Cultivating Kingdom Ecosystems
Episode Overview
In this thought-provoking episode, Brian and Corey dive deep into the difference between building castles and cultivating ecosystems to bring the Kingdom of God to life in our cities. Inspired by the documentary The Biggest Little Farm, this conversation explores what it means to foster sustainable, thriving spiritual soil where life can flourish.
Key Themes:
The Castle vs. The Ecosystem
Castles: Represent the modern church-building mindset—focused on bigger structures, more resources, and protecting those inside.
The result: Overused resources, barren spiritual landscapes, and exclusion of those outside the walls.
Ecosystems: Represent the Kingdom approach—creating diverse, interdependent, and sustainable environments where life flourishes.
This requires patience, setbacks, and the creativity to let things grow organically.
Lessons from The Biggest Little Farm
John and Molly Chester transform 200 acres of barren land through biodiversity, not quick fixes.
Restoring the Soil: It took 8 years, setbacks, and intentional creativity to bring life back to the land.
Key Insight: “To bring soil back to life, you have to infuse it with beneficial microorganisms.”
The spiritual parallel: Restoring the “soil” of a city requires many small, unseen acts of faithfulness from ordinary people.
Kingdom Principles
The Kingdom of God is about flourishing, not just building. It invites everyone to the table and prioritizes restoration over efficiency.
Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom is about the universal flourishing of creation—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
Practical Applications
Plant Gardens, Don’t Build Castles: Instead of building bigger structures, focus on planting the gospel in neighborhoods, workplaces, and networks.
Embrace Setbacks: Creativity often comes when we slow down, observe, and wait on the Holy Spirit during challenges.
Think Long-Term: True kingdom flourishing requires years of patience, small wins, and interdependent collaboration.
Invest in Infrastructure: Like the Chesters’ worm farm, identify what “long-term infrastructure” your ministry needs to support sustainable growth.
Kingdom Math
Movements start small, like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). It’s slow at first, but growth becomes exponential.
Growth is not about quick fixes but creating systems where life can self-regulate and multiply.
Why This Matters:
Building castles may seem successful, but it often comes at the expense of those on the margins. Cultivating ecosystems, however, reflects the heart of Jesus—where everyone has a role, setbacks foster creativity, and life flourishes sustainably.
🔗 Explore disciple-making tools and resources: kcunderground.org/toolkit
