Part 1. The basics of congregational culture. Why leaders should read this book : the importance of culture -- What are we talking about? : the definition of culture -- What we do : the church's expression of culture -- Why we do what we do : the church's cultural values -- What we believe : the church's beliefs -- How we respond : the church's relationship to culture -- Part 2. Reading congregational culture. Reading the church : understanding its culture apple -- Reading the pastor : discovering the pastor's culture -- Part 3. Shaping congregational culture. The church planter as culture architect : creating a new church culture -- The church pastor as culture sculptor : part 1 preparation -- The church pastor as culture sculptor : part 2 personnel -- The church pastor as culture sculptor : part 3 the process -- The church pastor as culture blender : adopting established church cultures -- Appendixes. Behaviors audit -- Core values audit -- Core values statements -- Beliefs audit -- Faith statement -- The culture matrix : beliefs, values, behavior -- Spiritual maturity audit -- Character assessment for leadership -- Spiritual gifts inventory for leaders -- Temperament indicator 1 -- The personal profile : the persuader pattern -- Temperament indicator 2 -- Temperament indicator 2 : further explanation -- Implementation team worksheet. Abstract "Before you can lead your church, you have to know your church. Pastoral ministry is challenging work. It is made even more challenging when a pastor ignores the church's 'congregational culture' when seeking to minister to members or implement changes. Just as a pastor studies to interpret the Scriptures, he or she must also interpret the local church culture to better understand and move the church toward accomplishing its mission and vision. In Look Before You Lead, trusted church leadership expert Aubrey Malphurs shows pastors how to read their church's unique local culture, how to change or revitalize it, and even how to combine two cultures when one church adopts another. This unique resource approaches leadership and discernment from a solid, biblical perspective and includes a number of helpful appendixes that are key to reading and understanding the culture."--Publisher description. Published in: Grand Rapids, Mich. Physical description: 271 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

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