In his 2011 book Great by Choice, business author and researcher Jim Collins popularized the phrase, “fire bullets, then cannonballs.” The phrase emphasized that successful companies don’t just “go big” on unproven ideas. Instead, they follow a two-step process.
The first step is to fire “bullets”—these are small, low-cost, and low-risk experiments designed to test what actually works. Once the bullet hits, the company then knows how and where to fire the cannonball - that involves concentrating increased resources and energy in the direction proven by the bullets.
The philosophy is simple and straightforward—before a company invests heavily in an initiative, it ought to have some measure of assurance and confidence the initiative will be fruitful. And while Collins was primarily concerned with the business environment, the same philosophy applies when it comes to the Rooted experience.
The Rooted experience requires much from people—that’s because discipleship is, by its nature, costly. These ten weeks draw people into a more focus relationship with God, others, and the church. It pushes people into vulnerability, requires strong commitment, and necessitates a significant time investment. In Collins’ analogy, it is a “cannonball.” That’s why it’s a good thing to fire a bullet first. That’s what the Rooted pilot session is meant to be.
This summer is a perfect time to fire that bullet so that the cannonball is ready for the fall. But how does that pilot happen? Start with these three steps:
1. Gather Your Leaders
The Rooted experience rises and falls on those who have the responsibility for facilitating it. It’s these people who will shepherd the congregation through the experience, encouraging them by their example to keep going. Keep sharing. Keep committing. And for that reason, it’s these people who most need to be a part of the pilot.
By involving these future facilitators in the pilot, they will learn the in’s and out’s of the Rooted experience, and be prepared to guide others through them as well. They will also be able to give you firm points of evaluation so that the experience is the best it can be when you launch it in the fall. But most importantly, these key leaders will experience life change for themselves. They can provide first-hand testimony as you promote Rooted to the congregation.
So set a goal for how many people you’d like to walk through the experience in the fall. Then divide that number by ten, and you’ll find the number of leaders you need to gather for the pilot.
2. Cast the Vision
Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Discipleship is a costly endeavor, and we should not downplay that cost. But we should also not downplay the joy, satisfaction, and true life that comes when we fully commit to following Jesus with our whole selves. This is the vision that needs to be cast for those who will be charged with leading Rooted in the fall. They need to understand what they are committing to, but more importantly, they need to understand why they are committing to it.
They need to see a brighter future for the people in the congregation. It’s a future in which prayer is not just talked about, but labored in. A future in which people are daily committed to God’s Word. A future in which people are engaged in serving both inside and outside the community. And a future in which people know and trust each other enough to bear one another’s burdens.
3. Order the Pilot Kit
We’ve tried to make your Rooted pilot as simple as possible, and that’s why we’ve put everything you need in one box. When you order the pilot kit, you’ll find what you need for the pilot and what you’ll need to set the congregation up for a launch in the fall.
Gather your leaders. Cast the vision. Get the pilot kit. And start now. Fire the bullet so that you’re ready for the cannonball in the fall.
