Lessons from Kingdom Thinkers in Silicon Valley

INNcubate has been designed to create a healthy environment for the group to gel together in intimacy with Jesus. In prototyping and running focus groups we wanted to find new effective ways to build, as most often typical small groups can lack momentum and focus, and rarely do much to mobilize the body into Kingdom action. Inspired by lessons learned from Kingdom thinkers in the Silicon Valley start-up culture, INNcubate is designed to bring clarity and intentionality, positioning the group to embrace the unique design Jesus reveals for the INN.

One of the most important of these is Project Based Learning. This sets the tone and culture for the INNcubate process. Every INN is unique. INNcubate creates the culture and focus to embark on an INN "design-and-build" project together. This is a journey of discovery, where the project becomes a place of learning for the whole group. The INN will be the group itself, formed together into "ONE" with Jesus, and ready to co-work with Him in creative ways to impact the world with the Kingdom. Even if someone has built an INN before, it is always a brand-new project-based-learning adventure to discover the unique identity of the new INN the current group will become.

Here are some of the other lessons learned from our Silicon Valley friends that we seek to embrace:

• Agile Process Management
• Project Aristotle
• Flipped Classroom/Inverted Learning
• Interaction and Collaboration (online posts and comments)
• Weekly Meetups

Agile Process Management

Agile process management is a methodology or process used by teams to build specific products or product features through dedicated focus. This often includes weekly “sprints” on a specific focus, with clear targets and daily meetings. In the start-up world this can be quite intense, which we don’t want in INN building, so in INNcubate we simply use the idea of regular sharing together over the weeks, tapping the contribution of each person, and developing the finished project together. Jesus is the eventual “product owner”, but He is also the architect and builder! The group’s task is therefore to learn to co-work with Him together, to ensure the INN is formed as He desires.

Lessons from Project Aristotle

Project Aristotle was an in-depth study carried out by Google to understand what makes successful teams. These are tremendous values that carry great Kingdom principles, so the goal is to adopt these in the social and spiritual interactions by the group.  This helps ensure the group grows well and gels together, where every person is valued, and where each can contribute in their own specific way, towards a common goal. Here are the conclusions:

1. Psychological safety: Can we take risks on this team without feeling insecure or embarrassed?
2. Dependability: Can we count on each other to do high quality work on time?
3. Structure & clarity: Are goals, roles, and execution plans on our team clear?
4. Meaning of work: Are we working on something that is personally important for each of us?
5. Impact of work: Do we fundamentally believe that the work we’re doing matters?

Psychological safety was the overwhelming No.1 conclusion from their study to find out what makes a successful team. All INNs carry the goal of being inclusive and welcoming - a safe place to explore together and listen together, open to hearing others' viewpoints, ideas and opinions. INNs carry a culture of being supportive of each other, built around mutual encouragement, and making space for each one to grow. INNs purposefully "recognize no-one according to the flesh" (2 Cor 5:16), and embrace love, acceptance, and forgiveness as essential core values. All these traits are introduced at the opening session of INNcubate, where participants commit to pursue this framework, as well as a pledge to avoid and defuse gossip. This is essential if a true INN is to form as ONE together.

INNcubate seeks to embrace the other four Project Aristotle conclusions also. Every INN will be unique, to allow honest engagement with points 4 and 5. Ultimately, these both emerge from all group members becoming yielded to Jesus, and co-owning what is important to Him, and what matters to Him. INNcubate has a clear structure and approach, to help embrace point 3. There are facilitator notes available. In point 2, “high quality work” may be read as “honest participation and contribution”. INNcubate includes a significant amount of engagement by group members outside of group meet-ups. Following through with this enthusiastically will be a big part of the process.

Flipped Classroom/Inverted Learning

This is the principle that the group does not receive teaching or content in its entirety in physical meet-up times, but rather that content is available for use during everyone's own time. Meet-ups include summary level content, but are more for group interaction, and listening to Jesus together. Exposure to wider content is during the week, as each person works through the chosen devotional materials. The "Goal is Whole" New Creation studies, which are available in written and audio form, focus on the new creation realities that will allow the INN to flourish. The content is approximately ten minutes daily and includes multiple bible passages. The studies are designed to be used as part of a personal daily devotion, and journaling is encouraged. A simple devotion track "SOAP" will be shared in the intro group meetup for those that do not have a favored approach:

• Study: Engage the Study content
• Observation: What stands out?
• Application: Note ways to act on the content
• Prayer: Vocalize a response or desired outcome to the Lord

Interaction and Collaboration (online posts and comments)

We live in an age where we can stay in touch through digital devices and social media. INNcubate encourages the use of online forums or groups, for posting and sharing insights day to day, as well as commenting on each other’s discoveries. This makes the process feel more like “we” than “me” and will fuel the group meet-ups.

Weekly Meetups

Weekly meetups are intended to be rich and exciting experiences for all – a definite highlight of the week. Sometimes high enthusiasm will lead to more frequent meetups, several times a week, especially when moving forwards with how to outwork what the group senses Jesus is saying to them. Sometimes the group might gather for a shared meal and fellowship.

Meetups focus on interacting around each other’s experiences, with a goal of learning from each other and drawing group conclusions. We call this “Shared Discernment”, which is a vital element of INNcubate.  After INNcubate, each week the group spends time listening to Jesus together, to allow engagement with His purpose for the group, especially in empowered witness.