“How do you maintain peace in your life when you don’t know the answers?”

“What good does reading the modern translation of the Bible do if we’re so far removed from the ancient meanings / intentions?”

“What should the Church’s posture or even our posture as Christ-followers be toward the war happening in Gaza? How do we avoid being a part of ‘bad religion’ within this time where there’s a lot of darkness and pain?”

“You said Jesus doesn’t demand perfection but what about ‘be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect?’ How do you understand that verse?”

These are just a sampling of the questions that Journey Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, receives each week via an open text line to the pastors and as part of their post-Sunday sermon Question & Response conversations. From theological and scriptural questions to the everyday issues of living as a Christian, Journey Church builds time into their week to respond to every question that comes their way.

In a recent interview with Kevin Dixon, lead pastor, and Suzie Lind, executive pastor of ministries, they shared their unique approach to leadership and community building. Here’s a closer look at their insights.

This is an excerpt of the full interview. The full-length interview, which is part of Barna and Gloo’s State of the Church initiative, can be found in Barna Access Plus.

1. Your church has a strong value around being a “table and wells” culture. What does this mean, and how does it show up in practical ways? Suzie Lind: At the Last Supper, Jesus served those who doubted, denied and even betrayed him, yet he welcomed and served them all. We aim to extend that same hospitality to everyone. We have monthly “table” gatherings where people meet in homes over a meal. Our table leaders are trained to welcome everyone, ask questions and listen to each other’s stories. We also strive to love people regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds, without expecting them to conform to our way of thinking.

The “wells” concept comes from set theory—a missiological approach that says you can either build a fence to keep people in or dig a well that draws people to it. In our context, Jesus is the well, the living water, at the center of everything we do. No matter where someone is on their faith journey, they’re welcome to come closer and explore at their own pace.

div id="attachment_184107" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"Image provided by Journey Church.

2. You promote the idea of “listening first, speaking second” as a way of fostering engagement within your congregation. What does this look like at Journey Church? Kevin Dixon: We prioritize an open-handed approach, starting with the assumption that we don’t have all the answers. We facilitate ongoing dialogue through Question & Response sessions and a text line for anonymous questions, encouraging curiosity and discussion about Jesus. People listen to sermons differently when they know they’re going to have a chance to ask questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, making people curious about Jesus and what he offers.

Suzie Lind: We position ourselves as colearners, not as authorities with all the answers. This creates a space where everyone’s voice is valued. We’re intentional about creating an environment where people feel safe to question us, knowing that we’re all on a journey together.

Kevin Dixon: Exactly. We aim to facilitate dialogue rather than dictate. When we say “speaking second,” it’s about giving others the floor first and responding in a way that invites further discussion, not shutting it down.

This is an excerpt of the full interview. The full-length interview can be found in Barna Access Plus.