Churches really fit in the categories of three kinds of ships.

Some churches are like cruise ships – luxury for people who are already Christians. Some churches are battleships. They recognize the mission which is good, but they try to accomplish it as a unit. The best churches are like aircraft carriers – they are not near the battle, but the equip and send plans to carry the battle for the enemy is.

Our success isn’t in our seating capacity, but are sending capacity.
For Greer, this difference between seating and sending capacity is crucial because of how evangelism is modeled in the New Testament church. “39 out of 40 miracles in the book of Acts happen outside of the church. The majority of evangelistic ministry is not supposed to happen by ordained pastor from the pulpit. It’s supposed to happen outside.”

JD Greear – grow, send, repeat. Pastor of the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham North Carolina.