Strategy Exercise. 1 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Strategy Exercise Grid 21 49 1 5 13 41 7 3 27 43 31 15 39 29 25 11 37 19 23 17 33 9 45 35 47 28 48 16 4 36 8 12 32 20 6 46 10 38 50 22 42 14 18 30 2 24 44 40 26 34 2 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Vision Frame: Strategy Vision Pathway Overview Characteristics of a ministry strategy: 1. that demonstrates how the church will accomplish its mandate as it moves ministry energy in the same direction. 2. The church s organizational for achieving the mission. 3. The of how ministry fits together for fulfilling the mission. 4. The of church life as the body of Christ on mission. 3 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Ministry X-Ray Worksheet The first step in discovering your strategy is to do an inventory of your current ministry offerings. Picture your church s weekly calendar. As you and the team walk through each day of the week, record offerings that meet at least once per month. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 4 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Marbles and Buckets (Part 2) Only Three Marbles 1 General Weekly Adult Opportunity 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time Allocation Key: A: Learning from Scripture (teaching, preaching, Bible study, etc.) B: Responding to God in worship (through music, singing, praise, ordinances, or liturgy) C: Applying the one-another commands with other believers (the many commands of Scripture that include loving one another, carrying one another s burdens, confessing sin, etc.) D: Building relationships with people far from God and sharing the Gospel E: Serving to meet another person s need (inside or outside of the church) F: Training in how to do ministry G: Participating in personal accountability H: Praying Our Top Three Buckets 6 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Strategy Illustrated MOSAIC GATEWAY COMMUNITY CHURCH ILLUSTRATES: Mosaic (multiple entry) strategy with additional graphic to show a preferred pathway (linear) if necessary. It shows additional beyond the top three with both a one-time component and a life-style evangelism component. Worship Service Top Three Ministry Teams Top Three Optional Pathway To Emphasize Common Path Alpha-newcomers Class Addition to Top Three Small Groups Top Three (weekly, off-campus) A Life Dedicated to Reaching Others Addition to Top Three The icon above is completely lit up. It can be as simple as five dots with no symbols and no brown back-lit pathway. The symbols also may be used independently. In this complete form the strategy icon is a teaching tool with the following points: 1) This represents the five components of the strategy at Gateway. The four outside components represent multiple entries to get to the center of church life- small groups- represented by the three people. 2) Most people come in through the front door of the worship service (Step 1) each weekend. Gateway designs their front door experience keeping in mind that many people who come may be only investigating Christianity. 3) The next step most people take is the Alpha-newcomers class (Step 2). This is a 8-week class with a retreat experience at the end. It is a one-time, yet important, step in the life of the church. 4) While people can get into group at any time, Gateway is particularly intentional to help people get into small group (Step 3) as they complete their Alpha-newcomers class. Small group is the center of the strategy because it is the heart of church life. It links all of the other components as a point of integration (POI). 5) The upper right hand corner shows an individual with a servant towel in hand. This represents involvement on a ministry team (Step 4), where people use their gifts to serve others. 6) The last step is a lifestyle-evangelism component of having a life dedicated to reaching others. The shaking hand illustrates the attitude of being always willing to reach out a hand and take initiative for Christ. (continued) 8 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Strategy Illustrated (cont d) LINEAR - CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH ILLUSTRATES: Linear strategy with additional graphic to show connection to logo. The strategy is named, Signs for Life s Journey to tie to tagline, For Life s Journey. This five step strategy shows additional beyond the top three with a life-style evangelism component and a seasonal equipping component. Ministry Teams Top Three Worship Service Top Three Life Development Seminars Addition to Top Three Life Groups Top Three (weekly, on-campus) Building Relationships Addition to Top Three In this complete form the strategy icon is a teaching tool with the following points: 1) The linear dynamic emphasizes the journey language of the tagline. 2) The build icon represents adding people to your life with a graphic similar to the usage of adding people in your computer contacts program. People of Calvary are encouraged to be on the lookout for divine appointments throughout the day (Step 1). Therefore the first component in the sequence is a life-style evangelism beyond the top three addition. Part of God s journey is the joy of being intentional to build relationships 24/7. 3) The next step is bring yourself and others to worship (Step 2). 4) Calvary guides as many people as possible to on-campus life groups from the worship service with the belong component (Step 3). 5) Become represents semester-based seminar offerings (Step 4). Calvary utilizes the Purpose Driven curriculum strategically by not misusing the baseball diamond icon; here it represents a curriculum pathway only and is placed in the context of the overall church strategy. This component is a beyond the top three piece as a seasonal offering. 6) Finally, Calvary emphasizes weekly involvement in ministry (and missions), which is represented by the commitment to use one s life to bless. (continued) 9 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Strategy Illustrated (cont d) CYCLICAL MOBBERLY BAPTIST CHURCH AND FIRST PRESBYTERIAN HOUSTON MOBBERLY ILLUSTRATES: Cyclical strategy with additional graphics to show connection to logo. The four step strategy shows additional beyond the top three with a seasonal equipping component represented as Develop. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN HOUSTON ILLUSTRATES: Cyclical strategy with connection to logo. The four step strategy shows additional beyond the top three with a life-style evangelism component represented by the I for Invite. The others components represent, Worship, Grow and Serve. 10 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Difference Between Strategy and Measures It is important to distinguish the components of the sides of the Vision Frame and understand how they work together. A simple analogy can be used to clarify the difference between your m Map, your strategy and m Marks, or your measures. Think of a paint company. The plant uses large 2,000-gallon kettles for cooking and mixing. After it is mixed, the paint is checked by the quality control lab on a six-point checklist: the paint s viscosity, color, gloss, dry time, and so on. How the paint (three kettles) is made and how the company validates good paint (QC lab) represent the difference between strategy ( m Map) and measure ( m Marks). Imagine a fictitious member or your church named Joe Grow. We would say that the m Map is where Joe goes and the m Marks are what Joe becomes. Using churchspeak, we would say that the m Map is about assimilation into the organization and the m Marks are about spiritual formation for the individual. Use this guide as you articulate your measures. Strategy m Map Measures m Marks The Assembly Line Action: going Venues Organizational Outcome The Quality Control Test Action: becoming Virtues Individual Outcome ASSIMILATION Where Joe Goes means SPIRITUAL FORMATION What Joe Becomes ends 2 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

The Benefits of Measures as Life Marks Benefit 1: Provides our church with a clear and measurable of spiritual success. Benefit 2: Defines the Christian life in terms of rather than head knowledge. Benefit 3: Establishes a way to teach our people. Benefit 4: Helps us know what to hold people for. Benefit 5: Positions as more important than programs. Benefit 6: Gives our a thoughtful way to assist people in their walk with God. Benefit 7: Keeps the of the church focused on the life transformation of our people. Benefit 8: Provides maturity that can be used for children and adults. 3 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Measures as the Portrait of Discipleship FRAMEWORK EXAMPLE #1: Verve is a church on the Las Vegas strip planted by Vince Antonucci. They describe the people they want to be with three simple, but meaningful phrases: God Stalkers Grace Wholesalers Guerilla Lovers FRAMEWORK EXAMPLE #2: The 5 G s: Grace (evangelism: outreach resulting in salvation & baptism) Growth (discipleship: prayer, bible study, worship) Groups (fellowship: community, accountability, intimacy) Gifts (ministry: service to each other & our neighbors) Good Stewardship (proper management of our resources: time, talent, treasure) FRAMEWORK EXAMPLE #3: George Barna s description of a disciple: Discipleship is about being and reproducing spiritually mature zealots for Christ. Six key components: must be assured of their salvation by grace alone must learn and understand the principles of the Christian life must obey God s laws and commands must represent God in the world must serve other people must reproduce themselves in Christ (continued) 4 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Measures as the Portrait of Discipleship (cont d) FRAMEWORK EXAMPLE #4: The Lifeway Discipleship Research project has identified eight Biblical factors that consistently show up in the life of a maturing believer. Those attributes of discipleship are: Bible engagement Obeying God and denying self Serving God and others Sharing Christ Exercising faith Seeking God Building relationships Unashamed transparency FRAMEWORK EXAMPLE #5: Pantego Bible Church has developed the 30 Core Competencies: 10 Core Beliefs 10 Core Practices 10 Core Virtues Trinity Worship Joy Salvation By Grace Prayer Peace Authority of the Bible Bible Study Self-Control Personal God Single-mindedness Humility Identity in Christ Spiritual Gifts Love Church Biblical Community Patience Humanity Give Away My Time Faithfulness Compassion Give Away My Money Kindness/Goodness Eternity Give Away My Faith Gentleness Stewardship Give Away My Life Hope 5 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Mission Man Exercise Your group will draw a stick figure on the newsprint sheet. This person represents Joe, but you may come up with another name that is familiar to your group. Then label the figure appropriately by associating each descriptor, your characteristics, with a part of the body. Be creative! In your subgroup, brainstorm a list that describes what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Write those here: A follower of Jesus Christ is... Common Themes 6 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Red Letter Maturity Scan the red letters of the gospels the words that Jesus spoke directly. Begin listing what He characterized as a mature follower of Christ. Common Themes 7 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Refining the Articulation of Your Measures To be sure that you capture your culture and allow your Kingdom Concept to drip through, you must refine the articulation of your m Marks on the basis of your uniqueness. How can the m Marks be best communicated to your people? What aspects of your Kingdom Concept can be nuanced into it? They may be stated as alliteration, questions, poetry, or simple one-word bullet points. Here are a trio of examples: STORY METAPHOR One church used the idea of roles in the story of redemption to drive its m Marks. Living into God s larger story means living the four key roles as Christ-followers: the Beloved, knowing and embracing your identity in Christ; the Companion, walking in accountability with others on the pilgrimage of faith; the Servant, adopting the mind-set of concern and practice of care for others; and the Ambassador, representing Jesus to the world through words and actions. POETIC EXPRESSION A simple acronym wouldn t fly for the culture of First Presbyterian Houston. Through the process, they coined memorable phrases that can be used independently or woven together: Worship beyond Sunday Study and pray each day Connect for accountability Serve and give generously Invest and invite to show the way The expression answers the question, What does a life-changing relationship with God look like? MODEL ACTION Bandera Road City Church in San Antonio wanted the articulation of their measures to demonstrate a practical everyday lifestyle application. They engage people with six How We Live statements. Listen To God. We are intentional about setting aside time to listen to God through His Word, His Spirit, and Prayer. Share A Meal. We are intentional about investing our lives in people, and if helpful, inviting interested persons to the BRCC weekend experience. Peel The Onion. We are intentional about dealing with the layers of junk in our own lives with the help of trusted friends. 9 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Refining the Articulation of Your Measures (cont d) Downsize To Maximize. We are intentional about simplifying our financial lives in order to be generous supporters of Christ s purposes in the world. Keep Your Passport Current. We are intentional about serving the spiritual and social needs in under-resourced parts of the world. Lean Toward Green. We are intentional about being ethical stewards of God s earth and its resources. QUESTION FORM The MET (Metropolitan Baptist Church) north of Houston uses a question format. Members at The MET use the following questions as a reference point and as guiding principles for their spiritual growth. Have I met with God today? Do I have any 2 AM friends? Am I close to someone far from God? What s my life rated? Is my passport current? Am I a generous giver? KINGDOM CONCEPT-FOCUSED Hope Baptist church is focused on reaching the Nations and leveraging the work of God in Las Vegas to that end. In their m Marks, they chose to emphasize this Kingdom Concept with an explicit reference to the Nations. Their m Marks answer the question, What does it look like to live the life of a Jesus follower? The life of a Jesus follower is all about relationships. A relationship with the Father that is personal and daily. A relationship with one another that is connected and caring. A relationship with the world that engages neighbors and nations. Notice how each of these Missional Life Marks hits the five C s; they are all clear, concise, compelling, catalytic, and contextual. Can you imagine walking into a church environment where these are owned with passion and clarity? 10 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com

Simple Strategy Design Questions Our assumption behind strategy design is this: you can achieve your measures with more people with a simple strategy rather than a complex one. Six SIMPLE Ministry Design Questions (or you can call them SILO STOPPERS): 1. How do we provide for more more effectively through people (not programs) within our existing ministry environments (not a new structure)? 2. How do we develop more more effectively without requiring people to come to a new time and place at church? 3. In our desire for something new for are we being tempted to create a new environment instead of 1) providing new tools, 2) developing leaders (new mindset), or 3) better utilizing an existing ministry or life environment? 4. Is the need for something new for being falsely driven only by a staff s passion to exercise their gift or validate their value to the team? 5. Is the need for something new for being driven solely by one member s experience in a previous church? 6. If we do provide something new for how are we augmenting, streamlining, eliminating, or leveraging our existing ministry environments to create a meaningful relationship with the new initiative or environment? These questions allow you to plug one of two kinds of words in the blanks. The first set of words are for ministries designed for particular groups, age segments, or special needs like: Young adults Senior adults Singles Mothers of preschoolers Recently divorced people Women s bible study Kids-focused discipleship The second set of words are for ministries designed for developing spiritual practices and aspects of discipleship like: Personal bible study Prayer Giving or financial peace Missional living Accountability Witnessing 11 Auxano. All rights reserved. auxano.com