It happened just last week, so quietly I missed it: the halfway point of 2014 has come and gone. With the year half over, this is as good a time as any to take stock of the first half and make plans for the second half. If we don’t do this now ? if we don’t look back and look ahead ? the year will come and go and we may not have much to show for it. The key to the next six months is looking back at the last six months.
Here are some questions we should pause and ask ourselves:
- Am I able to focus as effectively and frequently as possible? If so, am I able to focus on the right things? If not, why not?
- Am I building strong relationships with my team and the other departments within my church?
- Are there people in my life who will ask me how I’m doing and expect me to answer honestly?
- Am I intentional about participating in corporate and individual worship?
- Am I growing professionally? Am I exposing myself to new ideas and experimenting with the implementation of new ideas in my context?
- Am I challenging, or simply maintaining, the status quo?
- Did we try anything new in the first half of this year? Do we have any plans to try something new in the second half of the year?
- Are we listening to our people? Do we know where they are and what they need?
- Are we listening to the Spirit of God? Are we asking Him what He wants to do in and through His people?
The list could go on and on, and some questions will suit you better than others, but I hope this is enough to get you thinking, praying, and talking with your team. The idea is to carefully consider the last six months so that we can be the best possible stewards of the next six months.
Ready? Go!
