STARFISH TOOLS: An Apostolic Ecosystem Assessment
🌱 What’s the lowest-functioning apostolic dimension in our network—and what’s one bold step we could take to raise it this year?
If we are serious about becoming true apostolic movements capable of advancing the cause of Jesus in our time, we must build our ecosystems around the right DNA—and tend to it carefully.
This self-assessment is designed for microchurch networks, hubs, or leadership teams to discern the health of your apostolic function across five key dimensions:
Sentness, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Systems Design, and Scalability.
We’ll also evaluate two foundational capacities: Seeding DNA and Guarding DNA.
Remember: according to bucket theory, a vessel can only hold water up to the height of its lowest plank.
Likewise, a network’s ability to multiply and sustain movement will be limited by its weakest area of apostolic imagination. Identifying and strengthening your “lowest plank” is critical if you want to see multiplication rather than stagnation. At the end of this post, you’ll find a downloadable pdf of this assessment you can use with your team.
Part 1: Five Dimensions of Apostolic Ecosystem
For each dimension below, rate your network or team on a scale of 1 (very weak) to 5 (very strong).
Be honest. Movemental redesign begins with sober self-awareness.
1. Sentness and Mission
Our network operates from a fundamental bias toward sentness, not attractionality.
We prioritize translocal Gospel extension over internal consolidation.
We have high cultural intelligence and can contextualize the Gospel without compromising it.
(1 — We are mostly static)
(5 — We are dynamically sent and adaptive across cultures)
2. Innovation and Adaptability
We rapidly design new forms of church, mission, and disciple-making when needed.
Innovation is celebrated and embedded into our culture—not centralized around one personality.
We resist copying old models and instead create indigenous, Spirit-led expressions.
(1 — We rarely innovate)
(5 — We are highly innovative and experimental)
3. Entrepreneurship and Risk-Taking
Our leaders are empowered to take risks and pioneer new frontiers.
We plant the Gospel, not just replicate legacy church forms.
We have structures that reward faithfulness and movement, not just polished performance.
(1 — We play it safe)
(5 — We actively pioneer and risk for the Kingdom)
4. Systems Thinking and Design
We approach challenges systemically, not just tactically.
We understand how various elements (discipleship, leadership development, microchurch formation, hub support) must interrelate to sustain movement.
Our leadership teams think in terms of ecosystems, not empires.
(1 — We work reactively, not systemically)
(5 — We design holistically and systemically)
5. Scalability and Multiplication
Our models are simple enough to be reproduced by ordinary disciples.
Every disciple is envisioned as a potential microchurch planter or Gospel catalyst.
We have viral pathways and tools embedded at the grassroots level.
(1 — We are built for addition, not multiplication)
(5 — We are built for viral scalability)
Part 2: Seeding and Guarding the DNA
These two critical functions ensure that the right DNA spreads and sustains through every level of the movement:
Seeding DNA
We intentionally and consistently seed the core DNA of movement—Gospel flourishing, disciple-making, decentralized leadership, and Spirit-led mission—into every new disciple, leader, microchurch, and hub.
We ensure that our theological foundations (Jesus is Lord, Kingdom-first identity, creedal orthodoxy) are embedded deeply from the beginning—not assumed later.
We saturate the relational fabric of our network with the core metaphors, language, values, and practices that sustain a centered-set, Spirit-fueled movement.
We design on-ramps, trainings, coaching environments, and resources that reinforce the DNA repeatedly, organically, and generationally.
We prioritize clarity and simplicity over complexity, so that the DNA remains easily transferable from disciple to disciple and generation to generation.
(1 — DNA seeding is inconsistent, surface-level, or overly complicated)
(5 — DNA seeding is intentional, relational, and deeply embedded across the movement)
Guarding DNA
We vigilantly protect against DNA drift toward institutionalism, hierarchy, celebrity culture, or attractional models.
We faithfully guard the Gospel itself—proclaiming Jesus as Lord, anchoring everything in the historic creedal confession of the Church.
We steward and reinforce the core DNA of our network (our centered-set identity), shaped by documents like the Underground Manifesto and the defining values that keep us aligned around the person and mission of Jesus.
We regularly realign practices, language, and leadership behaviors to remain true to our original apostolic imagination.
(1 — We are highly vulnerable to drift in Gospel, identity, or mission)
(5 — We fiercely guard Gospel clarity, network DNA, and movemental integrity)
Reflection and Action
After completing your ratings:
Identify Your Lowest Plank:
Which of the seven areas (5 dimensions + 2 DNA functions) has the lowest score?
This is your network’s current “bucket limiter.”
Ask Three Questions:
What’s contributing to the weakness in this area?
Who could we equip/release to lead change in this dimension?
What small redesign could bias the system more apostolically?
Prioritize Small Wins:
Focus first on raising your lowest plank by 1–2 points over the next season.
Remember: raising your lowest area raises the capacity of the whole system.
Closing Charge
The Spirit is calling for apostles who will seed, guard, and release Kingdom movement—not through empire-building but through generative ecosystems of Gospel life.
Come back, Peter. Come back, Paul.
Let's redesign for movement.
Here’s a downloadable PDF that way you and your microchurch network can easily print it, fill it out, or use it in coaching environments.
👉 Download Apostolic Ecosystem Assessment – (PDF)