Think Steps,
Not Programs

James Clear says you don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems. If you've ever felt like your church is busy but not actually moving people forward spiritually, you know exactly what he means.

Here's what happens: we see needs, and we react. Someone needs pastoral care, so we create a program. People want connection, so we launch another ministry. Before long, we're running a dozen good ideas under one roof, but none of them are working together to move people anywhere specific. You're busy. Your team is exhausted. And at the end of the year, you realize you've spent time, energy, and money without actually helping people grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus.

Tom Basson from EHills Church has a better approach. Instead of programs, think steps. Every ministry should intentionally move people along a relational path toward spiritual growth. The question isn't just "how do we meet the needs of today?" It's "how do we lead people toward the deeper life they're truly longing for?"

Tom breaks it down into four environments that create a strategic path for people to experience belonging and care. Think of it like moving someone from your neighborhood all the way to your kitchen table.

The neighborhood is where you serve your community and change the way people see your church. You get out there—host community events, be generous with your time and money, show up and love people before they'd ever be comfortable walking through your doors.

The foyer is where you welcome guests, typically through your worship services. You assume first-time attendees are in the room and treat them like honored guests. You're sensitive to their needs and work to change their minds about the role of church and faith in their lives.

The living room is where people connect with others through service teams, special events, or groups. Just like arranging furniture to make guests comfortable, these environments are designed to help people make significant connections and begin making decisions that move them forward spiritually.

The kitchen table is where authentic relationships form, usually in small groups. This is where people feel like family, where they're comfortable being vulnerable about what's really going on, and where faith actually grows and thrives.

Here's the key: every step from neighborhood to kitchen table needs to be easy, obvious, and strategic. If the jump is too big, people won't take it. If it's not clear what's next, they'll stall out. And if it doesn't move them in a clear direction, you're just creating sideways energy.

When your whole team thinks steps instead of programs, everything changes. You stop doing good things that don't move people anywhere. You start partnering across ministry areas instead of competing for resources. You get permission to say no. And you build a cost-effective ministry because you're not trying to do everything—you're being excellent at the things that actually matter.

So look at your church. What are your neighborhood, foyer, living room, and kitchen table experiences? What are you currently doing that doesn't fit into any of those buckets? And what steps might you need to eliminate, so you can focus on the ones that actually move people forward?

Ready to Build Your Church's Strategic Path?

Download our free Strategic Path Model to map out the four environments at your church and create a clear pathway that moves people from the neighborhood to the kitchen table. Worksheets to audit current programs and identify next steps are included.