Why not start with the Bible and doctrine or the latest leadership trends?
We focus on mental models because changing these is God's Design for the Spirit's renewal, impacting every aspect of our lives and leadership.
Change will only be effective- and lasting- if we not only change what we do or say, but also how (and what) we think. Mental models are a way of talking about how each person uniquely understands the world and takes action in it. Our mental models are formed (or malformed) by many factors and dictate how we live and lead. We find the Iceberg Model a helpful way of mapping life and ministry at church.
We can be tempted to think that making a change to our events will be enough, but there is a lot more to consider. From the patterns we can see about what happens at our events, to the ways decisions are made about the events or the meaning we make about the trends we're experiencing, there is always more to the story about what we're resisting as well as what's motivating us. That's where mental models come in. They help us put all of these aspects together and help us unify around a shared understanding of life and ministry.
The Primer uses the big mental models (or theologies) that shape church culture such as worship, mission, and discipleship to teach leaders how to surface, test, and reform the mental models shaping their communal life so that they can become more aligned with God's Design. You'll learn how to do this work for yourself and how to help your congregation think, discern and do together. It is through this sort of faithfulness that churches filter and adapt to a changing world with hope.
Here's a taste of how we talk about mental models and the church. Does any of it sound familiar?
Comments