This is the final video in the 5-part series on Systems Thinking. On today’s whiteboard video, John Messer touches on several key points that in combination help church leaders develop into systems thinkers. NOTE: If you missed any of the earlier videos in the series, click here to catch up! This series comes courtesy of John Messer, who recently completed a …
Causal Loop Diagram (Part 4) – Whiteboard Wednesday Season 10: Episode 4
This is part 4 in a 5-part series on Systems Thinking. Today, John Messer makes the case that ministry burnout is real (and all too common)… yet absolutely avoidable. John introduces a tool called the Causal Loop Diagram that helps explain and illustrate both the problem and the solution. Watch the video to learn more! This series comes courtesy of …
Behavior Over Time (part 3) – Whiteboard Wednesday Season 10: Episode 3
This is part-3 in a 5-part series on Systems Thinking. Today, John Messer shows how the interaction between Jethro and Moses (Exodus 18:13-27) points to a useful tool to understand behavior over time, leading to changes that address the core problem rather than its symptoms. This series comes courtesy of John Messer, who recently completed a doctorate degree in Systems …
The Systems Iceberg (part 2) – Whiteboard Wednesday Season 10: Episode 2
This is the second video in a 5-part series on Systems Thinking. In today’s video, John Messer gives a detailed explanation of how the Systems Iceberg (based on Peter Senge’s The Fifth Discipline) illustrates the tendency churches (and all systems) have to focus on events. This results in us reacting and attempting to fix symptoms, rather than working below the surface …
Linear Thinking vs. Systems Thinking (Part 1) – Whiteboard Wednesday Season 10: Episode 1
This is the first video in a 5-part series on Systems Thinking. Today’s video delves into the contrast between linear thinking, which is pervasive yet problematic, and systems thinking, which is rare but consistently and deeply effective. This series comes courtesy of John Messer, who recently completed a doctorate degree in Systems Theory with a specific emphasis on application to …