Cory has already placed a review of this book but I thought I’d provide my two cents as well…

Needing a break from all the science books and philosophy of science books I’ve been reading I finished up The Big Idea by Dave & Jon Ferguson & Eric Bramlett from Community Christian in Chicago. Let me begin by saying that this book is extremely helpful, well written, providing a good mix of principle and behind-the-scenes look at the process.

Basically the Big Idea is the process of seeing your church focus week in and week out on one central idea that wiall permeate every ministry facet of your church or ministry. From the weekend worship gathering with adults to the gatherings of students and children to small groups. The premise is that most (many?) churches give too much disparate information week in and week out and this, while seemingly helpful, actually distracts from the goal of transformation. (Did I get close Troy?)

More…While they end their book with the ethos that makes the Big Idea work I’d like to mention it first. As I read the book I was continually taken to the thought that this process isn’t something that can just be cut and pasted anywhere. There has to be a certain cultural ethos in the organization to make it happen.

Six key pieces are described: collaboration, humility, trust, fun, competition, “lead with a yes.” I start here because I think these are primary to why this works but I also want to add one that kept coming to my mind throughout the book - buying into a common vision. Because of the level of collaboration needed this will never happen in a culture where there isn’t buy in from every person involved into the common vision. While this idea is implicit throughout the book it is never explicitly stated, maybe because only a nimrod like me would overlook it.

The Big Idea process is one of extreme collaboration to provide a better product. There is truly something to the idea of the collective brilliance of the group and CCC is demonstrating this is the case.

There was so much I found beneficial in this model that I couldn’t even list it all. But one biggie for me is the reliance on a team concept - a focus on community. I want to be a part of a high powered team where being a rock star is not the value, rather the value is community. To an extreme The Big Idea has fostered this notion for CCC.

Throughout the book you’ll find helpful graphs, pictures, and illustrations on key pieces of information. And you will actually find active links in their Big Idea website (what a novel concept! something other writers should take note of!).

But here is something that would be helpful to see, and maybe could be added to the website as a resource. There are about 50 million meetings and brainstorming sessions described that are working 9 weeks in advance, some a month in advance, and so on. It would be extremely helpful to see a calendar of a typical 9-week period. Maybe it’s because I’m slow, maybe it’s because I’m a guy but I would greatly benefit from seeing this visually. And if I’d benefit from that I’m sure there is at least one other person out there who would also. (Maybe someone who reads this blog regularly and is intimately familiar with the Big Idea process could do this for us. )

The book was helpful. So much so that if you are involved in ministry I would highly recommend reading this book. It is something that can be molded and applied in different settings. Because of that there is a lot of value in the concept of The Big Idea.

More Books: Reviews & Thoughts.