grow in our expertise, but fear the arenas that expose our ignorance. We enjoy sharing best practices, but we become anxious when we are exposed as novices in a given situation. We deceive ourselves by thinking that we are better off as settlers than explorers.

Our destination matters. Settlers have a mindset of familiarity, routine, and certainty. Settlers believe they are already home. The settler is all too satisfied with their small world, limited experiences, and stunted impact.

We cannot settle for being settlers. We are explorers. We have a holy discontent with stale stories and stunted growth. We have so many more mysteries to explore. Although we've already found Him, we get the joy of searching after Him.

As ministry leaders, we have the honor of being explorers. We have the joy of inviting others into the mystery where we find new manna, new mercies, and new depths of His grace.

Curiosity is a powerful disposition for the Christ-following leader. It takes courage to remain curious. It compels us to take the posture of humility. It elicits creativity. It calls for attentive discovery. Scripture reminds us that we have a "mystery" of Christ, the gospel, His return, and Christ in you.

Rather than being stunted in a little mastery, commit this day to enter into the mystery.

Curiosity Doesn't Grow in Isolation