How to Measure What Really Matters
In Chapter 11, Stirlen introduces the concept of spiritual benchmarking. In sports, coaches track performance. In business, leaders analyze results. In the church, however, many measure the wrong things—attendance, budgets, or programs. But Christ’s benchmarks are twofold: evangelism and discipleship.
Are people coming to faith? Are believers being discipled to maturity? Stirlen shows that if these two markers are absent, the church is not winning—no matter how full the building is.
Like a good coach, Christ measures our obedience and fruit. And He expects us to do the same. The goal isn’t activity—it’s reproduction. Are we multiplying disciples who can make more disciples?