Customer Reviews

Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement (Exponential Series)

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The brothers Ferguson have given the church a book with the singular aim of demonstrating as the sub-title states: How you and your friends can start a missional church movement. Much of the book is their own experience in the Chicago area of developing a missional movement of local churches.

The book is divided into four parts as the authors broaden the intended sphere of influence as a movement grows and to explain the "Reproducing Principles" for building a successful movement according to Acts 1:8.

Movements Start with 1 - The authors claim a new paradigm is needed to reach the ends of the earth and requires a three-fold vision: impact others for Christ; plan on reproducing, not growing large; be a catalyst to reproduce churches.

With that in mind, understand the leadership path in order to increase momentum:
Individual - Apprentice - Leader - Coach - Director - Campus Pastor/Church Planter - Network Leader

The plan is to reproduce leaders and is based on Christ's calling and sending disciples in Mark 3:13-15.

The authors move on to explain the necessity of apprentices. They acknowledge that the word disciple is biblical but has poor or suspect connotations in modern culture (i.e., use relevant terms). A part of apprenticeship is the big dream. Big dreams (like going to the ends of the earth with the gospel) are stimulating and contagious. Use that to motivate the three aspects of being spirit-led, missional, and reproducing.

The last two chapters of the section deal with reproducing leaders and artists (read musicians). The chapters are similar in direction and intent and vary only in how to balance excellence in reproducing with excellence in execution.

Reproducing Tribes of 10-100 - The focus of this section is reproducing small groups and implementing coaches to help the group leaders effectively lead. The biblical basis given is Acts 2:42-47 where the early church was made up of 3C Christ-followers: Celebrate, Connect, and Contribute.

The authors are correct to point out the strengths of this group size. The 3 C's can be easily practiced and the body edified. For certain, new groups are somewhat stilted and not have the free flowing of spiritual gifts and expression. Connections are easy enough, but celebration and contribution need to be built up. As a group matures, these areas level out.

After reading the three chapters for the section, I wondered why the authors bothered to continue writing about larger groups. Obviously, they had tapped into and described the most effective unit of measure for a local church. Sadly, it appears the need for size and influence of a central body wielding power and/or influence under the guise of furthering the gospel.

Also, it is apparent that the authors understand worship to be singing led by a polished band singing pop-church material so the congregation can sing and raise their hands and not think about what the lyrics are. This is apparent because what happens in Acts 2:42 is no more than a celebration. While it is indeed that, much more was going on between heaven and earth in those meetings than sharing "high five" types of things. Messieurs Ferguson both need to get their Bibles out and study what worship is.

Reproducing communities of 100-1,000 - Here is where these men really stumble. This section is dedicated to reproducing church communities based largely on Paul's example in Acts 19:21-23. Notice this is not reproducing churches. That may come later. This is setting up multi-site churches. And since multi-site is the current wave in evangelical circles, it must be worthwhile.

Where exactly can we actually find this model in Scripture? We fail in the search. Here the book fails miserably, as there is no place for this. What should be the natural division into separate entities is instead artificially held together. There is no natural fellowship or worship operating at this level. Essentially, there are separate churches with separate under-shepherds hearing the same message and singing the same songs via video feed.

The last chapter does get around to reproducing whole churches with some tips for the church planter and leader.

Reproducing movements of 10,000s - This section is further growth and setting up whole new networks. There is really nothing new. The prior applications are reworked for larger numbers.

Conclusions
The authors make good points in developing people. The apostle Paul did the same. Discipleship is key (Matt 28:19-20). Also the general warnings of waiting on the Lord are worthwhile. Many of these concepts are applicable to the local church and have merit in that setting.

Negatively, much of what is proposed is identical to business marketing material I have read. It is good when scriptural principles are used effectively in business, but what we have here is more the opposite--modern business practice defining how the church should operate.

Take the good out of the questionable or bad, and there is usable material. Proceed with caution and discernment.

Exponential is a practical read on how you can supercharge your leadership both inside and out of the local church context. Dave and Jon tell their story and speak directly to "You" about ways you can actually reproduce your leadership. You'll walk away with a renewed vision to purse you big dreams and a conviction that you have the potential realize them. A must read for anyone who takes their leadership development seriously.

The authors capture the need for community in our atomized culture. While so many pastor's and elders are playing church on Sunday, the Ferguson's have reached out to a hurting world. Although my preferred style of worship may be different than what is described in the book, I commend the authors for thinking about how to reach a lost world, rather than just sitting back and watching the world rot.

Small groups are a key community building piece that magnifies the messages of the church into the daily lives of the people in local communities. Starting with just a couple of hundred people, the Ferguson's have grown a community to over 30,000! It's hard to argue with these type of numbers, and when small groups are combined with a solid gospel message, lives are changed. Isn't this the goal of the church? If the gates of hell cannot stand against it, then we must enter into our local communities and this is what the book describes.

So many people throw the baby out with the bath water. This isn't a good leadership principle, especially when it relates to this book, since there are so many solid principles of duplication and reproduction of leaders in the book. By combining leadership and community with the enduring Gospel, the authors have provided a road map for twenty-first century church. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

I love this book. It really covers an incredible amount of information (they didn't "save" some of it for another book!). This covers the strategy, skills, Biblical principles and vision from beginning with individual Christians, to small groups, to campuses, to churches, to networks, to movements (and everything in between). And all throughout, everything is backed up with real-life stories, Biblical foundations, practical steps, and even humor! Dave & Jon have an obvious chemistry in their writing.
The discussion questions at the end are also very helpful for individuals, teams, or small groups.
By the end of this book, you will have written your God-given dream out on a napkin, and begun to gather friends together to see it become reality. I guess me and my friends really can start a movement!

This is an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed AND learned from. It's a book that is an inspiring personal story of a couple of brothers and their friends who started a church and dared to dream big - God size big! It's a guide/reference book on what they did as leaders to make this multi-site missional church take root - and it continues to change and grow. And it's simple. The thoughts and ideas fit on a napkin! The strategies, practices and principles in this book are logical, and reproducible - absolutely essential to making this movement Exponential! I've met the Fergusons and I know that they live and breathe this missional, reproducing church movement. It is at the very core of their being. They are all about helping people find their way back to God. And they realize that to do that, it will take way more than just them. They need to reproduce leaders, coaches, artists, venues, sites, churches, and networks. This book tells you how they are doing this reproducing and how you can, too. The sub-title says it all - How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement. Well written, funny, informational. It is a book you will read and then use as a reference guide in the future as you and your friends start your missional movement!

I do not believe God is leading me, at this time, to plant a church or start a church planting movement. I was hopeful that Exponential would give me some principles for church growth that I could apply in my context. While there was some of that, overall I was very disappointed in the book. Basically, I have three comments to make about the book; one is positive and two are negative. I will begin with the positive.

It is evident that the authors have a passion and a burden for church planting and growth. That is good, since I believe God shares that passion. They want to see people come into and grow in their relationship with God and with other believers. They believe in partnering with other like-minded leaders and church planters to form networks to improve effectiveness and efficiency. While there are many differences, there are some similarities with denominational mission agencies. And they have been effective. I applaud them for that.

My first negative comment is that the book is very formulaic. In other words, they present a specific formula that says, "We did it this way. If you will follow our steps exactly as we tell you, you will experience the exact same success we did." While there is value in sharing their methodology, it has to be considered in its context. Every church leader and planter is different and will experience differing levels of success. Every ministry context is different and people respond differently in various cultural contexts. The authors worked in the Chicago area. The overall attitude and biases are different there than in the northeast or Pacific northwest or Austin, Texas or south Florida. It is just different. One formula cannot work consistently.

My other negative comment is that the book is written from a very man-centric perspective. Perhaps because it is published by a Christian publisher and targeted toward an audience of Christian leaders we should assume that all the work described in the book was allowed and led by the power of the Holy Spirit. But you would almost have to assume it. There is precious little mention of following the leading of God or the Holy Spirit. I am sure the authors did not rely on their own efforts only, but they did not talk about anyone else's. This was a real disappointment.

Overall, it was not a bad book. It just was not helpful. It also seemed to have misplaced loyalties. I would not recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their Exponential Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Although not a church planter or pastor, I found Dave and Jon's book inspiring, insightful, accessible, and enjoyable. The book's subtitle captures its essence - describing practical and concrete ways to help realize God's dream of restoring people into relationship with Himself. Sections are presented with a progressive and powerful logic; ideas and principles are driven home with cogent and concrete examples of both individual and institutional effectiveness; and the material is presented with a voice of comfortable integrity (not to mention Jon's sometimes-hilarious-sometimes-poignant interjections). In total, I was left with three main sentiments: encouraged that "just a regular Christ-follower" has a vital role in God's kingdom work, challenged to let God work in my life beyond my limited ability to comfortably reason and strategize, and electrified to see the reality of His kingdom advancing in the here and now of our culture. A worthwhile read for anyone involved in what God is doing in the world today - and that means me... and you!

As I am reading this book... every time I turn the page I am flooded with more and more practical application on how to use the principals in this book.

This is not just a book of theories & concepts intermingled with scripture. This book is much more than the story of how Community Christian Church started doing what they are doing now. If you are a church leader... notice I didn't say church planter or campus pastor... but if you are a leader within the church, you MUST read this book.

It goes from the beginning that apprenticeship is the key for creating leaders. But they just give a compelling reason why apprenticeship is so important, but they also give steps that are transferable to churches & ministries everywhere. It's not a model of how to do church that will not work in your context... it is a practical application of how it worked, how it is working now... but even forces you to re-think how you are doing church, small groups, ministry & leadership development... all of it!

Churches big & small need this book. Is your church facing barriers to growth? Has your church outgrown the way you have always done church? Has your church not added new followers of Christ in a long time? May be it's time to rethink the way church has always been done? If so, check out Exponential!

Exponential offers a first hand view from church planters Dave and Jon Ferguson from the moment that the idea for a church in the Chicago area reached them, to today when they are greatly responsible for an explosion of new churches throughout Chicago and beyond under the banner of Community Christian Church.

They don't however, use much of the space of the book to tell the narrative of how Community Christian Church got its start. Rather, they provide sound principles for planting and growing a church and use the narratives as case studies for those principles. This is good, because if anything seemed to drag on at times, it was the case studies - but it wasn't too bad, and often provided much needed perspective to the principle being discussed.

I've seen many other books about "4 on a Sunday" to "4,000 on a Sunday" churches that are simply extended narratives of the church start and have wondered about the applicability of those books within a unique context. Exponential can be used, it seems, in almost any context due to it's reliance on a few simple systems that could span the globe in their applications.

Even if you're not planning on planting a multi-site church, or even a mega church, or even if you have a church already and you're trying to move it to the next level to become a "reproducing church", Exponential would be a good read for you if you're looking for a few sound and applicable principles.

I picked up my copy of Exponential a couple of days ago, and I can't put it down.

I am loving this book!. First, the proven and practical elements that are shared have been more than encouraging. Getting to follow the story of these two great leaders, as they stepped out in faith and then saw God continue to expand their vision to build a ministry that is making such a huge impact, has been a real treat as well.

I have been challenged to keep my dreams God-sized, to make the time everyday to hear from God, and to evaluate my ministry endeavors through the "reproducing" filter. I think the best part of the book, is that after reading it, I feel more empowered than ever to step up and make a greater difference.

One more thing, take advantage of the Exponential Stream at [...], it is a cool supplement to the book.