PREPARATION FOR THE CONVERSATION
See the previous blog for more information on how to engage your congregation in a spiritual checkup. What I have included below is a form for you to use when you are making the phone calls to your random sample.
I would also encourage you to have the same conversation with the leadership of your church. Explain that their response is part of a larger conversation that you are having with the entire congregation. Your conversation with the leadership could even be at a retreat or at least a special meeting. Then, as you report back what you are hearing from the congregation, they will have a bases upon which to compare their own ideas.
A SAMPLE FORM
Spiritual Checkup Form
Name of respondent: ____________________________
WORSHIP: How are you experiencing worship? Are you sensing a connection with God as you gather to offer God praise?
PRAYER: Do you find prayer meaningful? How frequently do you pray? Would you like some additional help in developing your prayer life?
SCRIPTURE: Do you find reading Scripture meaningful? Do you follow some sort of pattern or discipline in your reading? Does it seem to you that God is able to speak to you through your reading of Scripture?
BODY OF CHRIST: Do you feel as if God had a reason for drawing you to be part of Highland? Are you having an opportunity to be faithful to that calling? What might help you in that regard?
CONSIDER WHAT IT WOULD MEAN
Consider what it would mean to your ministry to have a strong picture of how your congregation will respond to these questions. Also, how will it affect your leadership to both think about these areas but also understand how the congregation will respond.
It might even be fun to both personally and with your leadership to discuss what you think you will find in these conversations.
Certainly, as you gather this information, it can have direct impact on how you shape the future ministry of your church.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU HEAR. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SHARE THE RESULTS WITH MULTIPLE CONGREGATIONS.
