Thriving Isn’t About Crowds—It’s About Overflow
Let’s be honest: most of us grew up thinking church success looked like packed pews, polished programs, and maybe a killer worship band. But what if we’ve been measuring the wrong thing?
At MtP, we’re flipping the script. Because thriving as a congregation isn’t about filling seats. It’s about filling lives with Jesus so deeply that those lives spill into the lives of others.
Not Just Attendance. It’s Apprenticeship.
Jesus didn’t say, “Go and get people to show up.” He said, “Go and make disciples.” That’s a whole different game. Discipleship isn’t a class you take or a binder you fill out. It’s life-on-life apprenticeship. It’s learning the ways of Jesus by walking with someone who’s living them out.
Think less lecture hall, more kitchen table. Less Sunday-only, more Monday-through-Saturday. It’s not about knowing the directions—it’s about following them.
Overflow Starts With Connection
In John 15, Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” That’s the secret sauce. Thriving doesn’t come from grinding harder—it comes from staying connected to the Vine. When we’re rooted in Jesus, fruit happens. Not because we force it, but because His life flows through us.
And here’s the wild part: that fruit isn’t just for us. It’s for our families, our coworkers, our neighbors. When we’re truly connected, our lives start to overflow. That’s the ripple effect of real discipleship.
Three Ways to Live It Out
If you’re wondering how to move from surviving to thriving, here’s where it starts:
Intentional Relationships: Discipling happens best in circles, not rows. Find someone to walk with. Invite them into your life. Learn together.
Obedience Over Information: Jesus didn’t say “teach them what I taught.” He said “teach them to obey.” Transformation starts when truth becomes action.
Reproducing Faith: Disciples make disciples. It’s not about keeping Jesus to yourself—it’s about passing Him on.
What If We All Did This?
Imagine a church where every person is discipling someone. Where marriages are healed, kids are mentored, neighbors are reached. Where baptisms overflow not because of a marketing push, but because lives are being changed from the inside out.
That’s not surviving. That’s thriving.
So let’s stop chasing crowds and start cultivating connection. Let’s be a church that doesn’t just gather—but grows. Not just fills seats—but fills lives.
And let’s watch what happens when those lives start to spill over.
