Questions for Gospel Communities from Everyday Church

Steve Timmis and Tim Chester's newest book, Everyday Church: Gospel Communities on Mission, has some really helpful insight for encouraging communities to be on mission for Jesus. One helpful tool they use is the following list of questions designed "to give a snapshot of the health of a missional community." The authors rightly emphasize that this questionnaire is not an occasion for discouragement or blame (107). Instead, this is an occasion to rest in the gospel and do so some self and community reflection.

We encourage you to read this with someone in your gospel community, or take your gospel community through this questionnaire as an opportunity for growth, celebration, and planning new ways to be on mission together. May our Redeemer GCs learn and grow from this tool and may Jesus save many through our ordinary, prayerful missional lives.

Questions for a Gospel Community (adapted from Everyday Church)

1. How often do you have conversations with people in your gospel community (GC) outside regular meetings?

a) once a month  b) once a week  c) twice a week  d) more than twice a week

2. How often are people from your GC in your home or you in theirs?

a) once a month  b) once a week  c) twice a week  d) more than twice a week

3. How often do people in your GC talk about how the Holy Spirit has been speaking to them through God's Word?

a) once a month  b) once a week  c) twice a week  d) more than twice a week

4. How often do you talk in your GC  about your struggles to follow Jesus ?

a) once a month  b) once a week  c) twice a week  d) more than twice a week

5. How often do unbelievers spend time with your GC?

a) once a month  b) once a week  c) twice a week  d) more than twice a week

6. How often does your GC spend time with unbelievers on their territory, in places where they feel comfortable?

a) once a month  b) once a week  c) twice a week  d) more than twice a week

7. Are the prayers of your GC gospel centered? Do you pray regularly for each of these:

a) one another's godliness  b) gospel opportunities  c) boldness to speak of Christ

d) conversion of the lost   e) the spread of the gospel around the world

8. With how many unbelievers does your GC have regular conversations about Jesus and how many are involved in Bible studies?

a) none  b) one or two  c) three or four  d) many

9. How many people in your GC do your most significant unbelieving friends know by name?

a) none  b) one or two  c) about half of them  d) most of them

10. Would you bring your closest unbelieving friends to a typical get together of your GC?

a) no  b) in theory I would, but in reality I don't  c) only if it's specifically designed around them  d) yes