What Will Matter in the Church in the Next Season
1. From Attendance to Transformation
Dudley taught us years ago that anything that is healthy will grow. This next season will be more about healthy leaders and healthy churches than about putting on a good show on a Sunday morning. Attendance will matter less in the coming season—not because gathering is unimportant, (and we certainly are in faith for growing churches) but because attendance alone has never been the goal.
Jesus never said, “Go and get decisions” or “Go fill rooms.” He said:
“Go therefore and make disciples… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
(Matthew 28:19–20)
For too long we have been satisfied with full rooms while down playing formed lives. We have counted heads but struggled to answer a more searching question: Who is actually being discipled?
Scripture presses the issue even further:
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…”
(Galatians 4:19)
The measure of health will no longer simply be how many people sit in a service, but how many are walking in the way of Christ on Monday morning.
2. From Programs to Presence
Community will no longer serve as a program on the church calendar. It will either become the heart and culture of the church—or quietly fade away.
The early church gives us a compelling picture:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… All the believers were together and had everything in common.”
(Acts 2:42–44)
The future looks less like larger rooms and more like smaller tables.
Less like stages and more like living rooms.
Less like polished events and more like shared lives.
“Dining room table Christianity” will make a comeback in all forms of church life.  While I raised my children, the dining room table was foundational, a safe space, where anything could be said to anyone as long is it was said with love, honor and respect. The church of our day desperately needs those safe spaces! Where disciples are formed and fashioned around meals and the intimate conversations that cannot be had in the classroom.
The New Testament assumes a kind of faith that is deeply relational:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Galatians 6:2)
Community won’t be something we attend; it will be something we belong to.
3. From Charisma to Conviction
Another shift is already underway.
People are no longer impressed by charisma alone. They are drawn to conviction. They are drawn to character. They are drawn to credibility.
Paul reminded the church in Corinth:
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”
(1 Corinthians 2:4)
In an age of performance, filters, and carefully curated images, authenticity carries unusual weight. Leaders and believers who are genuinely allowing God to transform them—slowly, deeply, honestly and publicly—will have far greater impact than those who rely on polish and platform.
Jesus Himself warned us about outward appearance without inward reality:
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
(Matthew 15:8)
The most compelling witness will be a life visibly being changed by faith through grace:
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:16)
A Church That Looks Like Jesus
This next season will not be easier—but it will be better. It will not be quicker - but it will be deeper. It will not be flashy but it will be foundational.
It will call for patience over speed.
Depth over breadth.
Faithfulness over flash.
Paul captures the direction clearly:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him.”
(Colossians 2:6–7)
In that refining, the church will begin to look more like Jesus again—rooted, present, sacrificial, authentic and alive.
Not perfect.
But formed.
Not perfect.
But faithful.

When Planting Our Best Really Means Planting Our Best

For more than forty years, one of our core values has been this: we plant our best. We don’t cling to people, gifts, or leaders for our own benefit. Instead, we joyfully release them for the sake of the Kingdom. When done with humility and unity, it is one of the most beautiful expressions of the gospel — a reminder that the Church belongs to Jesus, not to us.

Scripture reminds us:

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33

Over thirty years ago, in a team meeting, Dudley Daniel quoted this Scripture and said something that has stayed with me ever since:

“In all things — big and small — consider FIRST the Kingdom of God.”

That’s the heart behind planting our best. It’s a Kingdom-first conviction.

But I’ve also seen moments when that value was laid aside. Sometimes it happens quietly, almost unnoticed, when selfish ambition begins to overshadow godly ambition. Instead of asking, “How can we serve the mission of God?” the question becomes, “How can this benefit me?”

And when that shift takes place, things often get messy.

Loyalty gets pushed aside. Relationships are strained. People — real people, with real hearts and real stories — get hurt. And in those moments, church planting can start to look less like a joyful sending and more like an escape hatch. The calling to plant churches — something deeply biblical and beautiful — can begin to feel like the equivalent of a “get out of jail free” card.

I’ve often heard it said that church splits are really just undiagnosed church plants. But what if the deeper question is this:
What happens when undiagnosed church plants are actually birthed from undiscerned Absaloms?

In 2 Samuel 15, we read about Absalom — a gifted leader whose ambition and offense led him to quietly win people to himself rather than to the purposes of God. When unresolved ambition, hurt, and untested motives go unchecked, the fruit may look “successful,” but the root is already compromised. And eventually, that brokenness bleeds into the life of the church.

This is why Scripture calls us to another way:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
— Philippians 2:3

Healthy church planting flows from honor, unity, humility, and genuine mutual love. It requires honesty. It requires courage. It requires a willingness to lay down ego for the sake of Christ and His Bride. And when we truly “plant our best,” it means this:

We bless.
We support.
We stay relationally connected.
We celebrate what God is doing — together.

Church planting when done correctly releases incredible joy, faith and explosive generosity. When it is done out of order it leads to hurt, a diminished faith for future plants.

At the end of the day, we are not building personal platforms or brand identities.

We are building the Church of Jesus.

And that will always — always — require hearts that are willing to go low, love deeply, and seek first the Kingdom every single time.


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Reading: Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11

Devotional: God didn't need to rest after creation—He rested to establish a pattern for us. From the very beginning, rest was woven into the fabric of creation. Our bodies require a third of our lives in sleep, not because God lacked creativity in design, but because He intentionally built rhythm into our existence. The Sabbath command isn't arbitrary religious restriction; it's a loving Father protecting His children from self-destruction. When God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, He was declaring rest sacred. In our driven culture that celebrates busyness as virtue, remembering the Sabbath means acknowledging we're sheep to be called, not cattle to be driven. Rest isn't weakness—it's obedience to our Creator's design.

Friday: Every Believer a Minister

Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Devotional: In the Old Testament, fire fell on the altar. In the New Testament, fire fell on believers. You are the temple. You carry His presence everywhere you go. Every conversation can advance the Kingdom. Every home can be a house of prayer. Every believer is a minister.
Don't wait for the visible platform. The most important ministry often happens in parking lots, living rooms, and everyday conversations. Someone needs what God has placed in you—not on a stage, but right where you are. The question isn't whether you're called; it's whether you're available. Will you let the Holy Spirit use you today, right where you are?

Thursday: Filled with The Holy Spirit

Reading: Acts 2:1-4, 42-47

Devotional: Pentecost wasn't just about one moment; it established a pattern. They were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit—not just the leaders, not just the gifted, but everyone. The church transforms when we shift from people coming to be filled to filled people coming.
Imagine a church where everyone arrives having spent time with God, surrendered fresh that morning, ready to encourage, pray, and serve. Worship shifts. Serving becomes joyful. Prayer meetings shake with power. This doesn't require a stage or a title—just a heart yielded to the Spirit. You don't need permission to pray for someone, encourage a stranger, or share what God is doing in your life.

Wednesday: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God

Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Devotional: God doesn't choose the impressive; He chooses the surrendered. The disciples were fishermen, tax collectors, and outcasts—the last picks for any team. Yet God transformed them into world-changers. You may feel disqualified by your past, your education, your family background, or your failures. Stop disqualifying what God has already qualified. The power isn't in your perfection but in your surrender. God isn't looking for people who have it all together; He's looking for people who will open their hands and say, "I need You." Your weakness becomes the canvas for God's strength. Today, identify one area where you feel inadequate and surrender it completely to God. Watch how He uses your ordinary life for His extraordinary purposes.

Tuesday: Boldness in the Face of Opposition

Reading: Acts 4:23-31

Devotional: The early church faced real threats, yet they never prayed for the opposition to disappear. Instead, they asked God to make them bold in the midst of difficulty. This reveals a profound truth: God's plan isn't always to remove our challenges but to empower us through them. What threats are you facing today? Financial pressure? Relational conflict? Health concerns? Rather than asking God to make life easier, pray for boldness to face what's before you. When we pray for God's empowerment instead of our comfort, we position ourselves for transformation. The place where they prayed was shaken—not because the problems vanished, but because they were filled with supernatural courage to advance God's kingdom regardless of opposition.

Monday: Waiting for Power

Reading: Acts 1:1-8

Devotional: Jesus commanded His disciples to wait—not to strategize, but to receive power. Before any ministry, before any mission, there had to be an encounter with the Holy Spirit. This wasn't about human capability or clever planning; it was about supernatural empowerment. Today, consider where you're trying to move forward in your own strength. Are you attempting to live the Christian life without daily dependence on the Holy Spirit? God isn't impressed by our résumés or abilities. He's looking for surrender. Before you rush into your day, wait. Create space for the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh. The most powerful thing you can do today is acknowledge your complete dependence on God's presence and power in your life.

Friday: Living in Daily Resurrection

Reading: John 11:25-26; 1 Peter 1:3-9

Devotional: "I am the resurrection and the life," Jesus declared. Not "I was" or "I will be"—I AM. Christianity isn't about following a dead teacher's moral code; it's a living relationship with a resurrected Savior. This changes everything about how you approach each day. You don't serve a memory; you walk with a living Christ. Your future isn't uncertain—physical resurrection awaits every believer, and you'll stand before God with Jesus as your advocate. This living hope should energize your present. Stop compartmentalizing resurrection as an Easter topic. Let it infuse your Monday morning, your difficult conversations, your financial stress, your health concerns. When resurrection becomes your daily reality rather than your annual celebration, you discover supernatural strength, peace, and purpose that circumstances cannot touch.

Reflection Question: How would my daily life change if I truly lived in constant awareness of resurrection power and promise?

Thursday: Dropping the Stones

Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3

Devotional: Imagine running a race with a backpack full of rocks—that's how many believers live. We carry guilt, shame, past failures, unforgiveness, and fear, wondering why our spiritual lives feel so heavy. God never intended this. The writer of Hebrews urges us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that entangles. When Jesus rolled away the stone from His tomb, He made a way for every stone in your life to be removed. Baptism symbolizes this—leaving the old life behind, rising to newness. What weighs you down? What slows your race? Jesus stands ready to lift those burdens. The lightness that comes when you release that weight is extraordinary. You'll feel like you're barely touching the ground, free to run the race marked out for you.

Reflection Question: What specific "rocks" am I carrying that Jesus wants to remove from my life today?

Wednesday: Resurrection Power Within You

Reading: Romans 8:9-11

Devotional: The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Let that truth sink in. The greatest miracle in history—resurrection from death to eternal life—was accomplished by the Holy Spirit now dwelling within every believer. This isn't a lesser version or a distant echo; it's the same resurrection power available to you today. Every challenge you face pales in comparison to what God accomplished in that tomb. Dead marriages can be restored, broken dreams renewed, hopeless situations transformed. You're not left to navigate life in your own strength. The Spirit who conquered death wants to bring life to every dead area of your existence. Stop living like you're powerless. The resurrection isn't just your future hope—it's your present reality.

Reflection Question: Am I living in the reality of resurrection power, or am I trying to manage life in my own strength?

Tuesday: The Stone Rolled Away

Reading: Luke 24:1-12

Devotional: The massive stone sealing Jesus' tomb represented finality—death's last word, sin's crushing weight, humanity's hopelessness. Yet when God's hand moved, everything changed. The women arrived expecting death but encountered life. The angel's question echoes through centuries: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" That rolled-away stone declares that death has been defeated, sin has lost its grip, and hope has been reborn. What "stones" seal off areas of your life today? Perhaps addiction, anxiety, broken relationships, or buried dreams? The same power that moved that tomb stone can move the obstacles in your life. God is still in the stone-rolling business. He wants to reconnect you fully with Christ, removing everything that separates and hinders you.

Reflection Question: What stone in my life needs God's hand to roll it away?

Monday: The Foundation of Our Faith

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Devotional: The resurrection is not just a historical event we celebrate once a year—it is the absolute cornerstone of our faith. Without the resurrection, our preaching is useless and our faith is futile. Paul makes this startlingly clear: if Christ has not been raised, we are still in our sins. But Christ has been raised! This changes everything. The resurrection validates Jesus' divinity, completes the work of the cross, and proves that the sacrificial death of Jesus was sufficient to satisfy God's wrath. Today, ask yourself: Do I truly believe in the resurrection? Does this belief transform how I live each day, or is it merely a doctrine I affirm once a year?

Reflection: What would change in your daily life if you lived with constant awareness that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in you?

Friday: Radical Love Demands Radical Response

Reading: Luke 9:23-27, Matthew 28:18-20

Devotional: Jesus never called us to casual Christianity. He called us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Radical followers of Jesus don't just avoid hell—they pursue holiness. They don't just love those who love them—they bless those who hate them. They don't seek to blend in with the world—they rejoice in standing out for Christ. The early believers were willing to face martyrdom rather than deny the resurrection because they had encountered the risen Christ. Your testimony is powerful. Your everyday obedience matters. The mission is clear: go and make disciples. This isn't about earning salvation but responding to the overwhelming love demonstrated on the cross.

Reflection: What would it look like for you to be a radical follower of Jesus in your specific context today? Who needs to hear your testimony?

Thursday: Devoted to the Essentials

Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Devotional: The early church provides our blueprint for radical discipleship: devotion to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These weren't optional activities but essential practices that led to daily conversions and supernatural community. Being devoted to God's Word means reading, studying, meditating, and teaching it to others. Fellowship in the local church provides accountability and encouragement for spiritual maturation. Breaking bread—both in communion and shared meals—keeps us focused on Christ's sacrifice and builds genuine relationships. Prayer connects us to the Father's heart. When believers commit to these four pillars, the Lord adds to their number those being saved.

Reflection: Which of these four areas needs renewed devotion in your life? Choose one practical step to take today.

Wednesday: Drawing Near While He Draws Near

Reading: James 4:1-10

Devotional: Relationship with Jesus is not a one-time transaction but a continual invitation to life. James instructs us to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us. In the original Greek, this isn't sequential but simultaneous—a beautiful dance of coming together. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, even to believers, inviting us into deeper fellowship. You don't need to wait for a perfect moment or achieve a certain level of holiness. In your car, at work, in the coffee shop—wherever you are, He is there, ready to meet with you. The torn temple curtain means you have unhindered access to the Holy of Holies at every moment.

Reflection: Where have you been avoiding God's knock? What would it look like to open that door today?

Tuesday: The Pierced Hands That Set Us Free

Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12

Devotional: Centuries before Christ walked to Golgotha, Isaiah prophesied the suffering servant who would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. Jesus was scourged, mocked, crowned with thorns, and crucified—not because He was forced, but because He chose to. When He cried "It is finished," He declared that the debt of sin was paid in full. God's wrath against sin was satisfied completely. The temple curtain tore from top to bottom, signifying that the barrier between humanity and God was removed forever. You now have direct access to the Father through Christ's sacrifice. His pierced hands opened the way to eternal life and intimate relationship with God.

Reflection: How does understanding the physical and spiritual suffering Jesus endured change how you view your sin?

Monday: The Perfect Gift Received

Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

Devotional: God's gift of salvation through Christ is the most valuable gift ever given. Unlike earthly presents that can sit unused in boxes, this gift demands our full engagement. Paul reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith—not by our works, but for good works. We didn't earn this gift, yet it cost Jesus everything. Today, examine your heart: Have you received salvation only to set it aside? Are you living in the fullness of what Christ purchased for you? The proper response to such an extravagant gift is not guilt-driven performance, but joyful, grateful obedience. You are His workmanship, created for a purpose that was prepared before you were born.

Reflection: What would change in your life tomorrow if you truly grasped the magnitude of the gift you've received?

Friday: Miracles as Signposts

Reading: John 20:30-31, Acts 3:1-10

Devotional: God's miracles are amazing, but they are meant to be signposts, not destinations. Every supernatural act of God is an invitation to know Him more deeply. As you read about the healing at the Beautiful Gate, notice how it drew attention not to Peter and John, but to Jesus.

What "miracles" has God performed in your life? How have they pointed you towards a deeper relationship with Christ? Today, thank God for His wondrous works, but more importantly, seek His face. Let every blessing, every answer to prayer, every "coincidence" draw you closer to the heart of your Savior.

Thursday: God's Presence in Suffering

Reading: Psalm 23, Romans 8:35-39

Devotional: Like Joseph in prison, we may sometimes feel abandoned by God in our darkest moments. Yet the Bible repeatedly affirms that "the Lord was with Joseph" even in his unjust suffering. Today's readings remind us that God is with us in every valley, every storm, every prison of circumstance. His presence doesn't always change our situation immediately, but it changes us.

How have you experienced God's presence in difficult times? Take heart knowing that nothing can separate you from His love, and that He is working even in your suffering to bring about His good purposes.

Wednesday: The Power of Faith

Reading: Matthew 17:14-20, Luke 17:5-6

Devotional: Sometimes we feel our faith is too small to make a difference. But Jesus teaches that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. The key is not the size of our faith, but the object of our faith. A tiny faith in an almighty God is more powerful than you can imagine.

What "mountains" in your life seem immovable? Today, exercise your mustard seed faith. Bring those impossible situations to God, trusting in His power rather than the strength of your belief. Remember, it's not about how much faith you have, but how big your God is.

Tuesday: Faith in the Storm

Reading: Mark 4:35-41, Hebrews 11:1-6

Devotional: Life's storms can be overwhelming, but Jesus remains unshaken. Today's reading reminds us that our peace comes not from calm circumstances, but from our proximity to Jesus. Consider the storms in your life right now. Are you, like the disciples, crying out "Don't you care?" Remember, Jesus is in your boat. He may not always calm the storm immediately, but He can always calm you.

How can you draw closer to Jesus in the midst of your current challenges? Practice turning your focus from the waves to the face of your Savior.

Monday: The Father's Love

Reading: Matthew 3:13-17, 1 John 4:7-19

Devotional: Today, we focus on God's unconditional love for us. Just as the Father declared His love for Jesus before He began His ministry, God speaks the same words over us: "This is my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased." Reflect on the profound truth that God's love for you is not based on your performance or achievements. It's rooted in His very nature as a loving Father.

How does knowing you are deeply loved by God impact your identity and self-worth? Take time to bask in God's love today, allowing it to drive out any fears or insecurities you may be harboring.

Friday: Empowered by the Spirit

Reading: Luke 4:16-21 Devotional: Jesus' declaration of His mission, empowered by the Spirit, is also our calling as His followers. The same Spirit that anointed Jesus now dwells in us, empowering us for service.

How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's power in your life? In what areas do you need a fresh anointing? Pray for a renewed awareness of the Spirit's presence and power in your life, and ask God to show you how He wants to use you to bring good news, freedom, and healing to others.

Thursday: Resting in God's Presence

Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 Devotional: Jesus' invitation to "come to me" is a call to intimate relationship and rest. In a world that often values busyness and productivity, how can you create space to simply be with Jesus?

Reflect on the areas of your life where you feel weary or burdened. How might taking on Jesus' yoke lighten your load? Today, practice intentional moments of stillness, inviting Jesus' presence into every aspect of your day.