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Kingdom First: Starting Churches That Shape Movements
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. There are few dreams more spiritually intoxicating than the dream of being used by God to start a new community of Christ that skillfully brings the restorative gospel to a lost and broken city. Something which feels like a spiritual landslide that starts with lostness and ends in an avalanche of new congregations multiplying and transforming community after community into which they unmistakably seep. Authors Jeff Christopherson and Mac Lake call readers to imagine a movement that vividly remembers the insubstantial days of a mustard seed with a sense of awe and wonder when looking at the indescribable harvest that stands all around. Though the kingdom of God can't be forced by superficial methods, the good news is that when you move past the threshold of your competency and comfort, you find yourself in the very spot where God can use you like no other. What wouldn’t you sacrifice to be a part of something that only could be described as a God-honoring gospel movement?
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2015
43 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 1, 2019
Very helpful framework for church planting
I struggled to get through the first few sections of the book, more due to a disconnection with writing style than anything else, but I’m glad I finished. I felt like it became increasingly helpful as it progressed in establishing a clear framework for church planting models. For those that have done reading previously on church planting much of this won’t be new, but the author clearly has a keen sense of the climate of our current culture and does well to make very pointed suggestions in how to deal with the barriers the church faces.
I struggled to get through the first few sections of the book, more due to a disconnection with writing style than anything else, but I’m glad I finished. I felt like it became increasingly helpful as it progressed in establishing a clear framework for church planting models. For those that have done reading previously on church planting much of this won’t be new, but the author clearly has a keen sense of the climate of our current culture and does well to make very pointed suggestions in how to deal with the barriers the church faces.
September 28, 2019
I’m praying about church planting so I picked up this book. Honestly I had low expectations because I thought it would be another “here is the sure-fire strategy to change the world” book. While it did talk about strategy, I appreciate the author’s insights, humility and honesty. It was a helpful read for thinking about church planting practically and theologically. It was thought provoking and thorough.
February 6, 2020
Passionate and stirring fly over of church planting. I expected stuff to be surface level and redundant, but Christopherson manages to give surprising depth in his short, punchy chapters.
While much of the material covered is nothing new or super enlightening, it is a helpful volume even for the most seasoned planter or pastor. This is an especially great book to put in the hands of anyone interested in church planting who either doesn't have much knowledge or who has a bad framework for it.
While much of the material covered is nothing new or super enlightening, it is a helpful volume even for the most seasoned planter or pastor. This is an especially great book to put in the hands of anyone interested in church planting who either doesn't have much knowledge or who has a bad framework for it.
September 23, 2015
Having read Jeff Christopherson’s previous book, Kingdom Matrix, I picked up Kingdom First with anticipation. I was not disappointed.
In his newest offering, Jeff has built on the earlier foundation providing additional biblical concepts with practical insights that have been field tested.
Jeff Christopherson is the vice-president of Send Network for the North American Mission Board. Prior to that he has served in pastoral and church planting works in his native Canada. Both he and Mac Lake bring a wealth of practical experience to the subject of this book.
Christopherson begins with a criticism of an often unspoken, yet prevalent, attitude of churches. He couples this criticism with a way forward that is the purpose of this book. He writes, “We too often design churches as if they were the ‘end’ in and of themselves. Inherent in that idolatrous design is a deviant, sacred darkness that the harvest finds entirely repelling. This book is about crafting a new [kind of] church for the Kingdom of God” (1).
The book is divided into eight parts, each of which is composed of three to five chapters about a material component of his church building paradigm. They are presented as sequential or progressive components (i.e., 1 leads to 2, 2 to 3, and so forth).
These eight components are:
1. Kingdom first: to seek first the kingdom of God and how that priority is practiced in the church plant and for the community in which it is located.
2. Character: the development, maintenance, and influence of Christ-like character in leaders.
3. Context: recognition of, and sensitivity to, the environment and context of the proposed church plant as well as the gifts, abilities, personalities and passions of the planters.
4. Communication: exploring effective communication between a static audience, a dynamic message, in an appropriate medium.
5. Teamwork (written by Mac Lake): how to choose and develop those with whom you need to serve.
6. Making a difference: if the church plant and the leaders ceased to be, would the community weep (159f.). The authors make a bold claim: “only churches that seek the Kingdom of God first … will make a difference that lasts” (161).
7. Making disciples: Their working definition of a disciple is “what happens when people live daily with Jesus” (187) with a helpful discussion of “success” based on fruit (e.g., obedience, character).
8. Multiplication: how multiplication is biblical, natural, and beneficial. This part also considers the nature and relationship of church planting and life-cycles in the context of the enduring activity of the Kingdom of God.
Regarding the book’s subtitle (Starting Churches that Shape Movements), the final chapter (249-253) all-too-briefly provides seven practical steps intended to shift a new church toward becoming a dynamic force for kingdom movement.
There are a number of things that make this book of great value for church planting.
First, the main thesis is Kingdom of God first – not church first. This sets churches within a larger and enduring context, with all that implies for issues such as vision, co-operation, and denominational priorities.
Second, the general approach is paradigmatic, not programmatic. This is not a book about a one-size-fits-all model. It recognizes the need for contextual awareness, adaptation, and wisdom without compromising the core message of the Gospel.
Third, the eight components are presented with not only a sound theological grounding, but also an insistence on practical growth and expression. Resources are identified by way of example or suggestion, allowing for discernment of the suitability of those resources within a particular context.
I will mention two criticisms I have.
First, despite the welcomed shift toward a paradigmatic approach, my sense is that the book retains an American evangelical flavor. Of course, this is the primary market for the book – but that brings limitations. A couple of examples will suffice. The use of the “3 Circles Life Conversation Guide” (114) may not be useful in honor-shame or power-fear cultures. The somewhat enculturated references to “consistent team meeting schedule,” “once a month use thirty minutes of your regular meeting for leadership development” (156f.) echo a prevailing mentality for a type of leadership that may not be consistent with the context of a church plant.
Second, there is insufficient explanation of why these eight components were selected and put in their order. I suspect they are based on the authors’ experience. Although the “kingdom first” principle is a great starting place, is there a logical ordering to the sequence of the other seven components?
A fuller explanation would be useful for equipping church planters to identify when a transition is taking place, or when it should be set in motion.
Overall, these criticisms are minor in light of the valuable contribution this book makes to church planting and church health. I give it 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.
This book deserves a wide and careful reading. I recommend it to all existing and aspiring church planters, evangelists, and disciple-makers, as well as other congregational and ministry leaders.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
In his newest offering, Jeff has built on the earlier foundation providing additional biblical concepts with practical insights that have been field tested.
Jeff Christopherson is the vice-president of Send Network for the North American Mission Board. Prior to that he has served in pastoral and church planting works in his native Canada. Both he and Mac Lake bring a wealth of practical experience to the subject of this book.
Christopherson begins with a criticism of an often unspoken, yet prevalent, attitude of churches. He couples this criticism with a way forward that is the purpose of this book. He writes, “We too often design churches as if they were the ‘end’ in and of themselves. Inherent in that idolatrous design is a deviant, sacred darkness that the harvest finds entirely repelling. This book is about crafting a new [kind of] church for the Kingdom of God” (1).
The book is divided into eight parts, each of which is composed of three to five chapters about a material component of his church building paradigm. They are presented as sequential or progressive components (i.e., 1 leads to 2, 2 to 3, and so forth).
These eight components are:
1. Kingdom first: to seek first the kingdom of God and how that priority is practiced in the church plant and for the community in which it is located.
2. Character: the development, maintenance, and influence of Christ-like character in leaders.
3. Context: recognition of, and sensitivity to, the environment and context of the proposed church plant as well as the gifts, abilities, personalities and passions of the planters.
4. Communication: exploring effective communication between a static audience, a dynamic message, in an appropriate medium.
5. Teamwork (written by Mac Lake): how to choose and develop those with whom you need to serve.
6. Making a difference: if the church plant and the leaders ceased to be, would the community weep (159f.). The authors make a bold claim: “only churches that seek the Kingdom of God first … will make a difference that lasts” (161).
7. Making disciples: Their working definition of a disciple is “what happens when people live daily with Jesus” (187) with a helpful discussion of “success” based on fruit (e.g., obedience, character).
8. Multiplication: how multiplication is biblical, natural, and beneficial. This part also considers the nature and relationship of church planting and life-cycles in the context of the enduring activity of the Kingdom of God.
Regarding the book’s subtitle (Starting Churches that Shape Movements), the final chapter (249-253) all-too-briefly provides seven practical steps intended to shift a new church toward becoming a dynamic force for kingdom movement.
There are a number of things that make this book of great value for church planting.
First, the main thesis is Kingdom of God first – not church first. This sets churches within a larger and enduring context, with all that implies for issues such as vision, co-operation, and denominational priorities.
Second, the general approach is paradigmatic, not programmatic. This is not a book about a one-size-fits-all model. It recognizes the need for contextual awareness, adaptation, and wisdom without compromising the core message of the Gospel.
Third, the eight components are presented with not only a sound theological grounding, but also an insistence on practical growth and expression. Resources are identified by way of example or suggestion, allowing for discernment of the suitability of those resources within a particular context.
I will mention two criticisms I have.
First, despite the welcomed shift toward a paradigmatic approach, my sense is that the book retains an American evangelical flavor. Of course, this is the primary market for the book – but that brings limitations. A couple of examples will suffice. The use of the “3 Circles Life Conversation Guide” (114) may not be useful in honor-shame or power-fear cultures. The somewhat enculturated references to “consistent team meeting schedule,” “once a month use thirty minutes of your regular meeting for leadership development” (156f.) echo a prevailing mentality for a type of leadership that may not be consistent with the context of a church plant.
Second, there is insufficient explanation of why these eight components were selected and put in their order. I suspect they are based on the authors’ experience. Although the “kingdom first” principle is a great starting place, is there a logical ordering to the sequence of the other seven components?
A fuller explanation would be useful for equipping church planters to identify when a transition is taking place, or when it should be set in motion.
Overall, these criticisms are minor in light of the valuable contribution this book makes to church planting and church health. I give it 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.
This book deserves a wide and careful reading. I recommend it to all existing and aspiring church planters, evangelists, and disciple-makers, as well as other congregational and ministry leaders.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
December 30, 2025
If Fire Marshall Bill ever wrote a book on church planting. Kingdom First is a yawnsome admixture of obvious observations, trite truisms, and goofy boomerisms. This is surprising, because Christopherson's book on the kingdom matrix was great. This feels like a book that was written to satisfy a contract, and I'm pretty disappointed
January 14, 2022
I need to read this again as I am now more interested in Church planting. I remember it being a little dry, but perhaps I was not interested in the topic at the time. He discusses various models of church planting. I do not remember if there was much consideration of what BIBLICAL church planting looks like. It seems models were presented as a-la-carte, pick what works for you. Would be interested to see if I get the same impression on a second read.
December 21, 2020
Although the book is definitely written for those courageous men and women who are planting churches, there is a wealth of information here that will help anyone who is engaged in church leadership. I did think it was a little wordy at times, but other than that, I loved it!
Here are some of my favorite takeaways:
"The comfortable do not create movements. Instead, they originate with those who are desperate, demanding something different."
"...my leadership, especially spiritual leadership, cannot grow beyond my weakest point of character."
"Admiration is healthy. Mimicking is something altogether different...The problem with borrowing a successful blueprint from somewhere else is that it originated from the heart and life experiences of another leader."
"...data collecting...is never an equivalent substitute for spending significant time among the people of that community. Only when you are personally engaged and interactive with that community can you truly understand the real story and determine how best to cooperate with the sovereign activity of God."
"But what if our reputation among the sacred crowd was not our supreme fascination? What if we were honestly more concerned with how the unchurched in our community saw us?"
"Vision is not exclusively what we are doing, but vision is what we are becoming. Vision is the future exactly the way God wants it."
"...if you're praying for leaders, you expect leaders to show up. And if you're expecting leaders to show up, then you will be looking for leaders."
"Remember that when Jesus chose His disciples, He quickly skipped past the religious who seemingly 'had it all together' and instead chose a squad that perfectly reflected the substance and vibe of Judea."
"True discipleship moves people from consumer to reproducer."
"...if you love the harvest, you will love other harvesters. If you are jealous of other harvesters, you simply do not love the harvest."
"Sadly, when a church makes the unnatural choice of ecclesiastical birth control in order to preserve its accustomed lifestyle, the natural and exponential advance of the Gospel ceases."
Here are some of my favorite takeaways:
"The comfortable do not create movements. Instead, they originate with those who are desperate, demanding something different."
"...my leadership, especially spiritual leadership, cannot grow beyond my weakest point of character."
"Admiration is healthy. Mimicking is something altogether different...The problem with borrowing a successful blueprint from somewhere else is that it originated from the heart and life experiences of another leader."
"...data collecting...is never an equivalent substitute for spending significant time among the people of that community. Only when you are personally engaged and interactive with that community can you truly understand the real story and determine how best to cooperate with the sovereign activity of God."
"But what if our reputation among the sacred crowd was not our supreme fascination? What if we were honestly more concerned with how the unchurched in our community saw us?"
"Vision is not exclusively what we are doing, but vision is what we are becoming. Vision is the future exactly the way God wants it."
"...if you're praying for leaders, you expect leaders to show up. And if you're expecting leaders to show up, then you will be looking for leaders."
"Remember that when Jesus chose His disciples, He quickly skipped past the religious who seemingly 'had it all together' and instead chose a squad that perfectly reflected the substance and vibe of Judea."
"True discipleship moves people from consumer to reproducer."
"...if you love the harvest, you will love other harvesters. If you are jealous of other harvesters, you simply do not love the harvest."
"Sadly, when a church makes the unnatural choice of ecclesiastical birth control in order to preserve its accustomed lifestyle, the natural and exponential advance of the Gospel ceases."
July 6, 2016
Kingdom First is a book geared more toward a church planter or a church that is focused on multiplication. However, it is also a book that will be helpful to any church leader who wants to be serious about intentionally putting the Kingdom of God first and foremost in their ministry context. There is a lot of helpful advice in this book that helps frame perspective toward a Kingdom that is larger than the one we often settle for. If you want a fresh perspective on personal leadership, leadership development of others, character, communication, discipleship, disciple-making, and multiplication this book has it all. What I love most is the singular focus throughout all these components to form an intricately weaved system for Kingdom Multiplication. Grab a copy and allow your perceptions to be challenged. Each section ends with questions for coaching others which makes this a great book to read through with others and to mentor new church-planters through.
Read full review/summary here: https://joemcfadden.org/2016/07/06/ki...
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Read full review/summary here: https://joemcfadden.org/2016/07/06/ki...
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
November 17, 2015
One of the most practical and helpful books on the work of church planting. Specifically, this book is all about Kingdom minded church planting strategies, approach, and systems that lead to multiplication - not addition. Very well written and easy to read. Highly recommend to anyone in church planting regardless to stage you're in. This is a must read.
April 25, 2019
It is a great book to help ask good questions, rather than offering a script.
April 1, 2016
Had several helpful things for church planters but completely missed the boat on a couple of major issues related to ecclesiology.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews