We’ve been sitting with an idea from Alan Hirsch’s book 5Q that we keep coming back to. It’s one of those arguments that sounds simple until you follow it all the way down — and then it changes how you see almost everything. It starts with a word the New Testament gives to Jesus before it gives to anyone else. …

If you’ve spent any time in Western churches in the last several centuries, you know the template. A pastor preaches on Sunday. The pastoral staff cares for the congregation during the week. Small groups form for learning and relationships. Programs are built. A community gathers. This is not a bad thing. But Paul’s vision in Ephesians 4:11-13 is something considerably …

You probably had an idea this morning before most people were fully awake. You see opportunity in places others walk past. You find yourself recruiting people to things that don’t exist yet. You feel the pull of the frontier, as something more like compulsion. Like you were made for it. And if you’re honest, you’ve also left some wreckage behind. …

In the Kansas City Underground, we have tried to order our lives around the life of Jesus, learning from the patterns that surface again and again in the movement of the church. Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus gives language to this way of life, describing how the life of Jesus continues to take shape within His people. In …

Apostolic Intelligence and Practice for the 21st Century Church As Christianity navigates the complexities of the 21st century, the need for a distinct approach to church structure and mission becomes increasingly apparent. Unlike the prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, or didactic views, the apostolic approach is perhaps the least understood yet the one most needed if we are to advance the cause …

New look. New Tools. Same Mission. We’re thrilled to introduce the fully reimagined APEST assessment and platform from 5Q, built to help you understand your God-designed gifting in deeper, more actionable ways. With fresh key learnings, team features, and a completely new design, the updated APEST helps you and your team grow in purpose, unity, and mission. Step into what’s …

Why Companies Thrive on the Fivefold While Churches Ignore It Today’s blog is a re-post from the StarfishYoU SubStack. Several years ago, my wife and I sat on the couch late at night and watched a random documentary on Netflix called “Happy”, which explores the science of human happiness through years of research and interviews with people of all walks of life …

Learn from Alan Hirsch—Anytime, Anywhere Recently, Alan Hirsch spoke in Brisbane, Australia, passionately sharing how APEST is a key component of discipleship. His insights challenge the way we think about leadership and ministry. We wish everyone could experience these teachings in person! Help! I’m Not an Evangelist! For over a century, the Church has emphasized the importance of sharing the …

I’ve been that person in team meetings—the one who interrupts a perfectly laid-out strategy to ask, “But what about the people who’ve never been here before?” I’ve seen the eye rolls. I’ve heard, “We’ll get to that.” I’ve challenged people to explain things more clearly, often saying, “Say more,” because we forget that not everyone we’re talking to knows what’s …

Evangelists are some of the most energizing people on any team. We’re the ones pulling others into the story, making sure no one is left out, and helping people feel the urgency of the message. But for all that energy and impact, we also carry some unique challenges—especially when we operate without grounding, community, and guidance. If you’re an evangelist …