I’ll never forget the first time I heard Andy Stanley say those words, “Think steps…when it comes to helping your people grow.” As he unpacked the implications of those words, it became an “aha” moment for me. Though I haven’t always practiced it well (in fact, even as I am writing this, I’m taking a fresh look at my own church’s steps), I know thinking in steps is vital for my church community’s growth.

For years I thought in terms of need—“what is our greatest need right now?” Then I created a system or program around that need. Thinking steps starts by asking the question, “Where do we want people to be?” Then asking, “How do we get them there?”  Once you answer those questions, create clear and simple steps that help people find their way from their current reality to the person God wants them to be. Make these steps easy to understand, easy to step into, and explain what their expected results will be at the end.

Take a few moments and examine your Sunday school, membership class, GroupLife or whatever discipleship mechanism your church has in place and ask the question, “Is this taking our people where they need to be?” If not, it’s time to map out some new steps for growth.

For further reading on the subject check out 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner & Lane Jones (Multnomah Publishing)

Mike Skor

Tags: Disciple Groups, pastor, Small Groups

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