Part 2: Creating a Transformational Sunday School | An Interview with Dan Duckworth

Watch Part 1: Creating a Transformational Sunday School | An
Interview with Dan Duckworth. Dan Duckworth is the founder and host
of LeaderQuest, an elite leadership program that transforms
managers and executives into dynamic changemakers. He speaks,
teaches, and writes on leadership and leadership development, and
provides one-on-one coaching to leaders aiming to drive
transformational change. Dan has served as a board member for
Leading Saints since 2019. To learn more, visit idylli.co or find
Dan on LinkedIn. Links Part 1: Creating a Transformational Sunday
School | An Interview with Dan Duckworth The True Purpose of Sunday
School Why Testimony is Not the Only Goal for Latter-day Youth—Part
1 | A Presentation by Dan Duckworth Sunday School Session Template
From Aspirational Principles to Practical Principles Share your
thoughts in the Leading Saints community Transcript coming soon Get
14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights This is the
second of a two-part podcast. The conversation continues, focusing
on the transformative role of mentorship in youth leadership and
the dynamics of effective Sunday school teaching. Dan shares
insights on the nature of transformation in leadership. He stresses
that effective teaching is not merely about mastering tactics but
involves a fundamental shift in belief systems. This transformation
requires educators to engage in a cycle of experimentation and
reflection, challenging their preconceived notions of what it means
to teach and learn. Dan illustrates this with examples from his own
experiences, emphasizing the need for teachers to create an
environment where students can co-create their learning experiences
rather than passively consume information. The episode delves into
the concept of culture within church settings, with Dan advocating
for a proactive approach to challenging and reshaping cultural
norms. He encourages leaders to embrace discomfort and uncertainty
as they experiment with new teaching methods, using the metaphor of
pushing against the walls of culture to gather valuable insights.
The discussion also touches on the importance of fostering
authentic community within Sunday school classes, where trust and
openness can lead to deeper engagement and meaningful dialogue. Dan
outlines practical principles for effective teaching, including the
necessity of a single driving question to guide discussions and the
importance of creating a safe space for students to share their
thoughts and experiences. He shares a structured approach to lesson
planning that prioritizes engagement and interaction, allowing for
a more dynamic and impactful learning environment. Throughout the
episode, Dan emphasizes the value of personal experiences and the
need for teachers to be vulnerable and authentic in their
interactions, ultimately aiming to facilitate a transformative
experience for both educators and students alike. 02:09 -
Discussion on Culture and Sunday School 03:39 - The Importance of
Transformation in Leadership 04:55 - The Cycle of Experimentation
and Reflection 05:43 - Challenging Belief Systems in Teaching 06:25
- The Nature of Culture and Disruption 07:28 - Building Confidence
in Change 08:13 - The Role of Disruption in Teaching 09:17 -
Avoiding the "Ex-Girlfriend Syndrome" in Change 10:20 - Learning
from Failed Experiments 11:25 - The Role of Discernment in
Leadership 12:29 - God's Omniscience and Leadership 13:03 -
Teaching as Experience Design 14:07 - The Journey of Becoming a
Transformational Teacher 15:20 - The Challenge of Teaching
Transformational Principles 16:25 - The Importance of Actionable
Principles 17:41 - Empowering Co-Creation in the Classroom 19:04 -
The Pareto Principle in Teaching 20:22 - Structuring Class Time for
Engagement 21:58 - Creating Positive Tensions in Lessons 23:00 -
Building Authentic Community in Class 24:36 - The Role of
Icebreakers in Fostering Connection