December 29, 2013

Goal setting has gotten a lot of press over the past several years in the educational world.  When I did a Google search for "Books about goal setting for students" there were 83,300,000 results (in 0.38 seconds I might add!).  This is with good cause.  Many studies have shown a positive correlation between individual goal setting and student achievement.

Google returned 63,700,000 results for "books for goal setting in business".    However the search "books for goal setting for spiritual growth" dropped down to a mere 4,830,000 results.  But that is still a pretty heavy reading list.

If education, business and even faith-based writers and publishers seem to recognized the need for and benefit from goal setting, why it is not stressed more in small groups and from the pulpit?

The church I attend does have a pulpit-encouraged goal of 7/24.  Seven days a week, 24 minutes spent in prayer, Bible study and meditation.  This is a good start, but I believe it is just scratching the surface of the power of goal setting for a church.

All feedback welcome. . .

Possible areas of personal goal setting for individual Christians.

1.  Time in the Word-  something similar to the 7/24 challenge. 
2.  Sharing the Gospel-  personal goal-  weekly?  Monthly?  etc.
3.  Scripture memorization-  weekly passage?  Monthly? 
4.  Convicted area of growth-  This would be specific to each individual Christian. . .  Perhaps an act of kindness each week.  Or a decrease in cigarettes smoked or television watched.  Or Wednesday night church attendance.  Might be something that is readily accomplished each week, or a long-term goal that would need weekly steps.

Each Sunday small group members would take 5 minutes to review their goals with class member. 

Cautions abound. . .
1.  Becoming too legalistic.
2.  Becoming discouraged.
3.  Broken trust with small group member.

Benefits abound. . .
1.  Encouragement for future growth
2.  Active as opposed to static Christianity
3.  Individual and collective spiritual growth (as iron sharpens iron)

Feedback welcome.