What your Ephesio study looks like

1. Culture, location, and purpose · Awaiting review

Study focus: an illustrative neighborhood community. Purpose: learn how relationships, local strengths, and faith commitments could inform a ministry strategy. The boundaries and composition of this community have not been established. Begin with the people who describe it as their own community.

Local knowledge
No local observations supplied in this demonstration.

Personal or team reflection
Whose description of this community is missing?

2. Cultural and religious background · Awaiting review

Explore the community’s history, household relationships, places of gathering, religious influences, and patterns of authority. These cannot be inferred from a neighborhood label. Ask residents which relationships and experiences have shaped belonging here.

3. Cultural dimensions · Awaiting review

Consider how decisions are made, how authority is exercised, and whether cooperation tends to happen through households, associations, or other relationships. Use Hofstede’s six dimensions as questions for inquiry. No scores or shared traits are assigned to the community.

4. Ultimate questions · Awaiting review

Listen for how people themselves describe meaning, death, right and wrong, the unknown, guidance, well-being, and misfortune. Before proposing gospel communication, record the words and examples local people use for these concerns.

5. Community assets · Awaiting review

Invite local people to identify gifts among individuals; useful spaces; economic activity; associations; institutions; and stories of cooperation. No specific asset has yet been verified. An asset map should be made with the community, including people who are often overlooked.

6. Five-phase engagement strategy · Awaiting review

A provisional strategy would begin with listening relationships, then develop contextual theological reflection, local leadership, multiplying discipleship, and long-term sustainability. Consider apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers in each phase. Local participants should decide what is appropriate.

7. Cultural sensitivities · Awaiting review

Ask which words, assumptions, or practices could cause misunderstanding or disrespect. Seek feedback from local people, especially those who might experience the proposed approach differently. Revise the plan in response to what is learned.

8. Comparison with NT Church · Awaiting review

Compare the provisional strategy with the New Testament movement and the early archaeological record. Examine relationships, gathering places, and leadership without claiming a particular ancient form must be reproduced. Specific historical evidence has not been supplied in this example.

9. Documented cultural study · Awaiting review

Cultural and religious overview: further study needed. Cultural dimensions: questions identified, no scores. Ultimate questions: local answers needed. Engagement strategy: provisional and locally revisable. Cultural sensitivities: feedback needed. Consult the Church Maturity Matrix, Movement Action Plan, and Action Steps in the appendixes of Ephesiology for further work.

10. Sustainability and indigeneity · Not yet studied

Step 10 opens after review of Steps 1–9. It assesses leadership, multiplication, teaching, financing, and cultural expression; identifies dependency risks and indigenous alternatives; and proposes revisions and questions for local leaders. Grounded in Ephesiology, pp. 180–187.

11. Test and refine · Not yet studied

Step 11 opens after Steps 1–10 are reviewed and actual recent field conversations or observations have been added. It tests and refines the strategy and sustainability recommendations.