How do we choose which question we want to focus on? Now that we have four themes from our observations and open questions written to explore these themes, we need to take a moment to analyze them and decide which to chose as the focus of our innovation efforts. A simple analysis looking at value …
Category Archives: Insight + Action
Community Outreach: Synthesize
Synthesizing results is the next step. It is important to share observations without judgment so there is an objective record of what is going on. Once all observations are spoken and on the table, the next step is finding themes and synthesizing areas of focus. What are the themes we learned in our research? In …
Community Outreach: Learn
Once you have identified the stakeholders, it is time to learn from them. Who do you need to observe and consult? This next phase sends your team out into the community to interview, observe, pretend and experience how people interact and engage. Often, I think a blind spot of many churches and ministries is an …
Community Outreach: Stakeholders
The important next step in exploring appropriate community outreach is to identify the stakeholders. Ultimately, this answers the question: Who are the people in your neighborhood and how are they connected? It would be helpful to use the chart you completed in the asset mapping section to think through the categories of people present in …
Insight + Action Words: Speak
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 In the Bible, there are many instructions about our words and how we speak. Most instruct us about controlling the tongue and warn of the consequences of our words. These instructions reinforce the principle that …
Insight + Action Words: Love
First Corinthians 13 is commonly referred to as the love chapter, and it is often read at weddings. However, if we limit the instructions to only romantic love, we miss out on instruction for how we are to interact with everyone we come in contact with, in church or out of church. Paul starts the …
Insight + Action Words: Learn
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 Are you weary? Are you burdened? Do you need rest? Jesus’ answer …
Insight + Action Words: Seek
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 An attitude of seeking His Kingdom and His righteous can become a frame through which to view the world if we let it. This verse is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, one …
Insight + Action Words: Pray
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts …
Insight + Action Words: Wait
“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength: They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 There is plenty of action promised to those who wait, but how do you wait as an action in the meantime? …
KATHY PIERBURG 