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Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation

What really makes a congregation healthy?

At a Glance

Based on Ted Kober’s book Built on the Rock, this seminar reviews what makes a church healthy based on four factors:

  • What do the Scriptures say?

  • What was observed in 25 years of church consultation experience?

  • What can be learned from qualitative research of healthy congregations?

  • What can be learned from quantitative research?

 

The objective of this seminar is to inspire and call church leaders back to the basics of what really makes a church healthy. Is it psychology? Sociology? The latest business practices? Or is it something else?

See what one church says about the Built on the Rock Leader's Pack

A healthy congregation is a place of grace…. I strongly recommend a careful study of Built on the Rock for pastors and leaders who know that church health always precedes fruitfulness. You’ll discover Christ-centered, practical advice to help you ‘maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Ephesians 4:3).

Rev. Dr. Darrell Zimmerman

Program Director, Grace Place Wellness Ministries

Who Should Attend?

Pastors, other professional church workers, and lay leaders all play key roles in the life of the church. These leaders are responsible for the health of their congregations. While there are many voices suggesting other ways to make a church healthy, this particular seminar focuses on spiritual health. Often, leaders seek worldly ideas to strengthen their congregations, which can be helpful. But if their church is not spiritually healthy, worldly wisdom will fail to make a church healthy.

 

This seminar inspires and provides practical guidance for improving church health. Who can benefit? Pastors, denominational leaders, elders and other lay leaders, teachers and administrators, other church professionals—anyone who serves as a leader in Christ’s church.

 

NOTE: This makes an ideal presentation for professional church worker conferences.

Benefits

People who have taken this teaching to heart are reporting significant changes in their churches. Lay leaders are committing to Bible study—in the church and in their board meetings. Pastors and other church professionals are recommitting to personal study of the Word. Church attendance grows as Bible study attendance grows, and that leads to increased offerings. Most importantly, people are growing in their spiritual maturity. As her leaders and members grow spiritually, so does the body of Christ.

"Rarely does a book encourage, instruct, challenge, and uplift its readers. Built on the Rock did all of these things for me—as a Christian, a pastor, and a theologian…. Whether your church is conflicted or healthy, Built on the Rock will offer truth and encouragement to you, rooted in the Good News of Jesus Christ."

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs

Professional of Exegetical Theology

Concordia Seminar, St. Louis, MO

Seminar Outline

Each Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation seminar is presented by a Christian Reconciler™ who has years of experience in church consultation. Real life stories from actual case work inspire and encourage. The ideas presented are not just great theory but practical and fruit-bearing. This seminar is presented in five one-hour sessions:

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1. A Bride Like No Other

  • What We Learned in Working with Churches: The 20% Rule of Thumb

  • Experience of Churches becoming Healthy

  • Results from Qualitative Research

  • Results from Quantitative Research

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2. Spiritual Heart Disease

  • Idolatry and the Development of an Idol (illustrated through case studies)

  • The Cure for Spiritual Heart Disease: Repentance

  • Living in Reconciliation: Proclaiming God’s Forgiveness

 

3. Spiritual Leadership

  • Scriptural Qualifications: More than Just volunteers

  • How Well Does Board’s Work Reflect Spiritual Focus?

  • Meaningful and Effective Board Meetings

  • Caring for Our Pastors, Other Church Workers, and Their Families

  • Caring for Congregational Members

  • Threats to Spiritual Health

  • Living a Confessing Faith

  • Not Just Another Organization

 

4. Structuring the Healthy Congregation

  • Scriptural Guidance

  • Congregational Governing Documents

  • Board types

  • Policy Governance – Single Board Model with Pastor as CEO

  • Administrative Board Model – Outdated in Today’s Society?

 

5. What Does This Mean?

  • Practical Application for Today’s Churches

  • Ambassadors of Reconciliation Hybrid Model

  • Preparing for Change in Structure

  • Resourcing Church Leadership: Built on the Rock Leader’s Pack

  • Leadership Training

  • Q&A

 

Each participant receives a 36-page seminar guide for future reference and note taking. Copies of the book and the Leader’s Pack are available for purchase to share the ideas with other leaders and guide practical implementation. A number of other resources are also showcased including Bible studies, devotions, teaching materials, personal coaching resources, and further study.

“A wake-up call for the Church! Built on the Rock shows just how important it is for a healthy congregation to continually grow in God’s Word. Biblical illiteracy has engulfed many churches and created a lethargy toward studying God’s Word, which leave that ministry at risk for attacks of the evil one.”

Rev. Gregory S. Walton

President, Florida-Georgia District, LCMS

Sponsor This Event

The cost to sponsor this event is $2,950 teaching fee, plus $5.95/person materials fee, plus travel expenses for an instructor. Instructor travel time charged at half of AoR's hourly rate.  Contact Us today to schedule your event.

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MULTIPLY YOUR INVESTMENT: Schedule this event with complementary seminars Spiritual Lay Leadership Training and Structuring the Healthy Congregation. Improve the effectiveness of your leaders by equipping them in all three areas of spiritual health.

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