Cycle Starter Plans

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Having understood your church a little better with the help of the NCD Church Survey, its now time to start cycling together towards a healthier church. You’ve chosen to start experimenting and learning more about the topic to the left. Now, select one of the cycle starter plans below and write number 1 in its box. Put this sheet on your wall, then, go do it!

Next time you are meeting with others who are also working through a topic, ask each other the questions from the cycle, starting at “do” and finishing at “plan”. After a cycle you may decide the most important thing to do now is to keep going with the same plan, modify it, or choose another option from below. If choosing another from below, just write 2 in its box and so on.

If you’d like more cycle starter options, or to work on another topic highlighted by your NCD Church Survey results, just visit ncdchurchsurvey.org/cycle-starters

Q68

  • Ask someone you know well with a mature Christian faith to suggest the kind of challenge you could undertake to stretch your faith. Be accountable to them for taking up that challenge.
  • Consider what "messages" your church leaders send about their belief in your church's future and speak to them about your observations in an encouraging way.
  • If you have a gifted evangelist in your church, ask them to explain why and how they pray for and share the Gospel with others. Consider inviting them to also speak to your small group about the topic.
  • If you have relationship difficulties with anyone in your church, write down all their strengths. Pray that God will change your view of them, and the relationship.
  • In your small group, debate the topic: "If a church is to keep growing, all its people must keep growing." Whether you agree or disagree, be prepared to argue the minority view to draw out responses.
  • Reflect on challenging circumstances you face in daily life or ministry. If you rarely speak, even briefly, to God about those challenges, consider what image of God (and yourself) you may have. If you don't face significant challenges, consider what if any implications that has for your prayer life.
  • Think of two people who are contributing enthusiastically to your church. Ask them why they are enthusiastic and why they invest the time they do.
  • Ask a key leader in your church how much meeting time the leadership spends on planning for the future growth of the church and what resources they draw upon to do so.