A New Version of You

A few years ago, I was driving my car listening to a Joe Burrow (NFL quarterback) weekly press conference. It is something the NFL requires of him throughout training camp and during the football season. He said something that day that caught my attention.

Before I share what grabbed me, there is something you have to know first. I am a huge Cincinnati Bengals fan. You might ask why?! I often ask the same question. Pray for me later, but hang with me for a few minutes.

The Bengals were coming off their Super Bowl run in 2021. Burrow’s stardom was a rocket ship locally and nationally.

This particular day, he was answering questions about preparing for another NFL season. He talked about how every game requires something different from him. Each opponent presents a different challenge. Each defense has a different set of strengths.

Each week, he has to determine which version of Joe Burrow needs to emerge for the Bengals to win. Joe then said, “My favorite part of playing football is figuring out which version of me is needed to win that game.” (There it is!).

A Bengals beat writer quickly asked a follow-up question, “Which version of Joe do you like the best?” His answer, “I like the version of Joe that throws for 530 yards.” Joe did that against the Baltimore Ravens in the prior season.

I smiled when I heard share the version of him he liked the most. Of course, that was his favorite version. Who wouldn’t prefer the version of themselves putting up historic numbers, throwing touchdowns, and winning games (insert your favorite ministry scorecard examples).

But, I could not stop thinking about Joe’s first answer. Every game requires a different version of Joe. This is true in football. I believe it is also true about ministry.

Different seasons of leadership require different versions of the same called leader.

The pastorwho starts a new expression of church may not be the same version of the pastor needed to lead it ten years from now. The leader who helps a congregation survive a crisis may need to lead differently when the crisis is over. The ministry leader who creates early momentum through personal energy and relationships will eventually need to build teams, establish systems, and release authority.

The calling may remain the same. The Jesus mission does not change. The leader is still the leader God called. A new season, however, will always require something new from that leader.

When Yesterday’s Strength Becomes Today’s Limitation

Most pastors I coach do not suffer from a shortage of ideas. They often have a long list of sermon and ministry ideas. They are dreaming about new forms of outreach and the next staffer they need to hire. They attend conferences, listen to podcasts, and engage other leaders.

When a church or ministry gets stuck, our first instinct is often to search for the next best idea. We need a new program, structure, strategy, or teammate. Any of those things might be helpful, but let this question linger over you. What if your ministry or church’s next breakthrough is not waiting on a new idea?

What if it is waiting for a new version of you?

Our strengths do not suddenly become bad. But an unexamined strength can become a limitation when the season changes. The version of you that brought your church or ministry here may not be the version of you that can lead it there.

The Next Version Is Still You

You do not need to become louder, more charismatic, or even more impressive. We certainly do not need to chase every new leadership trend.

The next version of you is still you.

It is a leader God has been forming through every win, loss, conflict, and courageous decision. It is a leader God has been shaping through faithfulness and obedience. And yes, even failure.

This is not reinvention. It is emergence.

I often ask leaders to wrestle with this question: what new version of your needs to emerge for the new season you are entering?

I have a very long list of possible answers to share, but I am going to resist sharing them. My challenge is for you to sit with Jesus. Ask Him that question. Discern what new version of you needs to emerge for what is next you, your team, and your ministry.

What Version of You Does This Season Need?

Every football game presents a different defense for an offense to attack. Every season of ministry presents a different set of leadership challenges.

Here are a few questions to help you dig deeper on the last question I asked.

• What is changing around you?

• What does your church or ministry need now that it did not need three years ago?

• Which of your strengths may be creating an unintended limitation?

• What conversation have you been avoiding because the next version of you might need greater courage?

• Who do you need to trust?

• What do you need to learn?

• What or who do you need to release?

These questions are not about competency. These questions are about stewardship.

God did not call us only for the season in which we first said yes. He desires deeply to transform us for every season that follows.

A New Version of You

Joe Burrow was right.

Every game requires a different version of him. The best version is not always the one that produces the most impressive stat line. It is the version prepared to meet the new challenges ahead.


The same is true of us.

Our next breakthrough may include a new idea, strategy, or opportunity. However, before we go searching for what is next, we should sit with Jesus and boldly ask, “What new version of me needs to emerge for the season of ministry in front of me?”

And then, listen. Surrender. Trust your Heavenly Father. The God who called us into this work is not finished transforming us to carry it forward.

Onward. Forward!

*This article was written for Exponential Next and originally published by Exponential.