Church Leaders Training

Saturday, April 22, 2023 |  9:30am – 12:30pm

Overview: Often when we talk about leaders and leadership, we focus on what to do – or more likely, what needs to get done. But the high calling of church leaders, whether deacons, pastors, staff, or elders, includes much more than that. One way we can organize the expectations and requirements of church leaders is with these categories:

1. 1. 1. Character – Spiritual and Emotional Health
      2. Knowledge – Bible, Theology, Polity
      3. Skills – Listening, Care, Teaching
      4. Responsibilities – Leadership, Discipleship, Worship

This particular workshop focuses on the roles of church leaders and structure of the church, practices and rhytms of healthy relationships, and understanding responsibilities around church discipline.

Basic Schedule

9:30 – 9:45 Welcome and Introduction

9:45 – 10:30 Session 1 – What is the Bible?

The Bible is the big story of God’s redemptive work, centered on Jesus. But do we approach it that way in our personal devotions, our church services, and teaching? We often view it as a rule book, a collection of inspirational stories, or stories about examples we should follow. How does looking at the BIble as a story affect how we use the Bible, personally and corporately?

10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 11:30 Session 2 – Self-awareness and Biblical Interpretation

Do we use the Bible simply to serve our own agenda? How can we cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness as we approach the biblical text? We want to hear what God is saying, not our own voice or echo in the text. How can we be more aware of what we are bringing to the text so that we can truly hear what God is saying and share that with others?

11:30 – 11:45 Break

11:45 – 12:30 Session 3 – Teaching the Bible

How do we teach others from Scripture, whether in formal or informal contexts? Every church leader at every level has the responsibility to pass on to others what they have learned from Scripture. So how do we teach well?

Saturday, January 21, 2023 |  9:30am – 12:30pm

Overview: Often when we talk about leaders and leadership, we focus on what to do – or more likely, what needs to get done. But the high calling of church leaders, whether deacons, pastors, staff, or elders, includes much more than that. One way we can organize the expectations and requirements of church leaders is with these categories:

1. 1. 1. Character – Spiritual and Emotional Health
      2. Knowledge – Bible, Theology, Polity
      3. Skills – Listening, Care, Teaching
      4. Responsibilities – Leadership, Discipleship, Worship

This particular workshop focuses on the roles of church leaders and structure of the church, practices and rhytms of healthy relationships, and understanding responsibilities around church discipline.

Basic Schedule

9:30 – 9:45 Welcome and Introduction

9:45 – 10:30 Session 1 – Leading Together with Distinct Roles

This session explores the distinctive roles of deacons, elders, and pastors. How has Jesus structured the church he promised to build? What are the specific roles and responsibilities of the people he has given as leaders to the church? How can leaders work together to serve and strengthen the people of God?

10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 11:30 Session 2 – Relational Ministry

In order to serve well, church leaders need to invest in building and maintaining relationships with the members they are serving. What are key practices that help build and maintain these relationships?  How do we make time for these relationships in the regular rhythms of life and service? Why is relational ministry so foundational to all other aspects of ministry?

11:30 – 11:45 Break

11:45 – 12:30 Session 3 – Discipleship and Discipline

The term “church discipline” has negative overtones and connotations for some people and, in many church contexts, is never used. What does Scripture teach about the responsibility of church leaders to exercise discipline? How do we make sure that we neither ignore nor abuse this powerful responsibility? How do we faithfully exercise discipline in a way that is both loving and firm?