How Would You Rate the First Steps out of Your Auditorium?

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indiana-jones-leap-of-faith-1Ever stop to really examine the first steps you are offering? What if an independent first step auditor with fresh eyes and no emotional attachment showed up to look over your strategy? What would they say?

Take a moment and just think about the first steps the unconnected people in your congregation (and crowd) will have to take.

Here's a little bit of a quiz:

1. Are your first steps easy? Or do unconnected people need to be willing to take a scary leap of faith (like Indiana Jones onto the invisible bridge)?

2. Are they obvious? Or do unconnected people need to be Sherlock Holmes with a twist of Carnac the Magnificent to figure them out?

3. Are your first steps strategic? Always leading in the direction you want people to go? Or do unconnected people sometimes feel like Alice in Wonderland (and have to ask the Cheshire Cat for directions)?

How did you do? Perfect score? Better than most? Counting on the curve? Are you keeping in mind that unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being at your church again?

See also, What's Your Urgency Level for Connecting Unconnected People?

One of my recent small group ministry resolutions was to create even easier first steps out of the auditorium that lead to toe-in-the-water opportunities for community.

One of my recent small group ministry resolutions was to create even easier first steps out of the auditorium that lead to toe-in-the-water opportunities for community. Click To Tweet

Why did I add this resolution to my list? Easy. In my own assessment I concluded that while we had a first step that passed the easy test, it was not obvious and was mixed in with a number of counterfeit first steps that don't actually lead in the direction we want unconnected people to go! Trust me...the process is not without challenges. The process of evaluating and designing first steps that are easy, obvious, and strategic is more than a little daunting.

The process of evaluating and designing:

Evaluating your first steps requires asking tough questions (i.e., What would have to be true for this first step to actually be a fantastic option? or What's the best way to design this first step?).

Evaluating your first steps requires asking tough questions (i.e., What would have to be true for this first step to actually be a fantastic option? or What's the best way to design this first step?). Click To Tweet

Asking tough questions isn't always an easy thing to do. And when the right people are in the room it can be even tougher. But without asking the right questions it will be easy to continue operating "as if" doing the same things will lead to different (and better) results.

See also, Supercharge Your Ministry Impact with These 5 Questions.

Evaluating your first steps often requires steely resolve to trim your belong and become menu (think about all the fellowship and discipleship options your church is currently offering). Eliminating legacy options will certainly lead to unhappy fans of the status quo. But...if you want to connect unconnected people, it will require brutally honest choices.

Evaluating your first steps often requires steely resolve to trim your belong and become menu (think about all the fellowship and discipleship options your church is currently offering). Click To Tweet

Even more difficult than asking tough questions will be mustering the resolve necessary to act on decisions to change or eliminate menu options. Every option (class, program, ministry, etc.) has its own fan-base and set of advocates. Truly changing the design will require disappointing or even frustrating at least a small group of fans.

See also, Small Group Ministry Roadblock #3: A Bloated Belong and Become Menu.

Designing new first steps that are easy, obvious, and strategic will require careful premeditation.

It is always one thing to evaluate and discuss and weigh options. It is another thing entirely to implement what you've designed. There will be careful planning and a series of timing decisions that may unnecessarily weigh down and slow down execution. If you're not very determined, triggers that could and even should be pulled will be delayed as overcautiousness takes the stage.

It is always one thing to evaluate and discuss and weigh options. It is another thing entirely to implement what you've designed. If you're not very determined, triggers that could and even should be pulled will be delayed as… Click To Tweet

See also, Are Your Next Steps Premeditated? and What to Do When Precedent and the Status Quo Stand in the Way?

Considering the stakes of this game and what is at risk...isn't it actually worth our absolute attention and greatest insightfulness?

Need help? Take advantage of my newest mini-course: How to Design NEXT Steps and FIRST Steps.

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2 Comments

  1. Andrew Mason on February 20, 2014 at 9:42 am

    Lol, love the Indiana Jones/Invisible bridge illustration. I think there are many times we make it like that without even realizing it. Great post!



  2. markchowell on February 20, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Thanks Andrew! I think it happens waaay more than any of us ever stop to recognize.

    mark