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

Faith-stretching

  • 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.
  • Find a book or video with teaching about intercessory prayer to help you understand what it is you are achieving when praying.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Think about parts of your life that you (and God might) find boring or unchallenging. Consider what kind of challenge you would need to undertake that would require you to rely more on God and work together more as a team.
  • Volunteer for an activity in your church which will take you out of your 'comfort zone', stretching your faith and increasing your dependence on God.
  • Write down the names of three friends or relatives, then write down three needs for each. Make time to offer a short prayer for each person every day based on those needs.