Reading: Applying Chapter 12

APPLYING CHAPTER 12 

1. In your church, who is officially responsible for deciding the direction of the church’s ministry? 

a. Is that really how it works, or does another person or group actually make those decisions? 

b. If “officially” is different from “actually,” is the difference important enough for you to do something about it? If yes, what might you do? 

2. List all the people you turn to for help in discerning God’s direction and priorities for your church and your ministry. 

a. Why do you turn to those people? 

b. How do you work with them to find God’s direction? 

c. Compare this list to the official decision-makers of your church. What do you learn from that? 

3. Reread your answers to questions #2-6 in “Applying Chapter 1.” In light of this chapter, would you add to or change any of those answers?

 4. In making decisions, does your leadership team use voting, consensus, or some other method? Is that working well for you and your mission? 

5. Does your church have a strategic or long-range planning process? 

a. If so, is it working well? 

b. Can you think of any way to make the process better? 

c. If you don’t have a planning process, ask God if you should consider implementing one. 

6. Plan a church visioning and planning retreat for your church. 

a. Who will you invite? Why? 

b. Who will facilitate it? Why? 

c. Will you work through the suggested vision and mission process exactly as outlined in the book: prayer, Bible study, strengths list, community description, vision and mission sentences? Or will you change something to better fit your situation? Why? 

d. How will you arrive at specific goals to carry out your vision and mission? 

7. For practice, write three goals or action steps for your church, making sure they meet all seven criteria listed in the book. 

8. Make a list of the people in your church who are responsible for doing certain things, with their areas of responsibility. Does everyone understand and agree on which decisions they are free to make, and which decisions need approval by someone else? 

9. How good are you at delegating responsibility and authority? How can you improve? 

10. List any regularly scheduled administrative meetings your church has. For each one, answer: 

a. Why do we have this meeting? What results do we expect from it that are worth the time and effort of all those involved? 

b. Who is expected to attend this meeting? Is there anyone who is not needed? Is there anyone who should be added? 

c. Do we have this meeting too often, not often enough, or just right? 

d. Who needs to know the results of this meeting? How are they communicated? How are they followed up? 

11. Do you try to do vision and management in the same meetings? 

a. If so, how is that working? 

b. Should you make a change? 

12. The book lists thirteen elements of a successful meeting. 

a. Which of these should be improved in your meetings? 

b. What steps will you take to improve them?