It exceeded our hopes and expectations.

We are on for the ride of our life together…God is doing something incredibly unique here.

We launch 3 January, 2010 in West Ashley, Charleston, South Carolina. There were 16 folks at the gathering who make up most of our “Core.”

They are not ordinary.

They are extraordinary.

I’m serious…each and every one of these men and women is high-calibre.

I’m amazed.

We talked through Matthew 28:18-20, and took a look at this article which explains the relationship of the Talmidim and his Rabbi. It was a good illustration of our goal at River Church to lead by fostering true community and discipleship. Intentionally, specifically, and strategically. Just as Jesus invested his greatest effort in Peter, James and John to leverage the cornerstones of the Church, we can only expand the Kingdom of God in West Ashley by focusing on roughly 3 folks over a long period of time who then focus on discipling roughly 3 folks…and so on.

Here’s the hard-hitting quote of the night:

If your disciples are not discipling, then YOU are not discipling, and you may very well not be a disciple yourself.

So, stick with me here: If the effectiveness of our church’s leadership [micro] is equal to our disciples’ effectiveness, and if the role of the Church is to make disciples of all nations, then the overall [macro] health of River Church can be easily gauged by how engaged our people are with making disciples themselves.

Simply put, if years from now we are seeing the number of intentional and effective disciples increase exponentially, then we are leading a healthy church.

That’s a tall cup of tea to swallow. A daunting task.

But Christ has told us that we are able and that we can rely on His help.

Novelty will fade and we will move from launch mode to [hopefully] gaining in maturity. Through it all, if River Church is multiplying disciples exponentially, all over the globe, then we are successful.

If our reality shows otherwise, then we have missed our calling.

Is it really that simple? Am I oversimplifying? Way off base? I’m a veteran of the Church, but am a newby in leading a church. Is this thought too idealistic!

I guess the reason I’m so uncertain is I don’t see too many church plants out there who are operating in a way that effectively cultivates this kind of community.

Are we ready to lead so intentionally and intensely that we would only have the bandwidth to disciple three men or women? Can our pride handle putting so many of our eggs in that basket?

One night on the Sea of Galilee, Peter didn’t doubt Christ’s ability to find firm footing in water…he doubted his OWN ability.

If our clothes are dusty from walking behind Jesus, we are able…because our efforts are powered by the Spirit of God.

Again, is it this simple? Disciples leading disciples who are leading disciples? Is this a thorough enough summary of the Great Commission?

Today, Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel are teaching at Catalyst One Day in Granger, IN. But I’ve been reading the tweets of folks sitting in the room. They’re sending out the “zingers” that these guys are spilling.

If you’re like me and haven’t had lunch yet, chew on this:

• Craig Groeschel: “Don’t ask people what they DO. Figure out how they THINK.”
• Craig Groeschel: “Are you about your mission…or are you about guarding people’s feelings.”
• Andy Stanley: “If you have momentum and you don’t know why–you are one stupid decision away from killing it.”
• Andy Stanley: “Complexity works against momentum. Complexity works against momentum. Complexity works against momentum. Complexity works against momentum.”
• Craig Groeschel: “So often your greatest blessing is born out of your greatest limitation. Scarcity=innovation”
• Craig Groeschel: “Ask ‘what haven’t we led our people to do’ vs. ‘why won’t our people do this?’”
• Andy Stanley: “If you’re in an environment where you can’t try anything new, then you are doing too many things.”
• Craig Groeschel: “Whatever you aren’t doing or aren’t willing to do is likely what your church won’t do or isn’t willing to do.”
• Craig Groeschel: “Identify 1 painful decision that you’ve been avoiding, and make the decision no matter the short-term pain.”
• Andy Stanley: “Continuous improvement requires systematic evaluation. It needs to be built into the rhythm of an organization.”

Mary Beth Stockdale has some GREAT notes from the conference: Part 1, Part 2, [these two were added since I first posted: Part 3, Part 4]

“Consider what SHOULD be done rather than what COULD be done.” A statement of freedom for you dreamers out there. From Team of Rivals

That’s a sucker punch/breath of fresh air for us visionaries.