Essential Resource: “The Big Idea” by Dave Ferguson

September 11, 2007

We all have resources that have helped us immensely in our ministries. Our monthy “essential resource” spotlight is a chance to highlight one book, article, CD, song, DVD, etc., that has risen to the top as a proven useful resource. Whether you’re familiar with it or just hearing about it for the first time, the following resource comes with Worship Rising’s highest recommendation.

September 2007 Essential Resource:
The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson

If you’re not familiar with the innovation juggernaut which is Community Christian Church in the Naperville/greater Chicago area of Illinois, now might be a good time to start paying attention. It’s hard to think of an “emerging” area of ministry in which the staff there have not been pioneers–experiential worship, small groups, multi-site church, etc. I’ve always been impressed (as someone often ministering in the same area of the country) at the spirit of encouragement CCC has for other churches, especially new churches. For instance, their music director was once kind enough to meet me for lunch and then gave me years of their worship planning files on CD. This attitude of sharing leadership and teaching strategies can also be seen in NewThing, their network for planting and reproducing churches and campuses.

I think this spirit continues in The Big Idea, written by Dave Ferguson, Lead Pastor and Co-Founder of CCC. The book outlines an approach to teaching/planning that has been refined at CCC over a number of years, which boils down to a simple premise: Communicate one idea excellently, and your community will experience transformation. Ferguson outlines the Big Idea creative process in detail, and shares how it impacts various areas of the church, from worship to children and small groups. It’s a book about focus, creativity, and organization, three things that the church on a whole desperately needs right now.

I can’t recommend this book enough, in particular for the freedom it is going to bring staff teams who put it to use. As Ferguson points out in an excellent chapter on the relationship between the creative arts and lead pastors, creativity decreases as tension increases. If you find yourself exhausted from trying to communicate an excellent, creative message each Sunday with only a week’s preparation, you will find the solution here. It may take an overhaul of how things are done at your church, but it will be worth it. (If you are a new church, then start things off right with this method!) A great book for the entire staff to study together.

Find out more about The Big Idea at http://thebigideaonline.typepad.com/

Posted in Essential Resources