Episode 1.0 Notes: What Makes a Churchplant Successful

Our definition of success has changed from when we started planting to where we are now.

Every church plant, churchplanter, and context is unique. The ending “success” of your story is always going to look different.

Having a definition of success that applies to everyone is an attempt at manufacturing success when church planting is very organic.

You have to look at numbers, it’s a reality of churchplanting.

We have to go to the Bible and find what is God’s heart for success rather than what does your denomination or network define as success.

There is a difference between being successful and being sustainable. When we start we often use those two terms interchanegably.

My church plant can be successful even if it has a short-term life.

“Find joy in obedience not results.” -Matt Tipton

We try to do the Holy Spirit’s job for Him.

I try to do what God has promised to do, and ask God to do what He’s asked me to do.

A church plant is successful if it has created disciples.

We’re here to make disciples who make disciples.

As visionary as you may be you cannot see the endgame. Success can’t be measured in what we can see in two years or five years.

God works over generations rather than lifetimes. My arrogance says I want God to work in my lifetime so the success can be linked to me.

“We overestimate what we can do in a year, and underestimate what God can do in ten years.” -Mark Batterson

We want to be the magical missing piece that brings success to our city or community.

Success is being a part of what God is doing, not getting the applause for what He is doing.

Success is when God gets the glory.

So much of our identity gets wrapped up in success. We set ourselves up for an identity crisis.

Maybe you wouldn’t experience God like you could if He didn’t bring you through failure.

We have such a narrow view of success we don’t have room for God to bring us through a death and resurrection and do something new.

“We must lay down the burden of success, and begin to think of success as the present kingdom of God in my life.” -Dallas Willard

Nothing robs joy like comparison.

Let God be unique with us and our church plant and give us unique success.

“If you can rock fifty people really well. Rock fifty people over and over again.” -Sean Sears

There are ways of doing church that no one has thought about yet.

What you see as failure may be the beginning of a brand new type of success.

Referenced Books/Resources

Center Church by Timothy Keller (incorrectly called City Church in the podcast)

Acts 29 a church planting network founded by Matt Chandler

New Morning Mercies by Paul Tripp

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