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

Q55

  • Ask your small group to pray for you about a specific need you have.
  • Find a book or video with teaching about intercessory prayer to help you understand what it is you are achieving when praying.
  • If your church leadership says small groups are a priority, ensure there is a budget allocation and time set aside for developing small groups and leaders that matches such statements.
  • Invite your small group members to nominate their most important prayer request at this time. Pray for those points in your group meeting each week and ask for updates on the requested situations.
  • 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.
  • Regularly meet with someone who is known as a prayerful person and whose prayers are answered. Talk to them about their experiences of prayer and pray with them.
  • Start a small group that places a priority on prayer for its members and their needs.