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Chapter 3 · 60 min

Why Jesus Chose a Movement Instead of an Institution

Big idea

Jesus built a movement, not an institution. Movements travel through people; institutions travel through buildings, budgets and permission.

Session objectives

  • Diagnose where your organization behaves like an institution
  • Identify permission bottlenecks that slow the mission
  • Name one structure to simplify this quarter

Opening question

What has to be approved here that probably shouldn't?

Discussion questions

  1. 1.Where does energy die in our organization — and at which step?
  2. 2.What would a newcomer need permission for on their first week?
  3. 3.Which of our structures serve the mission, and which serve our comfort?
  4. 4.If our building disappeared, what part of the mission would continue?

Group exercise

Permission audit
  1. 1List the last five ideas someone proposed
  2. 2For each, trace every approval step it needed
  3. 3Mark steps that added real judgment vs. steps that only added delay
  4. 4Remove or delegate two delay-only steps

Commitment before next session

Delegate one standing approval to the person closest to the work and tell them in writing.

JOI categories addressed

Mission Clarity

Facilitator note: open with the question, keep discussion to half the session, and end with every participant naming their commitment aloud.