Strengthening a Churchs Learning Culture

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Strengthening a Churchs Learning Culture

• Dr. John R. Cionca
• Bethel Theological Seminary
• St. Paul, MN

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Attitude

• The longer I live, the more I realize the
  impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is
  more important than facts. It is more important
  than the past, than education, than money, than
  circumstances, than failures, than successes
  than, than what other people think or say or do.
  It is more important than appearances, giftedness
  or skill. It will make or break a companya
  churcha home. The remarkable thing is we have a
  choice every day regarding the attitude we will
  embrace for that day. We cannot change our
  pastwe cannot change the fact that people will
  act in a certain way.
• We cannot change the inevitable. The
  only thing we can do is play on the one
  string we have, and that is our
  attitudeI am convinced that life is 10
  what happens and 90 how I react to it. And
  so it is with youwe are in charge of our
  attitudes.
• --By Charles Swindoll

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• When it comes to making a place run, motivation
  is everything.
• --Lee Iacoca

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Success Qualities

• Identified by a group of self-made millionaires
  in
• Marlene LeFevers Creative Teaching Methods.

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Reason for Success

• A recent Yale University study reported success
  due to
• 15 technical skill and knowledge
• 85 attitude, enthusiasm, self-discipline,
  desire, and ambition

48 Days To the Work You Love, Dan Miller, 2007,
p. 90.
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Instilling Confidence in Your Corps

• Having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave
  them authority. (Matt. 101)

• And I also say to you that you are Peter, and
  upon this rock I will build My church and the
  gates of Hades shall not overpower it. I will
  give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and
  whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound
  in heaven and whatever you shall loose on earth
• shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 1618-19)

• Again I say to you, that if two or you agree on
  earth about anything that they may ask, it shall
  be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
  (Matt. 1819)

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Instilling Confidence in Your Corps

• Truly I say to you, that you who have followed
  Me, in the generation when the Son of Man will
  sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit
  upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
  
• Israel. (Matt. 1928)
• (To the Seventy upon their return from a mission)
  I was watching Satan fall from heaven like
  lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to
  tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all
  the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure
  yourejoice that your names are recorded in
  heaven. (Luke 1018-20)

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Instilling Confidence in Your Corps

• I will give you utterance and wisdom which none
  of your opponents will be able to resist or
  refute. (Luke 2115)
• Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in Me,
  will do the works I have been doing, and they
  will do even greater things than
• these. . . (John 1412)
• Greater love has no one than this to lay down
  ones life for ones friends. You are my
  friends. . . (John 1513-14)
• You will bear witness also, because you have been
  with me from the beginning. (John 1527)
• Go there and make disciples of all nations.
  (Matt. 2819)
• You will receive poweryou shall be My
  witnesseseven to the remotest part of the
  earth. (Acts 18)

--Matt Friedeman, The Mater Plan of Teaching,
pp. 123-24
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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image

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A Positive Self-Image

• Friendliness

- Intimacy
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A Positive Self-Image

• Friendliness - Intimacy

• Finances

- Generosity
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A Positive Self-Image

• Friendliness - Intimacy
• Finances - Generosity

• Fervor

- Energy and Authenticity
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A Positive Self-Image

• Friendliness - Intimacy
• Finances - Generosity
• Fervor - Energy and
• Authenticity

- Cordiality

• Facilities

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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image

• A Warm Learning Environment

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We have a beautiful, well-manicured facility. In
fact, I remember one couple visited, came to
Christ, and later said, We thought if you took
care of flowers, you probably cared about people.
--John MacArthur in Leadership Journal (Fall 1991)
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4s and 5s Room
Shelves
Puzzle Rack
Shelves
Paint Easel
Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Table
Cassette Player
Play Stove
Desk or Shelf
Play Sink
Child Rocker
Doll Bed
Coat Rack
Book Rack
- from The 21st Century Sunday School strategies
for today and tomorrow, by Wes Haystead, Standard
Publishing, 1995.
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Youth/Adult Classroom - No Tables
Bulletin Board
Chalk or Whiteboard
Screen
Overhead Projector and Cart
Table
Storage Cabinet
Table
Sink
Bulletin Board
- from The 21st Century Sunday School strategies
for today and tomorrow, by Wes Haystead, Standard
Publishing, 1995.
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Youth/Adult Classroom With Tables
Storage Cabinet
Bulletin Board
Chalk or Whiteboard
Screen
Sink
Overhead Projector and Cart
Table
Bulletin Board
- from The 21st Century Sunday School strategies
for today and tomorrow, by Wes Haystead, Standard
Publishing, 1995.
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Taking Classroom Temperatures
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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image
• A Warm Learning Environment

• Room for Growth

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Room for Growth

• The Critical Ratio

80
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Room for Growth

• The Critical Ratio

25-30 sq ft per person

• Space Needs

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Room for Growth

• The Critical Ratio

• Space Needs

• The Big P

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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image
• A Warm Learning Environment
• Room for Growth

• Sufficient Financial Resources

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Sufficient Financial Resources
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Brainstorming Stewardship Education
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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image
• A Warm Learning Environment
• Room for Growth
• Sufficient Financial Resources

• A Format That Recognizes Differences

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Differentiate for Wider Attraction

• I. Diversity Among Programming

II. Diversity Within Programming
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A broad range of special interest group
activities is available through Wooddale Church.
Here are just a few examples Growth Groups
Music Groups Instrumental Ensembles Divorce
Recovery Workshops Broken Relationship
Support Groups Singles Bible Studies
Childrens Choirs Adult Children of
Alcoholics Support Group Quest Support
Group for Infertile Couples Moms Time Out
Womens Bible Studies Time and Home
Management Seminars Will Clinics and Estate
Planning Seminars Summer Day Camp Summer
Sports Camps Ski Retreats Golf Leagues
Volleyball Leagues Softball Teams
Shuffleboard for Seniors Quilting
Aerobics Classes Blood Donor Club Teen
Retreats and Wilderness /Canoeing Trips
Short-Term Missions Trips Career Network
(employment counseling and placement)
Emergency Foodshelf Summer Camping for Youth
and Families Investigate Bible Studies
Discovery Class for Inquirers into the Christian
Faith Lay School of Ministry Courses
Singles Gym Nights Dinner Theater and Drama
Presentations Sons Fathers Campouts New
Moms Teas Evangelistic Bicycle Club ...
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Unscramble / Then List Five

• T N A V E L E R
• O F S U Y A L O
• P L E D B M I D
• I T U K V T J N
• C T F W I P G A
• S A N E D C T F

• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.

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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image
• A Warm Learning Environment
• Room for Growth
• Sufficient Financial Resources
• A Format That Recognizes Differences

• Relevant Topics of Study

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Evangelism and American Trends Outreach
strategies which address peoples needs bring the
highest initial responses. In a recent Gallup
poll, five life goals were presented for
evaluation. The following indicates the
percentage of respondents who felt each goal was
most important life Goal Percent Family
life 39 Basic financial personal
security 27 Financial prosperity
abundance 15 Achievement with respect
recognition 9 Stimulating, active life
7 Undecided 3
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• Whos Out There? Prayer Request Cards
• Please pray that my former wife will reconcile
  with me and bring our family back together. It
  is the single most important wish in my life.
• Oh Lord, thank You for prayers answered. You
  are so wonderful. Continue to be with L. and C.
  Have them depend upon You. Have L. be
  considerate of J. even if he is a turkey. Be
  with J. and R. Have them seek You.
• Gods will. Tranquillity of spirit.
• Have two interviews scheduled Oct. 10 11
  and--since funds are running low--I need a job.
  Please pray that I do my best and that God opens
  the door to the place that is right for me--at
  the right time.
• Please pray for H.R., the 22 year-old wife of
  S. who works for me. Shes in St. Marys in
  Rochester after suffering a stroke yesterday.
• I pray for my son S. who is 8 years-old to be
  assigned a mentor from Kinship. If God so
  desires this for him.
• Please say a prayer for my daughter, A., to be
  over her stomach problems. She had recent
  surgery, but doesnt seem to be recovering as
  quickly as we had hoped.

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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image
• A Warm Learning Environment
• Room for Growth
• Sufficient Financial Resources
• A Format That Recognizes Differences
• Relevant Topics of Study

• A Welcoming Mentality

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Not Seeker Driven

• To give the whole store away to match what this
  years market says the unchurched want is to have
  the people who know the least about faith
  determine most about its expression.

--Martin E. Marty, Newsweek August 9, 1993, page
48
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Not Seeker Naïve

• This movement is not about creating churches
  that give seekers everything they want. It is
  about removing unnecessary barriers so that we
  can give them what they need -- Jesus Christ.

--Jim Mellado - Executive Director, Willow Creek
Association
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Learning Culture Checklist

• A Positive Self Image
• A Warm Learning Environment
• Room for Growth
• Sufficient Financial Resources
• A Format That Recognizes Differences
• Relevant Topics of Study
• A Welcoming Mentality

• Competent Teaching Teams

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Trusting God with Results
Understanding the Ministry
Developing Personally
HOLY SPIRIT
Knowing the Subject
Understanding the Task
Orchestrating Learning
Knowing the Student
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My Personal Ordering

• 1.
• 2.
• 3.