The Power of Sunday Expectancy

Every day is the Lord’s Day, but Sundays feel different.

Sundays are different.

Most Sundays, I’m in a new church, in a new city, preaching and helping teams rethink strategy and structure. And while I love my job, I love even more watching what God is doing in churches across the country.

But here’s what I’ve noticed:
Not every church is experiencing spiritual momentum.
Not every church is growing.
Not every church is seeing discipleship progress.

And when your church is the one not seeing that momentum, it’s easy to assume something painful:
God blesses some churches… and skips others.

Let’s talk about that.

Why Do Some Churches Feel “Blessed” and Others Don’t?

That’s the haunting question I hear from pastors more than they’d like to admit:
“Why does it feel like God’s doing something there… but not here?”

It’s not just a theological question. It’s a leadership one.

And while there are many reasons churches grow or stall, one dynamic consistently separates momentum churches from maintenance churches:

Expectancy.

You can feel it when you walk in.
Something’s different. Something’s alive.
Yes, it’s the Holy Spirit, but also, it’s a people expecting the Spirit to move. 

Is It the Holy Spirit… or Something More?

The Spirit of God isn’t more present at one church than another.
That’s not how the Spirit works.

He’s not skipping churches like a tour bus driver avoiding traffic.
If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you. Period.

So what’s the difference?

Some churches welcome the Spirit.
Other churches expect the Spirit to do something.

And that difference is everything.

The Gap Between Invitation and Expectation

You’ve probably heard—or sung—the Jesus Culture song:
“Holy Spirit, You are welcome here.”

It’s a beautiful sentiment. But…
He’s already there.

What we need to ask is…
Do we expect Him to do anything while He’s here?

That’s the shift I’ve seen in churches with momentum:

✅ Pastors pray—and expect God to move.
✅ Worship teams plan—and expect hearts to open.
✅ Volunteers serve—and expect life change.
✅ Leaders lead—and expect a breakthrough.

They don’t just hope for God’s movement.
They show up as if it’s already happening.

When You Expect More, You Lead Differently

Expectation changes how you:

• Plan your services (not just to fill time, but to create space for God)
• Welcome your people (believing transformation is possible)
• Lead your teams (with contagious spiritual anticipation)
• Preach your message (with a deep sense that God wants to speak)

Expectancy is faith in motion.

And faith—according to Jesus—can move mountains.
Or maybe in our case… move hearts.

What If the Spirit Is Waiting on Us?

When you read through the New Testament, the Spirit moves most often:

• In response to obedience
• In response to prayer
• In response to faith-filled expectancy

He’s faithful… but not formulaic.
But here’s one formula I do believe in:

When we show up without expectation, we often get what we expect.

I’ve just seen it too many times—churches that look ordinary on paper but experience extraordinary movement…
because their leaders show up with Spirit-filled anticipation.

This Sunday, Lead Like You Expect God to Move

This week, here’s my challenge:
Lead expectantly.

• Tell your people God is ready to work in their lives today.
• Encourage your worship team to lead with joy and hope, not performance.
• Preach like the Spirit is already in the room because He is.

And more than that…

Believe that what you’re doing matters.
Believe that God wants to move.
Believe that spiritual momentum is more than strategy—it’s expectancy.

Let’s lead like we believe God is already at work. Because He is.

Quotes to Share

“God doesn’t skip churches. But we often skip expecting Him to move.”
“The Holy Spirit is always present—but expectancy is what releases His power.”
“Lead your church like you believe God wants to change lives this Sunday—because He does.”

Want Help With Your Church’s Strategy?

Reply to this email if you’d like to discuss how I may be able to serve you and your church. 

You can also:

 Join a FREE Pressure Valve Session: I host a monthly Pressure Valve Session to help pastors like you tackle one of these seven pressures head-on.
 Attend a Leadership Lab: Attend a digital strategy lab and walk away with a practical plan to confidently lead under pressure. Or I’ll come to you and host a retreat or a 1-day workshop.
 Take the Pressure Inventory: This free, 5-minute assessment helps you identify where the pressure is heaviest for you.

Here are a few other articles you may enjoy: 

• You Can’t Lead a Great Church Without Learning From Others: 3 Lessons From Visiting Three Churches
• Does the Holy Spirit Like To Plan?
• The Balance Every Pastor Needs: Spirit-Led vs. Strategic Planning

Leading In The Spirit With You,
Dr. Gavin Adams