In 1997, when Steve Jobs returned to Apple, one of his first actions was to clear out the company’s “museum” of old products and donate them to Stanford University. Jobs understood that Apple was stuck looking backward—analyzing what they had done in the past and making minor tweaks to outdated ideas. He reminded the company that the future matters most and that their job was to look forward and invent tomorrow.

The church could learn a lot from this approach. Many churches are stuck in their own “museums,” endlessly tweaking old methodologies that were effective in the past but no longer resonate with the current culture. This isn’t about abandoning foundational practices like baptism, communion, or worship—those are essential and rooted in Scripture. Rather, it’s about recognizing that our mission as Christ’s ambassadors is a call to action in the present and for the future. To live out God’s mission of making His name known and bringing freedom to people, we must be willing to “invent tomorrow.”

So, what does it look like to “close the museum” while keeping the church open and thriving? Here are a few practical examples:

1. Moving Beyond Traditional Sunday School

For decades, Sunday school was the primary method of discipleship. While its intentions were noble, the format has become ineffective for many. Many churches have shifted focus to small group models where relationships and authentic community foster discipleship. Instead of clinging to Sunday school, they’ve embraced environments where people can wrestle with faith and life together.

2. Rethinking Worship Styles

Many churches get stuck debating worship styles: hymns versus contemporary music, choirs versus worship bands. Instead of tweaking the same arguments, some churches are exploring entirely new ways of engaging people in worship. For example, some churches have embraced digital platforms to offer worship and teaching to people wherever they are. Their app-centered approach creates an accessible space for worship beyond the walls of a building.

3. Innovating Outreach Efforts

Traditional outreach methods like door-to-door evangelism or street preaching may have diminishing returns in today’s context. In contrast, churches like Life.Church have pioneered digital outreach, including launching the YouVersion Bible app. By meeting people where they already are—on their phones and online—they’re reaching millions worldwide with the gospel.

4. Simplifying Programs

Many churches run countless programs that drain resources and volunteers without producing fruit. By contrast, The Summit Church in North Carolina has adopted a “Gospel Above All” strategy, cutting programs that don’t align with their mission to make disciples. This has allowed them to focus on fewer but more impactful ministries, such as church planting and international missions.

Looking Ahead: Inventing Tomorrow

Closing the museum doesn’t mean dishonoring the past. It means honoring the past by learning from it and boldly stepping into the future. To “invent tomorrow,” the church must:

• Focus on Mission Over Methods: Methods can and should change, but the mission to make disciples of all nations remains constant.

• Leverage Technology: The digital revolution provides unprecedented opportunities to spread the gospel.

• Cultivate Creativity: Encourage teams to dream, innovate, and take risks for the Kingdom.

The church’s time is now. Let’s clear out the museum and embrace the future, so we can effectively fulfill our calling to share the gospel with every man, woman, and child.