The top three books in my library are the Bible, the PDC (Purpose Driven Church), and the PDL (Purpose Driven Life). These three books continue to challenge me in whether I am achieving God's purpose for my life. I believe these books can do the same for our church leadership team, too, in our leadership meetings. We need a specific textbook to create discussion/solutions and the PDC is an excellent choice!
I have enjoyed teaching the PDC to my leaders. In one approach I provided training during a 9 - 11:30 a.m. time slot on every third Saturday. Everyone was invited. It was more than teaching; I designed two small group exercises using modern problem solving tools from my secular work background. These exercises caused the leadership to explore some hard questions and to create solutions for those questions. They then had to report back to the entire group! This approach helped lay the foundation for important changes since it gave the leadership team an excellent opportunity to think through those changes.
The following links provide some of those leadership exercises as well as other PDC material I have designed, taught, or copied from a free source.
Healthy Church Definition. 4 criteria that can give a quick evaluation of your own church...and draw attention to what needs to be addressed!
Assimilation Studies: Identifying the Assimilators Pt 1; Identifying the Assimilation Solutions Pt 2. Assimilation Slides. Assimilation Answers.
Congregation Profile Study. Learn who makes up your church!
Advantages Of Our Church Study - this will help folks to focus on the positive and realize that God has provided us with the tools to succeed in some wonderful areas.
Analysis Of An Internet Company - substitute the data to be that of your own church but don't tell anyone until the study is complete. Very good for causing people to realize the need of change in a stagnant church.
Experimentation Analysis Study - helps the leaders understand the difficulties in visioning!
Pastor Longevity Study - Warren says, "Longevity does not guarantee a church will grow but lack of longevity guarantees a church will not grow! Imagine what your children would be like if they got a new father every three years! Yet that is exactly what is happening in our churches."
Personal Quality Study - Part 1; Part 2. This helps the student evaluate himself!
Saddleback Qualities Study - since we were studying the PDC, it seemed best for our students to clarify what they saw in the PDC's opening pages.
Wave Analysis Study - Blackaby's Experiencing God is similar to this study found in the first section of the PDC. Every church has a wave it can ride to greater success. Identify what God is already doing in your church and hitch along with Him!
Which Myths Are Our Myths? Part 1; Part 2. Warren's Myths explanation is excellent material to guide you in evaluating your own church.
Four Top Ministry Issues For Leaders (By Barna) - you'll agree with the list!
Brain Expander #1 - I opened my leadership seminars with these simple exercises, designed to help the audience to focus. The replies were mailed to the students.
Brain Expander #2 - this includes the results. We asked folks to rate their strengths from 1 to 5 in the five purposes of worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry. Simple but effective.
Leadership Exercise: How To Do A Church Survey - asking the average church member often provides a different answer than asking the church leaders. This exercise will let you compare and contrast these two categories of church members.
Leadership Exercise: Identifying Why People Leave - this exercise helps you identify broad categories such as lack of new friends, disagreement with the church's purpose, etc. You can then devise methods to attack those broad categories.
Leadership Exercise: What Is Your Favorite Door? This exercise helps the leadership understand the church's back door (people leaving) is just as important as the church's front door (people joining).
Creating A Strategy For First Time Visitors - all of us have attended an unfriendly church that we were happy to leave! This exercise will help you think through your entire strategy.
The Role Of The Assimilation Director - this is as much a calling as that of being an Evangelism Director!
What Small Groups Do We Have? Small groups are critical to assimilating people because they provide personal intimacy and support.
How To List Your Church Ministries - Part 1; Part 2. This is a great Saturday exercise. You need a list of your ministries so you can better slot your new members into immediate work! Work is critical to successful assimilation. We listed over three ministries per church attendee. Fascinating results!
Create A PDC Sunday School Class - the PDC works well in small groups!
Rating Classes For Our Church. Evaluation Spreadsheet. Which classes must we offer? Which can we wait on? Letting them decide gives you the important ingredient called buy-in!
Strategic Planning - secular PowerPoint show with church implications.
Success Measurements - good study to do. You may be plesantly surprised at the results.
Church Practice Assessment - good survey for the entire church! Sometimes the folks in the pews know more than the folks in the pulpit!
Mission Statement Collection - just some sample statements to use when you begin/update your own mission statement.
Strategic Thinking Versus Maintenance Thinking - which kind of thinker are you?
Why My Ministry Depends More On Faith Than On Me - simple outline!
Cartoons - a good way to break the mood. Updated July, 2008.
Cannonball Baptism Video - you must see this! Humorous! Worth sharing with your folks!