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

  • Ask three people in your area of ministry to share with you the story of one or more of their friends or family who do not yet know Jesus Christ. Offer to pray with them for that person. Then, consider what if any help you could be in seeing those people come to Christ.
  • 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.
  • Develop a concise presentation that helps those in your church to choose from the main different types of Bible translations and paraphrases available depending on their need.
  • Find a book or video with teaching about intercessory prayer to help you understand what it is you are achieving when praying.
  • 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.
  • When you meet with people from your church, offer to pray for them before you finish your time together. This may be to do with a specific challenge they are facing or simply that God might abundantly bless them even more.