Is your church a true Kingdom-First church? In his book, Kingdom First, Jeff Christopherson has given us some language and categories that can help us do some soul-searching.
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A Kingdom-First Self-Assessment
In order to evaluate how focused you are on seeking first the Kingdom of Christ (Matthew 6:33) as you lead or plant a church, please take the following self-assessment. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being high.
___ We have well-developed plans and strategies to give ourselves away to people groups and places who have a little or no access to an effective gospel-proclaiming church.
___ Our church’s goal is to discover, develop, and deploy church planting teams from within.
___ When people see how we spend our time, talent, and treasure, it is obvious that we believe that our church is a vehicle for something beyond itself... multiplying disciples everywhere.
___ I am far less impressed and infatuated by the churches that leaders grow and that planters plant than I am by the Kingdom fruit they produce.
___ I understand the difference between tools (establishing worship services, building buildings, growing staff) and purpose (becoming a rescuing and restoring community of faith). Therefore, I am fully focused on fulfilling our purpose.
___ We think that it is normal for a congregations to be sacrificial and to multiply new congregations as a vital sign of Kingdom health.
___ We have established goals and effective processes to raise up our own church planters and church planting teams.
___ My goal is not to offer a hipper, cooler worship service, but to create opportunities for people to bring about justice and mercy to needy and hurting people in Jesus’ name.
___ I believe that the church exists to help restore the world to what it would look like if King Jesus has His way.
___ People characterize us as a selfless church, not consumed with our own apparent success or religious reputation. Instead, we are obsessed with a singular passion to grow the Kingdom of Christ even if that means giving away our members and resources.
___ Our church’s goal is to discover, develop, and deploy church planting teams from within.
___ When people see how we spend our time, talent, and treasure, it is obvious that we believe that our church is a vehicle for something beyond itself... multiplying disciples everywhere.
___ I am far less impressed and infatuated by the churches that leaders grow and that planters plant than I am by the Kingdom fruit they produce.
___ I understand the difference between tools (establishing worship services, building buildings, growing staff) and purpose (becoming a rescuing and restoring community of faith). Therefore, I am fully focused on fulfilling our purpose.
___ We think that it is normal for a congregations to be sacrificial and to multiply new congregations as a vital sign of Kingdom health.
___ We have established goals and effective processes to raise up our own church planters and church planting teams.
___ My goal is not to offer a hipper, cooler worship service, but to create opportunities for people to bring about justice and mercy to needy and hurting people in Jesus’ name.
___ I believe that the church exists to help restore the world to what it would look like if King Jesus has His way.
___ People characterize us as a selfless church, not consumed with our own apparent success or religious reputation. Instead, we are obsessed with a singular passion to grow the Kingdom of Christ even if that means giving away our members and resources.
___ My total
On which of the statements did you score highest? Where did you score lowest? What does this self-assessment tell you about your intentionality to be a Kingdom-first church? What specific steps will you take in order to lead a true Kingdom-first, multiplying church?
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