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Self-Study Reflection Questions

By Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson, and Heidi Rolland Unruh

After gathering information on your congregation, use the following questions to guide your reflection as part of the vision discernment process:

1. How ready is your churchfor local mission?Identify the areas where growth is most needed, including:

theology for mission
spiritual passion animating mission
commitment to mission
amount of outreach mission
type of outreach
integration of spiritual and social ministry within outreach
balance of outreach with internal congregational nurture
willingness to embrace a major challenge

2. How can your outreach mission build on your church’s identity and history?How does your answer to the question, "Who are we?" help you answer the question, "What kind of ministry should we do?" Reflect on your church’s unique attributes and history. What aspects of your identity may provide the foundation for a new ministry direction? What ministry doors have opened and closed; what problems related toministry have you encountered in the past; where have you experienced success?

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses for compassion ministry?Most church characteristics can be either an asset and/or an obstacle. For example, a large building opens up space for ministry programs, but building maintenance can siphon off funds and energy. What forms of ministry might capitalize on the ministry strengths of your congregation? What steps might be needed to strengthen critical areas of weakness?

4. Are there areas of conflict or confusion related to ministry?Sometimes church leaders have one set of beliefs and priorities, while the congregation is on another track. Sometimes different groups within the church pull in different directions. Church members may have only a vague sense of what the church’s mission is and why they should support it. This may call for further teaching and training, or for a ministry demonstration project to unite the church body.

5. What might hold back the church’s growth in local mission?Anticipate barriers to change within the congregation. (See sidebar "Obstacles to Ministry Development.") What individuals or groups in the congregation will be most affected by a new ministry direction? Whose support is critical for change to take root?

6. What steps can the church take to help it move forward in mission?Consider what your church could do to strengthen its foundations for vibrant, sustainable ministry. Look particularly at the church’s leadership, organization, discipleship, and internal caring. List specific steps that the church might take in each area to prepare the congregation for mission.

—Adapted from Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson, and Heidi Rolland Unruh, Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community With Good News and Good Works(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002), 255–257.