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

Q42

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Listen to yourself when praying and consider whether God would find your prayer language distant or unusual compared to how you would normally speak to a very close friend. Then consider the Psalms as examples of direct, honest and expressive prayer.
  • Read Ephesians 3:20. Pray the general prayer to God that He will do something in your life which is more than you could ask or imagine so that you are renewed in your service to Him.
  • 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.
  • Share three things you need prayer for with three other people in your church or small group. Be specific. Keep them informed of progress, especially when the prayers are answered, and how.
  • Share with your congregation or team about the most recent recreation time you enjoyed and why you found it renewing.