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

Q22

  • Consider what "messages" your church leaders send about their belief in your church's future and speak to them about your observations in an encouraging way.
  • Discuss with your small group what it would take to ensure the group is always open to newcomers and the pathways by which those people are likely to end up in your group.
  • Gather a group together in your church to map the needs of the surrounding community. Share your findings with others in the church, including the leadership.
  • If you have a gifted evangelist in your church, ask them how, based on your gifts, you could work with them to grow fully devoted followers of Christ.
  • 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.
  • List all the activities going on in your church and approximate what percentage of time, energy and resources goes to reaching non-believers for Christ. Ask a key leader to comment on your observations.
  • 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.
  • Ask a key leader in your church how much meeting time the leadership spends on planning for the future growth of the church and what resources they draw upon to do so.