1. The Spiral Rule Tool - 0 -

2. What direction are you going? Every church is headed somewhere - 1 -

3. Spiral Rule The Spiral Rule governs the direction that a church is going Congregations that focus outward, Travel Upward Congregations that focus inward, Travel Downward - 2 -

4. Think of a Spiral Staircase: If you keep turning inward, you’ll go down You can’t go up without going out. - 3 -

5. There are no exceptions: Churches who take care of their own needs first, decline until they are a selfish singularity Churches who reach out in mission and love, Grow. Churches who reach out in mission and love, Grow. - 4 -

6. Test Question: If your church had an unexpected windfall: Would you use the money to fix your building and pay bills? Or, would you invest most of it in something that reached people not currently in church? - 5 -

7. Is your church traveling inward Is your church traveling inward and downward? and downward? Is your church traveling outward, Is your church traveling outward, and upward? and upward? What direction are you traveling in? - 6 -

8. Reality Check: Churches that are growing tend to attribute their growth to their outreach Churches that are declining tend to blame their circumstances - 7 -

9. Break into subgroups: - 8 - Pick a focus area for your group ( worship, community involvement, youth, seniors, building use, the poor, etc.) Brainstorm ways your church could be more “outward” as it relates to your assigned area.

10. Share your ideas: - 9 - All of the brainstorm ideas are read aloud and written on the board. No criticism or feedback is allowed at this time! Every person is asked to vote for three ideas, two of which must come from other groups. Make plans to follow up on the top vote getters at the next church council meeting.

11. Reality Check 101 = Credits = This tool is part of the Reality Check 101 kit. Developed in cooperation with the Small Church Commission, an agency of the Western PA Conference, UMC. Reality Check 101 text by Bill Kemp. He is also the author of other resources relating to church change found at: www.notperfectyet.com