1. How could your church begin to discern its specific parish boundaries and understand the unique needs within it?
2. Why does Tim Soerens emphasize the concept of a “minimum viable presence,” and how can this approach benefit the efforts of local churches in community engagement?
3. In what ways can churches balance the importance of internal spiritual growth with the external mission of community engagement within their parish?
4. How can churches and faith communities foster a culture that celebrates experimentation and learning from failure in their outreach efforts?
5. What strategies can be employed to involve more congregants in the practice of listening and understanding the specific hopes and dreams of their local communities?
6. What are some practical steps that individuals or churches can take to start small and experiment with community outreach and engagement?
7. Discuss the importance of questioning the traditional notion of “going to church” versus “being the church” in the neighborhood. How can this shift in perspective impact a community’s transformation?
8. How can congregations composed of multiple parishes work together to discern and address the diverse needs within their geographic areas?
9. What impact might a church’s clear driving purpose, focused on joining in God’s hopes and dreams for the neighborhood, have on non-churchgoers or the overall community perception of the church?