Church Leadership Training Resources (Paid & Free)

by Josh Breland

Church leadership training and development is not always easy to come by. Some churches do leadership development better than others but every church leader needs to personally own their own development plan. Below are a few church leadership training resources to help you own your development.

Free Church Leadership Training

I have divided the resources into three categories: blogs, podcasts, and assessments. Some of us learn better by reading, others by listening. The personal assessments can be game changers for your self-awareness and team leadership. The team I lead uses CliftonStrengths and Enneagram on an almost-daily basis. These two assessments in particular have helped me not only know myself better for personal leadership, but have helped me better know those whom I lead and work with. I strongly recommend the assessments.

Church Leadership Blogs

I started blogging in 2009 and have been blogging off-and-on for the past 10 years. I had no idea how blogging would change my life through networking, friendships, and personal growth.

Today, blogging seems to be less popular than other mediums (podcasts, vlogging, etc.). However, blogs are still a great way to grow and gain insights from other leaders in the church. Below are a few trusted leadership blogs.

• Carey Nieuwhof
• Vanderbloemen
• Open Network from Life.Church 
• The Harvard Business Review
• Ron Edmondson

Church Leadership Podcasts

Podcasts have been around as long as blogs, but they’re growing a lot lately. The benefits of podcasts are that they can help you learn while doing other tasks like yard work or exercising. People who learn better through listening will find podcasts more accessible.

Another great aspect of podcasts is that they tend to be a little more raw and unedited, which means you get a more real interaction with thought leaders than through blogging and most video styles.

• Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
• Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
• Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
• Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast
• Catalyst Podcast

Personal Assessments

Whether starting a new church job or leaning into a long time role, personal assessments can prove helpful. Personal assessments can help you gain self-awareness and gain insights into those you lead. Church leadership is about loving and serving others, and personal assessments can help you love and serve in deeper ways.

I strongly recommend all four assessments below.

• CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Assessment 
• The Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment
• The DISC Profile
• iEQ9 Enneagram Assessment

Josh Breland helps church leaders win with data and church analytics at Churchlytics. He previously led the communications team as Director of Communication & Strategic Initiatives at College Park Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is married with three daughters. Connect with Josh on Twitter and LinkedIn.