Suppose the Church Survey reveals that Loving Relationships is the least natural Quality Characteristic for a church. Does that mean the church ought to plan more fellowship events?
It might—but not necessarily. First, we should listen to understand people’s experience.
Like an iceberg, what we see on the surface may be only part of a much larger picture. Understanding what lies beneath can change how we respond.
Perhaps newcomers find it difficult to participate in friendships that are already formed.
Perhaps people feel apprehensive to talk about personal difficulties.
Perhaps tense relationships or past hurts are shaping the atmosphere.
Each of these possibilities could contribute to the same broad situation with Loving Relationships; however, each would invite a different practical response.
There’s more to discover within the survey itself. Looking beyond the least natural Quality Characteristic to the patterns, themes, and individual questions can reveal things that aren’t immediately apparent.
The results help us know where to look. Listening helps us understand what we’re seeing.
Listening reminds us that each data point is not just information—it represents how someone is experiencing your church.
James 1:19 calls us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. That is a useful discipline when seeking to understand the results. So, in addition to understanding the survey data, deeper listening is valuable and could include listening to personal experiences and considering the local context of your church.
Creating time and space for deeper listening has several benefits:
It invites the whole church to reflect on the results and adds “colour” to the data.
It helps us explore what might be beneath the surface.
It is essential to wisely using limited resources to plan the next steps to increased health and growth.
Listening through the Church Survey is one part of an ongoing journey of learning and growth, helping us become healthier churches that worship God more deeply and participate in God’s work more fully.
Listening matters in personal discipleship too.
When we feel stuck, a trusted person may help us recognize something we have missed. Working through a conversation can help identify a simple next step. NCD 3-Colour Discipleship resources help to bring focus to those conversations.
Next week we’ll focus on what to do with what we’ve learned through the Church Survey and the contextual “colour” obtained through deeper listening.
Shane Watson
NCD Canada
🔥 NCD Canada Campfire is coming!
Join us for conversation, connection, and shared learning about church health and discipleship. Watch for details about our first online gatherings the week of November 23.