A national newspaper recently reported on the downfall of a fast- rising company. The reporter quoted one executive as saying, "The vision was not flawed, but I am sad to say the execution was."

Some churches share a similar fate. They know who they are and where they want to go but cannot seem to carry out ministries regularly. Most churches can ratchet up their performance without spending a great deal of time and money. It is the little things done well over time that make the biggest differences in the life of the church. While great events have their value, consistency in just a few areas can take a congregation to the next level.

How can leaders improve their churches' follow-through?

1. Ask "How?" Keep in mind that the other side of vision is detail. Each time someone speaks about how the church can grow or change or be creative in worship, think about how this is going to happen. Not everything can be known from the beginning, but someone ...