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Communication

the Convergence group Communication Resources are designed to facilitate life and leadership growth and effectiveness through a variety of discovery learning options including free articles, discipleship and leadership workbooks, The Well Trilogy, The Compassionate Trilogy, the Christian Leadership Courses (CLC), Christian Ministry Courses (CMC), DVDs, and workshops and seminars.

Discipleship and Leadership Workbooks

The Introduction to Christian Growth Series

  • Introduction to Discipleship - This workbook is the first of a series of three workbooks designed for Christians seeking to go deeper and high school students who want to learn more about what the Bible has to say about discipleship, Christian leadership, and living a meaningful and impacting life.
  • Introduction to Leadership - This workbook is the second of a series of three workbooks designed for Christians seeking to go deeper and high school students who want to learn more about what the Bible has to say about discipleship, Christian leadership, and living a meaningful and impacting life.
  • Introduction to Life Planning - This workbook is the second of a series of three workbooks designed for Christians seeking to go deeper and high school students who want to learn more about what the Bible has to say about discipleship, Christian leadership, and living a meaningful and impacting life.

The Leadership Development Series

  • The Discipleship and Mentoring Workbook - The Discipleship and Mentoring Workbook was written to help younger emerging leaders to gain a Biblical understanding of discipleship and mentoring. The workbook is designed to provide introductory information, discovery and discussion questions, explanations of specific topics, and application exercises for use in mentoring relationships, small groups, and college level courses.
  • The Bible-Centered Leader Workbook - The Bible-Centered Leader Workbook was written to help younger emerging leaders to establish a Biblical foundation for life and leadership. A Bible-centered knows the content of the Bible and is transformed by obeying its principles. This is accomplished by establishing a regular devotional life, reading through the Bible regularly, studying key books and passages, and studying specific topics and Bible biographies. Over time, the Bible-centered leader begins to think, behave, and lead from a Biblical orientation. This workbook is designed to provide introductory information, discovery and discussion questions, explanations, and application opportunities for becoming a Bible-centered leader.
  • The Spirit-Empowered Leader Workbook - The Spirit-Empowered Leader Workbook has been designed to help younger emerging leaders understand the nature, role, and empowering dynamics of the Holy Spirit for life transformation and leadership effectiveness. The dynamic of the Spirit in spiritual formation (Character), leadership formation (Competencies), and strategic formation (Calling) are examined in various chapters through introduction, discovery, explanation, and application sections giving the reader opportunities to gain understanding, insight, and specific steps for application.
  • The Discipleship and Leadership Workbook (best of the other three workbooks) - The Discipleship and Leadership Workbook is designed as a stand-alone or companion to other workbooks in the Leadership Development Series. The Leadership Development Series is based on Jesus' teaching that, "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth!" (John 4:23, NIV). True worshipers are disciples who make other disciples [The Discipleship and Mentoring Workbook] by worshipping in spirit [The Spirit-Empowered Leader Workbook] and truth [The Bible-Centered Leader Workbook]. The Discipleship and Leadership Workbook serves as an introduction to discipleship and leadership. The other workbooks in the Leadership Development Series will allow you to explore in more depth themes covered in this workbook.

The Finishing Well Series

  • Finishing Well - Way too many leaders are not finishing well! The research of J. Robert Clinton and his students at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA discovered that only about one out of four Christian leaders finish well. This is a tragic situation that must be addressed. The Apostle Paul, near the end of his life, said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..." (II Timothy 4: 7-8a, NIV). This passage suggests that finishing well is possible! The purpose of this workbook is to help appropriate this reality - we can finish well, we must finish well!
  • Deep Processing - Deep Processing was written to help mid-life leaders mature through the really hard times in life and leadership. The workbook uses the life story of Job in the Bible as the backdrop for understanding and application for maturing through seven major situations: life transitions, life and leadership crises, life and leadership conflict, leadership backlash, isolation, spiritual warfare, and brokenness. Each chapter is designed to provide introductory information, discovery and discussion questions, explanation, and application. Deep Processing is a stand alone or companion workbook for mid-life leaders that also includes The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life.
  • The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life - Way too many leaders are not finishing well! The research of J. Robert Clinton and his students at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA discovered that only about one out of four Christian leaders finish well. This is a tragic situation that must be addressed. The Apostle Paul, near the end of his life, said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..." (II Timothy 4: 7-8a, NIV). This passage suggests that finishing well is possible! The purpose of this workbook is to help appropriate this reality - we can finish well, we must finish well!

The Bible-Centered Leader Series

  • The Way of the Disciple (Sermon on the Mount) - The Way of the Disciple is designed to help followers of Christ establish a Biblical foundation for life and leadership. This workbook is an inductive Bible study of the Sermon on the Mount and is intended to facilitate "discovery learning" for a foundation in "spirit and truth" that will stand the test of time and help you to establish a Bible-centered lifestyle for honoring God and finishing well.
  • The Wonders of the Disciple (The Acts of the Apostles) - There are four workbooks in this series and are formatted using the IDEA approach to discovery learning. They cover:
  • Part 1: Jerusalem (Acts 1-7)
  • Part 2: Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-12)
  • Part 3: Paul's Church-Planting Journeys (Acts 13-20)
  • Part 4: Paul's Journeys to Jerusalem and Rome (Acts 21-28).
  • The Works of the Disciple (James) - The Works of the Disciple is designed to help followers of Christ establish a Biblical foundation for life and leadership. This workbook is an inductive Bible study of the Epistle of James and is intended to facilitate "discovery learning" for a foundation in "spirit and truth" that will stand the test of time and help you establish a Bible-centered lifestyle for honoring God and finishing well.
  • The Worship of the Disciple (Romans) - The Worship of the Disciple is designed to help followers of Christ establish a biblical foundation for life and leadership. The focus of this workbook is on the practical teaching of Paul in Romans about a lifestyle of spiritual worship (Romans 12:1, NIV). This workbook is an inductive Bible study of the Epistle to the Romans (with an emphasis on Chapters 5-8 and 12) and is intended to facilitate personal "transformation" by establishing a foundation in "spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
  • The Warfare of the Disciple (Ephesians) - The Warfare of the Disciple is designed to help followers of Christ (Disciples) to establish a biblical foundation for life and leadership by doing an inductive Bible study of the Epistle to the Ephesians. The focus of this workbook is on the theological and practical teaching of Paul in Ephesians about living like Christ in a fallen world by learning how to successfully do spiritual warfare.
  • The Word of the Disciple, 2 volumes (Gospel of John) - Coming in 2018.
  • The Word of the Disciple (Gospel of John): The Word of the Disciple, Parts 1-3, are designed to help followers of Christ (Disciples) to establish a biblical foundation for life and leadership by doing an inductive Bible study of the Gospel of John. The focus of this workbook is on the theological and practical teaching of John about living like Christ in a fallen world by learning how to successfully “abide” (John 15:5-8) in the “living” Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In him (the “Word”) was life…” (John 1:1 and 4a, NIV).
  • Part 1 (John 1-7)
  • Part 2 (John 8-14)
  • Part 3 (John 15-21)
  • The Well-Being of the Disciple (I and II Peter): The Well-Being of the Disciple is designed to help followers of Christ (Disciples) to establish a biblical foundation for life and leadership by doing an inductive Bible Study of the General Epistles of I/II Peter. The focus of this workbook is on the theological and practical teaching of Peter about living and leading like Christ in the context of suffering and persecution. These letters were written to believers who had been scattered throughout the Roman Empire because of persecution (first in Jerusalem and later throughout Asia Minor and west as far as Rome).
  • The Wisdom of the Disciple (I and II Timothy and Titus): The Walk of the Disciple is designed to help followers of Christ (Disciples) to establish a biblical foundation for life and leadership by doing an inductive Bible Study of I and II Timothy and Titus. The focus of this workbook is on the character, competencies, and calling of a Christian leader within the context of the local church.

The Well Trilogy (Books)

  • Starting Well - This is a book for emerging leaders. Leaders are individuals who have the calling, character, and competency to influence others to accomplish God's purposes. The essence of leadership in the kingdom of God is influence, not (primarily) position or personal charisma. You don't have to be a full time worker in Christian ministry to be a leader. God is calling out people who are willing to serve him in faithfulness and obedience wherever they make there living or have an opportunity to impact others. This book is targeted for those who are responding to the call of God to influence others for the kingdom.
  • Living and Leading Well - Living and Leading Well is the second book in the Well Trilogy that also includes Starting Well, for younger emerging leaders, and Finishing Well, for older experienced leaders. Living and Leading Well is designed to help you build a strong foundation which can stand the weight and pressures of mid-life while helping prepare you to finish well and establish a lasting legacy. Our vision in writing Living and Leading Well is to provide Biblically based insights, strategies, and resources to help mid-life "ministers" (whether they minister in the context of the church, marketplace, or other social settings) navigate the challenges that come with getting older, raising kids, and adjusting goals to the realities of mid-life.
  • Finishing Well - Finishing Well is the third and final book in our Well Trilogy, which focuses on establishing our legacy in later years. Finishing Well gives the reader an opportunity to assess ultimate contributions while navigating necessary transitions in life and leadership in order to establish a lasting legacy. This book is designed to integrate Biblical leadership principals, lessons, and examples with real life experiences to help the reader better understand the dynamics and challenges of growing older and navigating the end game in such a way that they do not hinder God's ultimate purposes for their lives.
  • The following courses are available for download in a .zip format.
  • Windows: Locate the zipped folder that you want to unzip (extract) files or folders from. Then do one of the following:
  • To unzip a single file or folder, open the zipped folder, then drag the file or folder from the zipped folder to a new location.
  • To unzip all the contents of the zipped folder, press and hold (or right-click) the folder, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.
  • Mac: Double click the zipped file. The file will automatically be decompressed by Archive Utility into the same folder the compressed file is in.

The Biblical Leadership Essentials Series (Books)

  • The Bible-Centered Leader: The Bible-Centered Leader is one of a series of eight books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that is designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • The Spirit-Empowered Leader: The Spirit-Empowered Leader is one of a series of eight books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that are designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • Discipleship and Mentoring: Discipleship and Mentoring is one of a series of eight books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • Discipleship and Leadership: Discipleship and Leadership is one of a series of books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that is designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • The Servant Leader: The Servant Leader is one of a series of books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that is designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • Deep Processing: Deep Processing is one of a series of books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that is designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • The Focused Life: The Focused Life is one of a series of books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that is designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”
  • The Compassionate Listener: The Compassionate Listener is one of a series of books in my “Biblical Leadership Essentials Series” that is designed to facilitate “transformational learning” for establishing a foundation in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) that will stand the test of time and help you meet the challenges of learning how to be “lovers in a dangerous time.”

The Compassionate Trilogy (Books)

  • The Compassionate Listener: This book is an introduction to compassionate listening. Compassionate listening is "caring enough about another human being to hear the story in their story." This is accomplished through active listening, discovery learning, and the IDEA Method of Mentor-Coaching. Effective compassionate listening can help others become better versions of themselves and more effective leaders in their spheres of influence.
  • The Compassionate Leader: This book focuses on four qualities of compassionate leaders: Humility, Respect, Service, and Empowering. These qualities can promote employee engagement, satisfaction, and productivity and can provide cultures where people cooperate and thrive.
  • Building Compassionate Communities: This book describes the "5 Cs" of compassionate communities: Compassion, Culture, Communication, Collaboration, and Community. When these qualities come together they create a synergy that I call Compassionate Communities that can be established and multiplied in three basic ways: within existing organizations, multiplied, and started from scratch.

The Marketplace Series

  • The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life (Marketplace Edition): The purpose of The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life (MARKETPLACE EDITION) Workbook, written by Dr. Paul Leavenworth with Mark Hicks, is to give marketplace leaders a “pathway” to greater focus for finishing well. Marketplace leaders are those who primarily make their living in contexts outside of religious institutions. There are two editions of this workbook with the primary difference being language, not content. In this edition, we use both marketplace and biblical sources to address issues related to the focused life.
  • The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life (Certificate Edition): The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life (CERTIFICATE EDITION) is designed to help participants in the Certificate in Mentoring, Coaching, and Leadership Development through Grand View University (IA) discover greater insights and clarity concerning their unique life purpose, major role, effective methodologies, and unique contributions as a person and leader. Working through this workbook and participating in the two workshops while working with a mentor-coach/supervisor will prepare you to successfully complete your practicum.
  • The Mentoring, Coaching, and Leadership Development Workbook: The Mentoring, Coaching, and Leadership Development (MARKETPLACE) Workbook, written by Dr. Paul Leavenworth, is designed to give marketplace leaders and Christ-followers a “pathway” to greater understanding and effectiveness in being a compassionate listener. Over the past several years, I have worked more and more with “marketplace leaders” who may or may not call themselves followers of Christ but who are open to spirituality and want to gain insights and clarity into becoming better people and leaders. Many of these folks recognize a need for doing life and leadership in a new and kinder way.
  • The Innovation and Change Workbook: The Innovation and Change Workbook was written by Dr. Paul G. Leavenworth for the purpose of providing information and application for understanding the dynamics of effective long-term innovation and change using the IDEA methodology of discovery learning.

The Christian Leadership Courses (CLC)

  • I taught these four undergraduate courses as part of a Christian Leadership Certificate through New Hope Christian College. Attached to each course is the course syllabus and a link to course resources in the RESOURCE section of this website.
  • CLC 101: Introduction to Christian Leadership - An introduction to Christian leadership as a means to influence individuals, groups of people, and organizations to impact others for Christ and His Kingdom. The Biblical definition and characteristics of Spirit-empowered leadership, the call to leadership, the personal qualities and skills necessary for effective leaders, leadership styles and group dynamics, and examples of effective leadership will be examined from a Biblical and practical perspective. (Course Files)
  • CLC 102: Bible Study Methods - An introduction to the inductive Bible study method and the importance of the Bible in the formation, development, and effectiveness of the Christian leader. Students will have an opportunity to do an inductive study of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). (Course Files)
  • CLC 103: Survey of the Bible - An introduction and overview of the authors, dates, primary themes, and general outlines of the books of Old and New Testaments with. Issues of authenticity, reliability, canonization, interpretation, and application will be addressed along with a description of what it means to become a Bible-Centered leader. (Course Files)
  • CLC 104: Introduction to Bible Doctrine - An introduction and overview of orthodox teachings on the primary themes of the Bible including the doctrine of the word, the doctrine of God, the doctrine of man, the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of redemption, the doctrine of the church, and the doctrine of the future. The role of suffering in the development of mature leaders will also be explored. (Course Files)

The Christian Ministry Courses (CMC)

  • I taught these four graduate courses as part of Masters Degree programs in Organizational Leadership at Grand View University (GVU) and New Hope Christian College (NHCC). Attached to each course is the course syllabus and a link to course resources in the RESOURCE section of this website.
  • CMC 201: The Christian Ministry Courses (CMC) - This is an 8-week online course that will focus on understanding how to mentor and disciple people. Bible study, discovery learning, chat room discussion, theological and methodological formation, and skill development will be complimented with practical application for gaining experience in mentoring and disciple-making. (Course File)
  • CMC 202: Leadership and Decision Making (GVU) - This course will examine general leadership and decision-making theories for application for personal and professional awareness and growth in relational and organizational contexts. Students will examine and explore a variety of leadership theories, examine and assess their leadership skills (Leadership 2.0), explore the Harvard Business Essentials 5 Steps to Better Results (Decision Making), and interact with Malcolm Gladwell's concept of "thinking without thinking" (Blink). (Course File)
  • CMC 203: Understanding Cultures and Worldviews (NHCC) - This course will help students develop a broader and more accurate understanding of cultures as paramount to effective ministry. This course expands the skills needed to successfully comprehend one's own culture and the ability to effectively embrace and minister to those from other cultures. This course has four aspects: content, discovery learning, discussion, and application. To facilitate learning for application, students must thoughtfully and thoroughly read assigned texts, complete assignments on time, and interact respectfully with ideas and expressions from different and/or alternative perspectives. (Course File)
  • CMC 204: Innovation and Change (GVU) - This course focuses on understanding and developing personal, professional, organizational, and community leadership paradigms of innovation and change for personal and leadership effectiveness. Students will be exposed to Gijs Van Wulfen's FORTH innovation process, Malcolm Gladwell's concept of "tipping points" for personal and professional development and change, and John Kotter's 8-stage paradigm of organizational change and long-term cultural transformation. Students will do a personal "life mapping" project and also be exposed to various theories and approaches to healthy change through book summaries and a biographical study of change leaders. (Course File)

DVDs

  • Small Group Facilitator Training - The Small Group Facilitator Training DVD is designed to help small group leaders learn how to lead small discovery learning groups. Discovery learning makes room for participants to take responsibility for their own growth by learning how to rely on the Bible and the Holy Spirit for perspective and the power to change. If you are informed, you may gain insight and change, but if you discover it, you own it and have a likely chance of applying it.
  • The Focused Life Workshop - The Focused Life Workshop DVD Series is designed as a companion to The Extraordinary Power of a Focused Life and the Focused Life Application (Android) to help answer questions about life, leadership, and legacy.
  • Finishing Well - The Finishing Well DVD Series is an overview of J. Robert Clinton's Biblical research on the characteristics of those who finished well in life and leadership and the barriers that kept others from finishing well. This DVD Series was designed as a companion to the workbook Finishing Well: Life, Leadership, and Legacy by Paul Leavenworth and The Well Trilogy: Starting Well, Living and Leading Well, and Finishing Well by Richard Clinton and Paul Leavenworth.

Workshops/Seminars

  • Starting Well - This seminar is designed for younger emerging leaders and those who work with them. This seminar is based on the content presented in the book Starting Well by Richard Clinton and Paul Leavenworth and focuses on building a strong foundation for a lifetime of effective leadership and ministry.
  • Living and Leading Well - This seminar is designed for middle age leaders and those who work with them. This seminar is based on the content presented in the book Living and Leading Well by Richard Clinton and Paul Leavenworth and focuses on navigating the challenges of mid-life leadership and ministry.
  • Finishing Well - This seminar is designed for mature leaders who are nearing or transitioning into retirement and those who work with them. This seminar is based on the content presented in the book Finishing Well by Richard Clinton and Paul Leavenworth and focuses on how to finish well in leadership and ministry and leave a lasting legacy.
  • Mentor Training - Effective mentoring tends to "input" others for growth and transformation. This workshop is designed to help people learn the basic skills necessary to effectively mentoring others in Bible-centered and Spirit-empowered ways.
  • Coach Training - Effective coaching tends to help "draw out" others for growth and transformation. This workshop is designed to help people learn the basic skills necessary to effectively coaching others in Bible- centered and Spirit-empowered ways.
  • Spiritual Direction Training - Spiritual Direction tends to help "center" others on Christ for growth and transformation. This workshop is designed to help people learn the basic skills necessary to effectively spiritual direction of others in Bible-centered and Spirit-empowered ways.
  • Small Group Facilitator Training - This training is designed to help small group leaders learn how to lead small discovery learning groups. Discovery learning makes room for participants to take responsibility for their own growth by learning how to rely on the Bible and the Holy Spirit for perspective and the power to change. If you are informed, you may gain insight and change, but if you discover it, you own it and have a likely chance of applying it.
  • Deep Processing - Gaining Godly perspective on the really hard stuff of life is crucial for growth and transformation. This seminar uses the story of Job in the Old Testament as the backdrop for gaining understanding in how God uses deep processing to move us to greater dependence upon him and his grace.
  • All books and workbooks can be ordered by going to our Resources section and clicking the link through to Amazon.com. The courses are available in the resources section as well. The DVDs can be purchased through the Convergence group Store.

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