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Starting a Fresh Expression of Church
Unlocking the Future of Community Engagement with Fresh Expressions
About this Course
Starting a Fresh Expression of Church was designed to invite you to embark on the transformative journey of redefining how you perceive and practice church!
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
What could it look like to nurture thriving, fully-developed faith communities that live somewhere permanently outside the confines of traditional church buildings? In Starting a Fresh Expression of Church, we invite you to embark on the transformative journey of redefining how you perceive and practice church! Explore how church can happen authentically anywhere people naturally gather– from hiking trails to pickleball courts. This course is your guide to initiating, cultivating, and flourishing within the new and surprising expressions of church that might resonate for believers and seekers in this ever-changing century.
Unlock the power of the Fresh Expressions framework, bringing your church closer to the community while maintaining cherished traditions, and discover how to leverage your unique gifts to minister to those around you. Learn how to infuse spiritual conversations and practices into everyday activities, fostering connections and spiritual growth in unexpected places. By the end of this course, you’ll possess the knowledge, insights, and actionable strategies you need in order to build, lead, and participate in fresh expressions of church that effectively and joyfully embody the spirit of Jesus in the modern world.
Modules
Welcome
Get oriented to the course, download the interactive handbook, and access the group to chat with others!
Defining a Fresh Expression
In this module, you will
- Learn what a Fresh Expression of church is.
- Consider the possibilities of this strategy in your own setting.
- Develop an openness to how God might be speaking.
Understanding Theological Foundations
In this module, you will
- Learn how Fresh Expressions is theologically rooted.
- Explore how those foundations can help you move forward.
- Develop gratitude for Christian community.
Living into the Mixed Ecology
In this module, you will
- Understand the concept of the mixed ecology.
- Create a map of the mixed ecology in your setting.
- Develop your ability to view your community from God’s perspective.
Introducing the Fresh Expressions Journey
In this module, you will
- Identify key moments in the FX journey.
- Write your own FX journey into the future.
- Continue to pray for God’s leading.
Praying and Listening (Journey Step 1)
In this module, you will
- Learn ways to actively listen to your community.
- Practice strategies for being in your community and listening to God.
- Become more open to God’s leading.
Loving (Journey Step 2)
In this module, you will
- Learn steps for getting started with a Fresh Expressions project.
- Further develop your project description.
- Practice loving your community in tangible ways.
Developing a Community (Journey Step 3)
In this module, you will
- Reflect on the importance of community.
- Set a strategy for community building.
- Pray for God’s leading in your community.
Exploring Life with Jesus (Journey Step 4)
In this module, you will
- Understand more about coming alongside others as Jesus would.
- Learn to tell your own Jesus story.
Growing Into a Church (Journey Step 5)
In this module, you will
- Be reminded to continue seeking God’s guidance.
- Make a plan for developing your Fresh Expressions Community.
- Consider next steps.
Conclusion
Find out your next steps as you complete the course and how to stay connected with your group. You'll also be able to submit feedback about your course.
One-time purchase
$55
With Faith+Lead Membership
$0*
Get a free public display license to use for group study.
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
- Modules:
11 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Dee Stokes
Dr. Dee Stokes is an entrepreneurial minister, educator, consultant, author, and podcaster. With 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Stokes understands what it means to be co-vocational and serve God in the Church and in the marketplace.
She has worked at every level of education and has also served as a Senior Pastor, Formation and Connections Pastor, and Teaching Pastor. She has a passion for God and His Church and to see people walk in divine destiny. Her degrees are in Sociology (B.A. from UNC Charlotte), Public Administration (M.P.A. from Devry University), Biblical and Theological Foundations (M.B.T.F. from Asbury Theological Seminary), and Educational Leadership (Ed.S. & Ed.D. from Liberty University). Dr. Stokes’s research interests include Cultural Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Burnout, Transformational Leadership, unconscious bias, and spousal responsibility.
Dwight Zscheile
The Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile is professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He is the author of Embracing the Mixed Ecology (with Blair Pogue, Seabury Books, 2025), Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future (with Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff, Fortress 2023), Participating in God’s Mission: A Theological Missiology for the U.S. (with Craig Van Gelder, Eerdmans 2018), The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age (Morehouse Publishing, 2014), People of the Way: Renewing Episcopal Identity (Morehouse Publishing, 2012) and The Missional Church in Perspective: Mapping Trends and Shaping the Conversation (with Craig Van Gelder, Baker Academic 2011), editor of Cultivating Sent Communities: Missional Spiritual Formation (Eerdmans, 2012), and co-editor (with Ed Olsworth-Peter) of The Starter’s Way: Leading New Contextual Christian Communities (Church Publishing, 2025).
A graduate of Stanford University (BA), Yale University (MDiv) and Luther Seminary (PhD, Congregational Mission and Leadership), Dwight previously served congregations in Minnesota, Virginia and Connecticut. Dwight’s experience growing up in a secular home in California has shaped his commitment to helping the church cultivate Christian community with neighbors in today’s changing world.
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One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
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- Access the course workbook for individual study
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- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at support@faithlead.org for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!