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Deliberate Simplicity: How the Church Does More by Doing Less
Less is more. And more is better. This is the new equation for church development, a new equation with eternal results.Rejecting the “bigger is better” model of the complex, corporate megachurch, church innovator Dave Browning embraced deliberate simplicity. The result was Christ the King Community Church, International (CTK), an expanding multisite community church that Outreach magazine named among America’s Fastest Growing Churches and America’s Most Innovative Churches. Members of the CTK network in a number of cities, countries, and continents are empowered for maximum impact by Browning’s “less is more” approach. In Deliberate Simplicity, Browning discusses the six elements of this streamlined • Keep it simple• Keep it missional• Keep it real• Keep it cellular• Keep it moving• Keep it expandingAs part of the Leadership Network Innovation Series, Deliberate Simplicity is a guide for church leaders seeking new strategies for more effective ministry.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2006
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84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 10, 2010
Well, like about every other book on leadership, this book had a couple really good points that should have been an article or two rather than a whole book. As some other reviews have pointed out, the beginning and end of the book were the strongest portions and the middle was almost a total waste of time in my opinion. My main problem with this book is that the writer spent way too much time comparing themselves to the "traditional" church and claiming how they were so different...by wearing jeans and preaching from a music stand? Breaking new ground there. The only thing I really saw as being unique in this "approach" to church - almost everything the writer claims to be unique is painfully-not unique to them - was the ideal that their separate locations are not viewed as other churches but part of the one whole. Basically like a small denomination without the heavy organizational structure. Not a bad idea. The other thing many churches could learn from this book is the focus on multiplying locations when the congregation grows rather than moving into a bigger building. It keeps the church a community vs. a crowd. Would not recommend buying...borrow a copy or stand in the Christian book store and read the first and last chapters:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2024
I understand the recommendation for church leadership to read this book together. There is great theology in reprioritizing the responsibilities of believers to build God’s kingdom here on earth. There is some practical, albeit difficult, advice for church structure and practices. I am still working through what that will look like in my church. With that said I would be remiss to say that there is a chapter in this book about the work ethic of believers that I vehemently disagree with on the basis that it doesn’t align to the Bible. Always remember to read Christian publications in conjunction to God’s word.
June 20, 2020
Complexly written, yet simplistically true!
Complexly written, yet simplistically true! And I’m thankful for it. It certainly stretched my thinking. I am grateful for certain areas that were cleared up in my mind. Thank you for writing this book!
Complexly written, yet simplistically true! And I’m thankful for it. It certainly stretched my thinking. I am grateful for certain areas that were cleared up in my mind. Thank you for writing this book!
August 1, 2024
Those last two chapters were my favorite. Little nuggets of wisdom amongst a few things I didn’t agree with—fundamentally.
Love the success this church found..can’t say it’s a sure path for all churches or denominations.
Love the success this church found..can’t say it’s a sure path for all churches or denominations.
February 19, 2017
This book is quite intriguing, with its catchy title: Deliberate Simplicity. A while back I heard about a church in Washington that had locations in several countries (and continents). At the time it seemed as if they all were piped in by video feed to one location. That impression led me to be quite skeptical of this book (which discusses that very same church network), I must admit.
As I browsed through, and read much of the book, my interest was piqued. Christ the King Community Church aims to be deliberate about three emphases: worship, small groups, and outreach. More than that, they intentionally choose to not make anything else a priority. They encourage ministry to be initiated and fueled by individuals, but they shy away from packing the lives of their members chuck full of programs and church functions. Keeping the main thing, the main thing, this church movement has had a global impact.
With a criticism of the status quo, and an emphasis on new methods for church growth, it would be easy to write this off as another emergent church phenomenon. But upon reading the various emphases covered in Dave Browning's book, I don't think that's a fair assessment. Some valid criticisms are raised against Christians isolating themselves in a counterculture of their choosing. Meanwhile the spotlight is shone on the importance of outreach. What's more, they aim to spread not by building megachurches which attract seekers, but by focusing on small groups where people are encouraged to go out and find the lost. The worship services stress authentic, real worship, that doesn't cater to the lost, but lovingly shares the truth with them. Their honest, passionate message is reaching thousands across our nation and around the world. For that reason alone, Browning's book is worth a look.
I was able to ask Dave, the author and a founding pastor of CTK, a few questions about his book, and he was kind enough to answer them.
Q: I like your focus on being deliberately simple in how we "do church". Does your emphasis on a multi-site, and even multi-country model take away from that simplicity?
A: It has become harder for us as we have continued to expand. But that is not to say it can't be done. It just may take more work and discipline. The two words through which we try to filter our organization are "virtuous" and "empowering." Whatever we do we want it to be virtuous and empowering.
Q: Would you consider yourself a proponent of the Emergent church philosophy? Will the principles in your book help all kinds of churches, not primarily those more open to an Emergent church perspective?
A: I don't consider myself Emergent, but I can't say that I am an expert on that word either. What I have sensed about where I'm coming from, relative to other restless young leaders, is that my learning style has been action/reflection instead of reflection/action. We have gone out and done it first, and then tried to figure out how to describe it. That has been a pretty messy process, but rich in divine discovery. When the process is non-linear it sometimes defies the neat categories. In some ways, CTK is like a can on the shelf without a label on it. You have to open it up and look inside to figure out what it is. I kind of like that. I do think that there are applicable principles that can apply across the theological spectrum.
As I browsed through, and read much of the book, my interest was piqued. Christ the King Community Church aims to be deliberate about three emphases: worship, small groups, and outreach. More than that, they intentionally choose to not make anything else a priority. They encourage ministry to be initiated and fueled by individuals, but they shy away from packing the lives of their members chuck full of programs and church functions. Keeping the main thing, the main thing, this church movement has had a global impact.
With a criticism of the status quo, and an emphasis on new methods for church growth, it would be easy to write this off as another emergent church phenomenon. But upon reading the various emphases covered in Dave Browning's book, I don't think that's a fair assessment. Some valid criticisms are raised against Christians isolating themselves in a counterculture of their choosing. Meanwhile the spotlight is shone on the importance of outreach. What's more, they aim to spread not by building megachurches which attract seekers, but by focusing on small groups where people are encouraged to go out and find the lost. The worship services stress authentic, real worship, that doesn't cater to the lost, but lovingly shares the truth with them. Their honest, passionate message is reaching thousands across our nation and around the world. For that reason alone, Browning's book is worth a look.
I was able to ask Dave, the author and a founding pastor of CTK, a few questions about his book, and he was kind enough to answer them.
Q: I like your focus on being deliberately simple in how we "do church". Does your emphasis on a multi-site, and even multi-country model take away from that simplicity?
A: It has become harder for us as we have continued to expand. But that is not to say it can't be done. It just may take more work and discipline. The two words through which we try to filter our organization are "virtuous" and "empowering." Whatever we do we want it to be virtuous and empowering.
Q: Would you consider yourself a proponent of the Emergent church philosophy? Will the principles in your book help all kinds of churches, not primarily those more open to an Emergent church perspective?
A: I don't consider myself Emergent, but I can't say that I am an expert on that word either. What I have sensed about where I'm coming from, relative to other restless young leaders, is that my learning style has been action/reflection instead of reflection/action. We have gone out and done it first, and then tried to figure out how to describe it. That has been a pretty messy process, but rich in divine discovery. When the process is non-linear it sometimes defies the neat categories. In some ways, CTK is like a can on the shelf without a label on it. You have to open it up and look inside to figure out what it is. I kind of like that. I do think that there are applicable principles that can apply across the theological spectrum.
May 20, 2016
This has nothing to do with living more simply and everything to do with church leadership and organisation. The heart of the book is 'doing more is not doing bigger'. I started off fairly antagonistic to this book - another book proclaiming 'this is the way to a big church folks, do it like us'. So I just thought Deliberate Simplicity was yet another American megachurch solving the global church's problem. And to be honest I don't think that's a totally unfair observation.
Another annoyance is the making up of words, unless someone can show me that 'multility' is a word. But when you need all your chapters to end in 'ity' and you get to 'multi' it gets a bit tricky, so what's an author to do other than mangle the English language.
Dave Browning compares his experiences at CTK with the slow, blundering, expensive, empire building mega churches. I've never been in or experienced a mega church so I've no idea whether he's right or not, although it sounds probable.
What I do know now, is that I'm leading a church that fits the deliberate simplicity model, although I didn't appreciate that until reading this book. We are in the new paradigm on all 12 points except perhaps no 9 which says the pastor is humble and understated! We also focus on worship, small groups and outreach, it didn't cost us millions to start a church and won't to start our next one. We're about loving God and loving people and so on,
Then it occurred to me that Dave Browning was writing something that in many ways describes Newfrontiers as a movement, only we've been around longer and we've not come across the radar of an American publisher.
You might think that I didn't like this book but that's not true, there's much to commend it but it just doesn't describe, in my mind anyway, anything that is especially new or unheard of in the UK although it does perhaps put it down on paper in a better way. A similar book from the UK would be something like Total Church - Deliberate Simplicty has the anecdotes and stories that inspire and make you think 'wow this sounds great' and Total Church has the theology and Biblical weight, and so is the better book.
He does ask some good questions like 'what your church be like without electricity?' damning our reliance on technology to provide something authentic for the guest. But it leaves a lot of questions to be answered because it fails to really tell you what CTK actually looks like.
It's still worth a read, especially if you're planning church in multiple locations, planting or stepping into leadership as it does raise some good questions.
Another annoyance is the making up of words, unless someone can show me that 'multility' is a word. But when you need all your chapters to end in 'ity' and you get to 'multi' it gets a bit tricky, so what's an author to do other than mangle the English language.
Dave Browning compares his experiences at CTK with the slow, blundering, expensive, empire building mega churches. I've never been in or experienced a mega church so I've no idea whether he's right or not, although it sounds probable.
What I do know now, is that I'm leading a church that fits the deliberate simplicity model, although I didn't appreciate that until reading this book. We are in the new paradigm on all 12 points except perhaps no 9 which says the pastor is humble and understated! We also focus on worship, small groups and outreach, it didn't cost us millions to start a church and won't to start our next one. We're about loving God and loving people and so on,
Then it occurred to me that Dave Browning was writing something that in many ways describes Newfrontiers as a movement, only we've been around longer and we've not come across the radar of an American publisher.
You might think that I didn't like this book but that's not true, there's much to commend it but it just doesn't describe, in my mind anyway, anything that is especially new or unheard of in the UK although it does perhaps put it down on paper in a better way. A similar book from the UK would be something like Total Church - Deliberate Simplicty has the anecdotes and stories that inspire and make you think 'wow this sounds great' and Total Church has the theology and Biblical weight, and so is the better book.
He does ask some good questions like 'what your church be like without electricity?' damning our reliance on technology to provide something authentic for the guest. But it leaves a lot of questions to be answered because it fails to really tell you what CTK actually looks like.
It's still worth a read, especially if you're planning church in multiple locations, planting or stepping into leadership as it does raise some good questions.
April 22, 2013
As you might expect from the title, Deliberate Simplicity is an easy, uncomplicated read, and although my church is very different from Christ the King Community Church described in this book, it's given me a lot to think about and put into practice in my own ministry and personal life too.
The 'stop doing' list is just one example. At one time I kept a list of things I said no to, but that was after the fact and more to remind and reassure myself that saying no is quite ok. But now I'm thinking about being deliberately simple with a 'stop doing' list too. http://aprilyamasaki.com/2013/04/19/d...
The 'stop doing' list is just one example. At one time I kept a list of things I said no to, but that was after the fact and more to remind and reassure myself that saying no is quite ok. But now I'm thinking about being deliberately simple with a 'stop doing' list too. http://aprilyamasaki.com/2013/04/19/d...
August 31, 2013
I came across this book while looking for another online. I'm really glad I did! The simplicity of ministry 'minimalism' along with ideas of scalability are both things I'd already been thinking about. It seems like we need to step back from doing more and more and focus on doing the important things well.
The idea of 'velocity' was something I had not thought about but I can see the value in it. I think Dave Browning's experiences and advice will be helpful as we think about the next chapter for our church. It's encouraging to read about what God has done through Christ the King Community Church and I'd like to emulate some of the things they've done.
The idea of 'velocity' was something I had not thought about but I can see the value in it. I think Dave Browning's experiences and advice will be helpful as we think about the next chapter for our church. It's encouraging to read about what God has done through Christ the King Community Church and I'd like to emulate some of the things they've done.
February 26, 2009
The strength of this book comes in its first couple chapters and the last couple. The stuff in the middle seems to complicate the message of the book, which seems to be counter to what the book's main premise is.
The biggest takeaway that I have from the book is that a decentralized ministry model will enable the church to have the highest likelihood of growth. Focus corporately on three things: worship, groups, and outreach. Allow individual members to start new ministries as outreach opportunities.
The biggest takeaway that I have from the book is that a decentralized ministry model will enable the church to have the highest likelihood of growth. Focus corporately on three things: worship, groups, and outreach. Allow individual members to start new ministries as outreach opportunities.
June 23, 2015
Simplicity or simplistic?
This book was okay. Honestly very little that isn't in any of a dozen other business or church leadership books, but that's what makes it okay. It's solid if not basic stuff. I think the author mistakes outreach with making disciples, and designs everything around the mantra of reach as many as possible as quick as possible. This makes what you do look very different than If your goal is intentionally developing deep faith.
This book was okay. Honestly very little that isn't in any of a dozen other business or church leadership books, but that's what makes it okay. It's solid if not basic stuff. I think the author mistakes outreach with making disciples, and designs everything around the mantra of reach as many as possible as quick as possible. This makes what you do look very different than If your goal is intentionally developing deep faith.
July 31, 2011
Great principles for pastors wanting to steer a church modeled to create disciples rather than grow numerically. Concepts like reaching a community instead of building a church, thinking globally yet acting locally, instead of hitting goals we try to increase our willingness to take chances. They provide not just theory but also practical application.
May 11, 2012
This was a good read in that the author has a very unique take on the church and it's good to learn from divergent streams. It wasn't necessarily a compelling read though and on a lot of levels his bias for the way that he does church came through as the only way to do church.
February 9, 2013
Practical resource for churches evaluating and updating their mission, vision, and strategy. Calvary's core purpose of loving God more, loving people more, and loving more people comes from this book. Well worth reading!
March 19, 2009
This a great book on the missional church. It speaks to the power of Values, Mission and Vision.
August 31, 2009
I great eye opening book for any Christian who is frustrated with the action of the large and mega-churches.
November 17, 2017
One of the best books I've ever read on ministry philosophy. If you want to challenge your models of ministry & inspire yourself to service read this book.
October 29, 2011
What if the church was built around people instead of programs?
February 1, 2015
Challenging Reading
Browning nails it! Not much else can be said. He has diagnosed the existing church and offered a real and doable remedy.
Browning nails it! Not much else can be said. He has diagnosed the existing church and offered a real and doable remedy.
December 6, 2016
If you want to read a good book that breaks down the complexity of church to get at the basics, take a look at Dave Browning’s Deliberate Simplicity.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews