Quite a few years back now, one of my favourite blogs was “Church in a Circle” by Kath. She and her husband were part of an alternative church in Western Australia and the blog contained some of her insights into how to allow everyone to be involved in church meetings, rather than be passive consumers.
It had so many useful and practical ideas. And then one day it was hacked and it disappeared.
I missed it, but found I was able to see many of its pages again on The Wayback Machine. And so, with Kath’s permission, I am re-publishing some of the best posts.
This will be the index page for these old posts.
Church in a circle resurrected
- 10 principles which could transform your church practices – permanently – 10 “big ideas” to engage, equip and empower God’s people.
- Let your congregation preach the sermon next Sunday – they’ll learn better, remember more and be more likely to act.
- 7 ways to turn your passive church service into an active learning experience – active learning is so much better than passive learning.
- Efficient or effective? Rows vs circles in church – rows may fit more people in, but do they serve God’s purposes for the church?
- Flip the classroom, flip the church – online learning can mean the minister moves from “the sage on the stage” to “the guide on the side”.
- Hidden messages in pulpits and pews.
- 10 reasons to stop sermons and use other learning tools – maybe we’d make stronger disciples if everyone was involved in telling, listening and applying Bible truths.
- Open Space – harnessing the power of circles – open space circles make everyone equal and facilitate communication and self-organisation.
- Transition ideas for churches – how churches can gradually change from rows (monologue, passive listening, performance) to circles (dialogue, participation, empowerment).
- The results are in – people prefer short sermons followed by discussion – help prepare God’s people for life outside the church building.
- Troublemakers in the church? Or just people asking the right questions? – we should welcome questions and the people who ask them.
- Stop bringing people to church, and start sending God’s church to the people – stop trying to trick people into coming to church.
- If form follows function, perhaps we need to redesign our churches – there are 50 “one another” instructions in the New Testament, so let’s follow them.