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

Intimacy

  • Allow more time than usual in an upcoming meeting when you will visibly put aside the agenda, your diary, your phone and all other distractions to purely focus your interest and attention on the person or people with whom you are meeting.
  • Ask your small group to pray for you about a specific need you have.
  • Consider whether your church program is too full to allow the leaders to meet regularly with enough time to adequately reflect on the past and plan for the future of your church. Consider whether this quality versus quantity of ministry balance needs addressing.
  • Consider whether your church's approach to the power of faith prevents people from admitting that they have personal problems in the first place.
  • Develop at least one new relationship in your church where you can share openly your personal challenges and the other person is free to do likewise.
  • Download or buy a Bible reading plan and begin using it. Be sure to think about the time of day when you will be free and relaxed to do so. If necessary, limit another activity or ask for help to be freed up to make this possible. Share with someone what you are learning or have been reminded of from your readings.
  • If you have relationship difficulties with anyone in your church, find a neutral party to help you repair the relationship, and persist until it is.
  • To help others feel more comfortable in sharing the issues they are facing in daily life, be prepared to share the challenges and difficulties you face.
  • Write down all the reasons why you find it difficult to share with others in your church or small group about the issues you are facing in your life. Pray for people and ways to help you overcome these barriers.