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

Need-oriented Evangelism

  • Ask three people in your area of ministry to share with you the story of one or more of their friends or family who do not yet know Jesus Christ. Offer to pray with them for that person. Then, consider what if any help you could be in seeing those people come to Christ.
  • Consider how friendly your church is towards gifted evangelists and how they would be made to feel. If you have any in your church, ask them how fully they feel their gift is embraced by your church.
  • Find a book or video with teaching about intercessory prayer to help you understand what it is you are achieving when praying.
  • Identify those in your church who are active in helping those in need (food, clothing, education, counsel, etc.). Work out how what they are doing could be more integrated with the other ministries of your church so that those in need could be helped further along their journey to life in all its fullness.
  • 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.
  • Speak with at least one person you do not normally speak to at the worship service this week.
  • Spend time somewhere in your church's local community where disadvantaged people gather (e.g. unemployment office, courthouse, welfare store, etc.) and ask God to show you how your or your church's gifts may connect with the needs you see.
  • Think about the biggest difference that Jesus and the church has made in your life personally. How could your church better minister to others in that same way and what part could you play in it?