Cycle Starter Plans

View all

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

"Closing the back door"

  • 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.
  • Connect with members of your ministry team in a social context where there is no agenda other than enjoying each other's company and relating to one another.
  • Consider how effective your church is in caring for the needy who are already a part of your congregation.
  • Consider the conflict resolution process presented by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 and how it could be implemented practically in conflict situations in your church.
  • Get every member of your small group to share what would make your time together most relevant to the issues faced in daily life.
  • Host a small group in your own home and work hard to make it as welcoming as possible. Look around for who might lead it and who might like to be a part of it.
  • Invite some people from your church that you don't know very well into your home or out somewhere for a meal.
  • Speak to or send an affirming note to at least one person each week who you believe has done a good job of something in their life. It may be recent or something you have observed over time.