Podcast appearances and mentions of Derwin Gray

From the NFL to the Pulpit: How Entrepreneurs Can Outsmart Darkness and Flourish in Business Host Justin Forman sits down with Derwin Gray — former NFL safety turned pastor and author — for a conversation that hits as hard as a blindside blitz. Derwin brings his playbook from the gridiron, the locker room, and the pulpit to reveal what entrepreneurs are most often running from — and why the answer isn't another win, another deal, or another acquisition. Drawing on neuroscience, Scripture, and lived experience, Derwin unpacks the identity trap that snares high performers, the toxic shame-and-guilt cycle that fuels the hustle, and the one playbook that actually sets entrepreneurs free. This is not a soft conversation. This is a hard-hitting call to wholeness for people who build things. Key Topics: Why idolatry is the real engine behind entrepreneur ambition — and how to recognize it in yourself The neuroscience behind why achievement can never heal your soul How Derwin's lowest NFL moment (on all fours in a hotel bathroom) became his turning point Why entrepreneurs are the worst — and the most beautiful — at trying to outrun their wounds What pastors and entrepreneurs can build together when mutual intimidation is overcome The scripture passages to turn to in the middle of a hard day Notable Quotes: "Idolatry is I'm gonna find my self-worth, I'm gonna find my being in what I do versus what God has done." — Derwin Gray "You cannot fix your soul by accomplishing something, but there is someone who did do something to heal you." — Derwin Gray "BUSY is an acronym for being under Satan's yoke." — Derwin Gray

In this episode of the Exponential Australia Church Leaders Podcast, Charlie sits down with Dr Derwin Gray, founding pastor of Transformation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, to explore the kind of healthy multiplication that does not simply grow churches, but forms a gospel shaped people who look like the Kingdom. Derwin shares his journey from the NFL to meeting Jesus through a teammate, and how that conversion ignited a calling toward evangelism, discipleship, and ultimately church planting. Derwin then unpacks the role Exponential played in his own pre plant season, describing a pivotal moment in Orlando where prayer and courage intersected with a call to plant. He speaks candidly about what he wishes he knew before planting, including the loneliness of leadership, the need for thick skin and a tender heart, and the urgency of making the gospel central rather than leading with Christless Christianity. At the heart of the conversation is Derwin's conviction that a multi ethnic church is not an optional ministry lane but the clear biblical trajectory from Genesis to Revelation. He shares the practices and costs of building a truly integrated multi ethnic and multi generational church, and why the hardest people to disciple in this work can often be Christians rather than unbelievers. With a clear call for Australia to lead with gospel conviction, cross cultural competency, and Christ centred courage, Derwin closes by praying for a move of God that cannot be manufactured and for churches that shine with the glory of Jesus.

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Dr. Derwin L. Gray, co-founder and lead pastor of Transformation Church. Since launching in 2010, Transformation Church has become a multi-ethnic, multi-generational movement impacting thousands locally and globally. In this conversation, Derwin tackles one of the most pressing—and often avoided—questions facing church leaders today: what are we actually multiplying? Are we forming disciples of Jesus—or unintentionally shaping people more through culture, politics, and media than through the gospel? Derwin challenges leaders to examine the deeper currents shaping their churches and to recover a bold, Christ-centered vision for discipleship. What are we actually multiplying? // Derwin raises a provocative concern: many churches are focused on growth, expansion, and multiplication—but not always clear on what is being multiplied. Are we producing disciples rooted in the gospel, or consumers attracted to experiences? He warns that without intentional focus, churches can unintentionally replicate shallow faith, cultural Christianity, or even ideological distortion. The goal of multiplication must not simply be more campuses or larger attendance, but deeper, more faithful discipleship. A discipleship crisis beneath the surface. // The issue isn't that churches lack discipleship. It's that many people are being discipled by the wrong influences. Social media, political ideologies, and cultural narratives are shaping beliefs and behaviors, often more powerfully than Scripture. This creates a “wrong discipleship” problem, where people identify as Christians but reflect values that are inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. The challenge for leaders is to re-center discipleship around Christ, ensuring that people are being formed by the gospel rather than the surrounding culture. The danger of ideological captivity. // Derwin speaks candidly about the ways the church can become entangled in political ideologies—whether on the right or the left. He specifically critiques the rise of Christian nationalism, defining it as the fusion of the church's identity with the identity of a nation-state. This, he argues, distorts the gospel by elevating political allegiance above allegiance to Christ. At the same time, he acknowledges the influence of secular progressivism. Both extremes, in different ways, can pull believers away from the centrality of Jesus. The call is not to disengage from society, but to engage from a distinctly gospel-centered perspective. Recovering a gospel-shaped identity. // At the heart of Derwin's message is a call to rediscover what it means to be shaped by the gospel. The good news of Jesus is not merely about individual salvation—it creates a new family across ethnic, cultural, and social lines. This vision is central to Transformation Church's identity as a multi-ethnic community. Derwin emphasizes that the gospel reconciles not only vertically (between people and God), but horizontally (between people and one another). When churches lose this vision, they lose their witness in a divided world. Courageous and compassionate leadership. // Leading in this cultural moment requires what Derwin calls “courageous compassion.” Pastors must be willing to speak truth clearly while loving people deeply. This means addressing difficult issues without fear of losing people, while also avoiding harsh or divisive rhetoric. Derwin acknowledges that this approach can lead to criticism from multiple sides, but he emphasizes that faithfulness to Christ must take priority over maintaining comfort or approval. Practical steps for leaders. // For pastors who feel their churches have been shaped more by culture than by Christ, Derwin offers simple but powerful starting points: pray, repent, and refocus on the gospel. He encourages leaders to equip themselves through study and to guide their teams in rediscovering a biblical framework for discipleship. Most importantly, leaders must model what they teach, demonstrating lives rooted in Christ rather than captured by cultural narratives. A renewed vision for the church. // Ultimately, Derwin calls the church back to its prophetic voice. The church is not meant to mirror the divisions of the world but to offer a compelling alternative: a community shaped by love, unity, and truth. When the church remains rooted in Jesus, it becomes a powerful witness to a watching world. To learn more about Transformation Church and Dr. Derwin L. Gray, his teaching, and resources, visit transformationchurch.tc and derwinlgray.com. Plus, pre-order his book, It’s Time to Heal: Four God-Given Steps to Restore What Life Has Shattered. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, so glad that you decided to tune in to today’s episode of the unSeminary podcast. Really looking forward to this. I had a fragment of a conversation with a dear friend at the Exponential Conference and I want to have more of that today with you listening in. And this is a conversation that I know is impacting people. I think 100% of our church is in the country today. It’s something that we all are seeing. It’s impacting us. We’ve got to be thinking about this. Rich Birch — Honored to have Dr. Derwin Gray with us, incredible leader from Transformation Church. He and his wife, Vicki, co-founded the church in 2010. It’s a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, mission-shaped community community with two locations in South Carolina, as well as Church Online. He’s an award-winning author of multiple books. He’s been on the podcast in the past and is one of the people who, he’s called me out on the podcast before, and I have taken those lessons with me. And so I’m I'm hoping that happens with you today. Derwin, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Hey, man, thank you. So good to be with you.Rich Birch — No, it’s it’s honest. You know, been multiple times you’ve been on the show and I I’ve walked away being like, man, okay, Derwin just, he’s just pushed me and and got me to think different, which I really appreciate that. So for folks that don’t know about Transformation, kind of tell us a little bit about the church and give us the context you’re in, that sort of thing.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, man. So ah my wife and I co-planted Transformation Church in 2010 in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. And so neither my wife and nor I grew up in church, and both of us came to faith in our mid to late 20s, and primarily through people at work. There was a woman at my wife’s job who shared Christ with her. I had a teammate named Steve Grant, with the Indianapolis Colts, where I played in the NFL. We called him the naked preacher because after practice, he’d dry off, take a shower, wrap a towel around his waist, and he’d share the gospel. And over five years, I came to faith. My wife came to faith before me. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And all we knew was this. If Jesus is this incredible, this forgiving, this gracious, this is the greatest news there is in the world. And so we didn’t know what words like evangelism and discipleship meant. All we knew was this. I want to know him. I want to make him known. I want to know his word.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so that was in 1997, 1998. We moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to play for the Carolina Panthers, and I got injured. And so all I could do was read my Bible, rehab my knee. And the following year, both my wife and I said, you know what? I think my NFL time is done.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — What are we going to do? We don’t know. So I got an invitation to speak at a youth event to share my testimony. And I said, well, what is that? They were like, a testimony is where you share your story of how you met Christ and what what took place. So I did that. People started calling me.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And in 1999, other Christians says, you guys need a nonprofit organization. You know, we’re like, what does that mean? So we started a ministry called One Heart at a Time. I would travel and speak. She would organize everything. We served at our church. Well, the longer we did that, we saw incredible fruit, but we also saw that wherever I would preach, it was ethnically segregated. It was it was really weird, right?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I’m like, wait a second. America is integrated, but the church is basically segregated. And so I began to ask questions and I got lousy answers. But as we read the Bible, it was like the early church was Jews and Gentiles. That’s what it was. It was a multi-ethnic church. Jesus not only forgave sins, but he created a family with different colored skins. Not only is that the future of the church in Revelation 7:9, but that’s the present reality of the church that intrinsic to the gospel is ethnic reconciliation. What good would it be Jesus forgives you but don’t love your brother and sister? So the cross is vertical and horizontal. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So we were frustrated. And then we just sense God say, well, you can criticize or you can create. And so ultimately that led to planting Transformation Church in the south area of Charlotte, North Carolina, where actually physically in what’s called Indian Land, South Carolina, and our other campus is in Lake Wiley, South Carolina, but it’s really the greater Charlotte area.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And our church is more ethnically diverse than our community. And I want to be very, very clear. One of the reasons why we are ethnically diverse is because of the good news of Jesus. Like I explained, Jesus not only forgives sins, but he creates a family with different colored skins. And so for us, ethnic unity in Christ not only enhances our discipleship, but it enhances our witness to a looking and watching world which is filled with so much division. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And over the last 16 years, God has done miraculous things. We’ve seen 9,000 people come to faith, thousands be baptized. God has given us massive influence. We also have what’s called the Multi-Ethnic Church Roundtable, where we’ve equipped 800 leaders from around the world to do gospel-centered multi-ethnic ministry. We’re also in the process, Leon’s Crump and I, of launching what’s called the Promise Collective, which is going to be an intentionally multi-ethnic gospel-centered church planting network.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So a lot of wonderful things are taking place. And we think it’s pretty cool that God planted us in the state of South Carolina where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. And God has used this church here to influence not only the church in America, but even around the world. Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So we’re grateful.Rich Birch — Well, I, yeah, there’s I respect you on so many levels. And, and, you know, they these issues around being a multi-ethnic church are, you know, at the core of that. And just to respect you on for lots of what you’ve done. and And we ended up at this in this conversation, just to kind of bring everybody up to speed, we ended up in this conversation at Exponential that I leaned forward as just declaring my, ah you know, a little bit about me for folks that are listening in. So I am Canadian, don’t hold it against me.Rich Birch — But I’ve served mostly American churches in the churches I work with. And most of the 95% of the listeners of this podcast are in the States. I was in the States for a bunch of years. And that may become a little more obvious as we’re talking here why that’s why I’m talking about that context. But one of the things in this conversation that I heard you, the question you asked, which made me lean forward and then where it kind of unfolded from there is you asked the question, what are we actually multiplying? Exponential is obviously the global conference for multiplication, but you were pushing us to think about what are we actually multiplying? What is the the core of that? Can you unpack that for us?What were you thinking of when we started talking about that that day?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, sure, sure. Just to provide either even a little bit more context is it was a gathering of of very large churches. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And the question is what’s going well, what’s not going well? And so typically in those types of rooms, I like to listen. And so as I was listening, I was hearing no disrespect, but a lot of the same.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so I kind of waited for everybody to to finish what they were saying. And I said, here’s something that Transformation Church does well, is we are equipping our people to stand against secular progressivism and Christian nationalism. And I said, what are we exactly multiplying? Because the state of the church the United States America is not good. It’s not healthy. It is divided. In many cases, it is it’s mean. Shallow theology, not loving our neighbors as God commands us to be loved. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So so my question was, are we just putting up more boxes for consumers to come in and consume because we have good music, good human-centered preaching. You know, we’re not going to mess with your idols. We’re not going to topple your idols at all. And yeah, you can invite your friends when we get more campuses. Because if that’s just what we’re doing, don’t sign me up for that. I don’t I don’t I don’t want any parts of that. That’s how we got to where we are now. And so you as a Canadian, here in America, the witness of the church is not very good. Like when I talk to people who are unbelievers, I have to untangle…Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — …politics from the gospel because unfortunately there’s been an unholy wedding, particularly on the far right with aspects of Christianity, which has distorted and deformed. I think the secular progressivism is pretty easy to see, but I think the Christian nationalism is a lot harder. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Now, let me define what I mean by that. So first of all, Loving your country is a good thing. That’s called loving your neighbors. You love yourself. So my fourth grandfather, Moses Davis, fought for the Union, the colored cavalry of Virginia… Rich Birch — Wow. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — …against the treasonous Confederate whatever it was. So in my blood is patriotism for my nation. America’s my home. But to love my neighbors, I love myself means not only do love America, but I love the entire world. And then as a Christian, we have a global body that we love. There are more followers of Jesus of color outside of America than the United States of America.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Now, what do I mean by Christian nationalism? This is what I mean. Christian nationalism is the attempt to fuse the identity and mission of the church with the identity and power of a nation state, treating the nation as a primary vehicle of God’s purposes rather than seeing God’s kingdom as a global Jesus-centered reality that transcends all nations.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — By that definition, Christian nationalism is a heresy. Because it basically says, if you don’t think like us, you can’t be a follower of Jesus. And so you’re adding to the works of Christ. And so Christian nationalism has infiltrated much of what I would say the majority culture, Caucasian church in America. Not all, but a lot. Where Christians, what what it means to follow Jesus has turned into a far right, almost authoritarianism versus, no, no, you have the right to vote in the United States of America. But as Christians, we don’t have a right to idolize nor demonize those who vote differently than us.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I’m not sure Americans know this, but most people in the world are not Republican or Democrat. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So if you say your faith is based on what you vote for, you’re adding to the work of Christ.Rich Birch — So, so Derwin, I appreciate you. So I’ve not heard a lot of people talk about this. This seems to be, I don’t know, it seems like something happened post COVID and the church in general, there was this like shakeup in the church in general where, you know, lots of people ended up in different places and it was like, we’ve become more divided than ever before. And I do think that there’s a significant dividing line at or close to what you’re talking about here, that it’s like, there’s a, there’s a new voice around Christian nationalism that seems to be gaining influence. Is that, is that, is that ah a false perception or is that the way you see it as well?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — No, you are 100% right. And it is a well-orchestrated, well-funded plan. With social media and the rise of social media influencers, paid propagandists can go on and infuse their propaganda into people immediately.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And here’s and here’s the thing. Populism does not require much intellect. All it requires is somebody to be angry at who’s taking from you. So the more divided we are as people, the more the oligarchs have power and the money that they make.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — They own the social media. They own the algorithms. I mean, for goodness sakes, Elon Musk promised people a million dollars to vote in Pennsylvania for the election. How is that even legal? Right. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So people are being inundated. Like we have family members that don’t even talk to each other anymore because they have red hat or a blue shirt, right? And so it has been in increasingly effective. But here’s the thing, Rich, that’s so wild to me. The admin the the Trump administration greenlit the FDA approval of an abortion pill. And I don’t hear any evangelical saying anything about it.Rich Birch — Right. Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And even when you look at the Supreme Court now saying states can choose whether you do abortion or not, that’s pro-choice. You know, what used to be the Republican Party, small government, family values, those things are way gone. Rich Birch — Right. Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so not only has Christian nationalism changed like, or not only has this current administration changed what the Republican Party was, but in many cases, it’s changed even so much of the church. And it is wild to listen to people in 2016 who said one thing, who say a totally different thing now.Rich Birch — Yeah.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — It’s hard.Rich Birch — Well, yeah. And I so I think the thing you’ve, you’re putting a finger on and it’s, I appreciate you being willing to talk about and unpack it is there’s definitely like a broader cultural conversation that’s happening around these issues. That is for sure. We’re seeing that. And that’s having an impact on our ability to disciple the people in our churches or our people are being discipled by social media, by the algorithm, by YouTube And that can create or is creating a discipleship crisis in many of our churches. How do you try to find the line between those two to say, hey, we’re going to talk about the discipleship stuff… Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah. Rich Birch — …without getting dragged in on the you know the exterior? How do we how do we draw those lines in a way that makes sense?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah. Yeah. So, so, so what I would say is we don’t have a discipleship problem. We have a wrong discipleship problem. Rich Birch — Okay, that’s good. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Because somebody is making students out of somebody.Rich Birch — Right, sure.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so are we becoming students of Jesus? that’s That’s the issue. And so what I say is this, how a person votes, that’s their conscience. But how do you treat the people who don’t vote like you? Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So for example, research shows black Americans are more socially conservative, more biblically committed than white Americans. But 90%, I’m sorry, but black American Christians, but black American Christians, 90% vote for Democrats. So how can you be more socially conservative, more biblically committed, but you vote for Democrat?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Well, because they don’t take everything that’s in the Democratic Party, just like most people who voted for Trump don’t take everything with him. And so we have to give each other the latitude and the grace. And there’s also pro-life Democrats. And not everybody who voted for Trump is evil. Not everybody who votes Democrat is evil. But the powers that be want us divided. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s true. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And when I and when I talk to my friends from Canada, when I talk to my friends that are pastors from around the world, Norway, different parts of Europe, Australia, England, and they’re going, what has happened to you guys?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I can tell you what’s what’s taken place is our faith is being distorted and driving it is fear and hatred.Rich Birch — Yeah. So I would echo that. The joke I’ve made, both with American leaders and leaders from other parts of the world, is there is a segment of the body of Christ that seems very angry about the love of God. Like they’re and they’re very fearful. Like it’s all it’s all anger and fear driven. And I don’t know whether, and it probably is related to the algorithms, but like we’re hearing from these people so much more than, than we used to. It used to be an echo chamber of people that lived in so much fear, but now it’s just out there. It seems to be in, in our, you know, in our feeds all the time.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, what used to be on the fringes is now on the main street, right? And so we need to re-gospel ourselves. We need a greater commitment to Christ. So, for example, life in the womb is precious and sacred. That’s not conservative. That’s gospel. That’s biblical.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Caring for the dignity of undocumented people in America is not liberal. That’s gospel. Wanting border control is not conservative. That is understanding that a nation has to have borders to flourish. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Believing that marriage is between a man and a woman, we believe that’s biblical. But loving and respecting LGBTQ people is not liberal. Loving my neighbors as I love myself. And if I have any hope of anybody ah coming to Jesus, they’re not going come to Jesus because I’m yelling at them and I’m angry. I’m going to love them and pursue them just like we’ve done here at our church.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so I feel like what we’ve done in in in the church is we’ve taken a 250 year old country called America. And then specifically the last 10 years, we’ve made that the hermeneutic to understand the gospel.Rich Birch — Yeah, right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — We’ve made that the lenses that we look through to determine the gospel. Whereas what I’m saying, let’s go back to the text. Let’s go back to the early church, the book of Acts, Paul’s letters, the gospels. That’s where our faith comes from. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Like I have lobbied on Capitol Hill with Republicans and Democrats about immigration reform. We need border security, but we can also secure the dignity of human beings, especially human beings who are undocumented and don’t have a record against them. Right. So there has to be a process to have strong borders, but also to hold to people’s hearts.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — But but at the end of the day, right at the end of the day, we are people of the Lamb, not the elephant or the donkey.Rich Birch — So good. So good. So what’s the hardest part about leading in a church that really refuses to be captured by either side? I feel like there’s pressure on from both political parties to they, you know, I think somewhere along the line, they realize, wow, there’s a lot of power in these churches. And how do we you know, how do we kind of infiltrate or how do we gain that? What’s it like to lead a church that’s trying to, that’s refusing to be captured by both sides is wants to keep Jesus ahead. What does that cost? How is that, you know, what are some of the pressures of that? What have been some telltale signs for you as you’ve led at Transformation in this front?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, um i would i would I would say, Rich, sometimes I’ll get a critical email and a eventually those people will leave. But but but but for the most part, I mean, we’re 16 years in, it’s our ethos, it’s our character. People know who we are. They know why we are. And so like we’re flourishing, we’re growing. It’s beautiful. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — There’s a matter of fact, I got some messages earlier today just saying, hey, thank you. Like I was just about done with Christianity and I found Transformation Church, right? I mean, this Jesus, you’re this is what I want to be a part of. So I think respecting and loving all people, even though you disagree with them. And the thing that I said, I did a series in 2024 in the fall before the election on on the Beatitudes.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And my whole thing was how you vote is up to your conscious. How you treat people is not up for debate. We’re called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. And so in our church, I’m sure we got people all over the political spectrum. I’m a registered independent myself.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — But something that I think really landed well with our people is this: 99.9% of all followers of Jesus for 2,000 years and even now have never voted Republican and have never voted Democrat.Rich Birch — Right. Right. That’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Our faith is in Christ and Christ alone. And America is what’s called a constitutional republic democracy. It is not a theocracy. It is governed by a constitution, not the Bible. And so, yes, I want believers in place not to do some kind of spiritual Sharia law, but to make sure that the Constitution is upheld, which gives life and liberty and justice, not for some, but for all.Rich Birch — What would you say, you know, I’ve often thought around this, these, this issue and we’re kind of related issues. I have to think back to Billy Graham and I think like, man, we don’t know what, don’t what he’d be doing today. Like what would, I’ve heard this story that and in the fifties he gathered a group of what at the time, they you know they self afflicted they gave themselves the title of fundamentalist and they said, hey, we gotta stop calling ourselves fundamentalist because that word is so loaded in our culture. It feels like evangelical is like that today. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah.Rich Birch — It is when people ask me, are you evangelical? I’ll say, well, it depends on what you mean by evangelical because it has so much freight behind it. Do you think there is a place for kind of a broader discussion? How, how can we continue to try to create a middle here that where people can actually try to shed these, like you say, the Lamb and the donkey and, or the, the, the elephant and the donkey and, and focus on the Lamb. How do we do that going forward? How do we create those kinds of places where those kinds of conversations can continue to happen?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, you know, so let me answer the first question first is when I preached in Norway a few years ago, the people said, thank you for being so evangelical. And it had nothing to do with politics. So the term evangelical comes from the Greek word, which means good news. So it’s never meant to be a political voting block. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — It’s never meant to be an ethnicity. It is good news people. So in Europe, I say I’m evangelical because it goes well. Here in America, I say I am shaped by the gospel. I’m a Christian that’s shaped by the gospel. Rich Birch — That’s good language.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I love God and I love my neighbors. I love myself. So I think we have a fundamental gospel problem in the American church. If you simply think the good news is Jesus died for your sins, now you don’t go to hell, then your discipleship is going to be very reductionistic. It’s going to be very individualistic.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, his ascension and then sending the Spirit, is not only do we spend eternity with him, but as brothers and sisters, we’re equally righteous, equally redeemed, equally the temple of the Holy Spirit, equally God’s children. So if all those things are true equally, then by definition, we are the body of Christ. So if you hurt, then I hurt, but we don’t think that way.Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So we have to change the way we think. Paul says in Philippians 2.3, do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but consider others better than yourselves. Verse five is “for you have the mind of Christ”. And so what we’ve been able to do here at Transformation Church is really move people deeper to the gospel. If you listen to one of my messages, you will hear gospel. That’s why we are the way we are. And the gospel challenges idols.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — When President Obama was president, I would get emails, “Oh you must be a Republican.” And then when President Trump, “You must be a Democrat.” I’m like, no, I’m an independent, but I’m called to be prophetic and to equip us to not be captivated by the zeitgeist…Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — …the spirit of the age. When the church loses her prophetic witness, we’ve lost everything.Rich Birch — That’s good.Rich Birch — Yeah, that that that names something that you put a finger on there, on something that I’d love you to unpack a little bit more. How do you do that as a pastor? Because I’ve seen you do that consistently. It’s like, how how do we be that prophetic voice, speak with clarity to ultimately point people back to Jesus, not be captured by just the winds of the day?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Be courageously compassionate. Rich Birch — That’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Be courageously compassionate. I believe, you know, so I have, I have, I have talked to pastors who lead churches that may be, you know, center a little bit left. And well, if I talk about this issue too much, people may leave. Then I’ve heard other people like, well, if I talk about about this, the MAGA people may leave. And it’s like, well, Are you concerned about people leaving or are you concerned about honoring the call that God has given you? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And one day you have to face him and you’re going to say, well, you know, what Lord, I was afraid people were going to leave. Like you can be courageous and compassionate simultaneously.Rich Birch — That’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So I, there are people on both sides of the aisle that passionately and deeply love Jesus, but have different perspectives politically. Now, Christian nationalism, that is a whole different species that that has to be lovingly challenged. And my job at Transformation Church is to equip our people and to be a shepherd because there are false prophets and wolves that are coming.Rich Birch — There’s a ton here. I really appreciate that. For a pastor that’s listening in today that’s thinking, man, I look at my people and I think maybe I they have been discipled more by cable news than by scripture. And I maybe haven’t done everything I could could have done. I haven’t been clear with compassion. I’ve just been, I’ve just kind of let this happen. What would you say some of the first steps that you would say for a for a leader like that?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, pray, repent, pray, repent. Take your elders and your staff through a book by Preston Sprinkle called “Exiles in Babylon” or the book by Michael Byrd and N.T. Wright. Both of them deal with you know how to be a faithful witness in this time of political division. But before you go out and share, make sure that you are equipped. But also choose not to be partisan.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Rich, the Epstein Files is one of the biggest cover-ups in American history. We’re talking about precious kids who were taking advantage of. And I mean, where is the prophetic voice that this is wrong, regardless of who’s in it? This is wrong and it demands justice. We as God’s people are going to be held accountable to equip this. Like, this is serious. Like, I’ve heard people say, well, there’s bigger problems in the world. No, there’s not.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Derwin, this has been fantastic. I want to point people towards, you’ve got a new book that’s coming out. That’s like like a huge left-hand turn here, but just looking at it, I think this could is is connected, obviously, to what we’re talking about in today’s conversation. It comes out this fall.Rich Birch — It’s called it’s a time or “It’s Time to Heal: Four God-Given Steps to Restore What Life Has Shattered”. Tell us a little bit about this book, and I and I want to get people to you know actually pre-order this thing.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, man. So basically the last seven years, what I have seen from followers of Christ is we’re the walking wounded. We are, we are just stuck. We have allowed our traumas, our histories, our pains, our failures, the way we’ve been hurt to keep us in a position of hurt. And we’ve just circled and circled. And then, a lot of preaching deals with behavior modification and doesn’t get to the root. And so I’ve just been like, you know what, God, I want to help God’s people. Right. And it starts with helping myself.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And what I do is I really take a theology of who we are in Christ. I take neuroscience and psychology and marry them in spiritual formationRich Birch — Love it.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And it’s by far the best book that I’ve ever written. I can’t wait for people to see the endorsements from people like Dr. Daniel Amen, Craig Groeschel, Christine Caine. It’s by far the most important book I’ve ever written and the best book I’ve ever written. And I believe that it can really help people heal. Like really understanding that trauma gets in our nervous system. It’s not just think harder, do more. Like we have to learn how this is embodied inside of us. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so, man, it transformed me writing it. And what I do is I walk the people through an acronym. The the book is in four parts and the acronym HEAL. H stands for honest about what what happened. E, expect hard. A, accept what happened and L, live from love, not for love. And I share some incredible stories in there. And so, yeah, I’m really, really looking forward to people healing.Rich Birch — Well, yeah, I would encourage people to, we’ll link to that in the show notes and all that. But I think it’s connected in that I think I think the extremes on both ends politically, they’ve picked up on kind of the pain in the zeitgeist. And they’ve they’ve said, hey, the solution is is is the other side is the enemy and we got to do something to tear them down. And we know that just won’t work. At the end of the day, it’s Jesus transforming our lives. It’s him restoring us to who we are. And I think this could be a great tool for folks as they’re wrestling with that. So I’m excited for that book to come out. Looking forward to that. And we’ll we’ll link to all that. Rich Birch — Any kind of final words as we wrap up today? I really appreciate you unpacking this a bit more and taking some time to, you know, kind of let us chat a little bit about it.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, two thoughts. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 and 45, bless those who persecute you. And I said, love your enemies. And then Jesus said, you will know my disciples because they love one another. Refuse to let anger and hatred and division guide you.Rich Birch — That’s good. So good. You said two things. You had two you that and one other thing.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Well, yeah, it was it was Matthew 5 and you’re on…yeah.Rich Birch — Oh, I see. Right, right, right. Yep. Okay. That’s good. Nice. Where if people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online? Just as we wrap up today’s call conversation.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, just go to derwinlgray.com, derwinlgray.comRich Birch — Nice. That’s great. Dr. Derwin, I just want to honor you. You’re an incredible leader. Thank you for being here today and helping us think through these issues. Thank you.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Thank you, my friend.Rich Birch — Take care.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Appreciate you.

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Host: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin) and Co-Host: (ronthe3manweav)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

FIELD DAY MOVE

We're going to keep talking about fasting today with my friend, Dr. Derwin Gray. He is the co-founding and Lead Pastor of Transformation Church, just outside of Charlotte, NC.  We also talking about memorizing Scripture and what grace really looks like as we prepare for Holy Week. Head over to spirituallystronger.com after you listen because he also mentions “virtue ethics” today and I want us to talk about this some more and how it relates to spiritual disciplines. I'm really curious what you think. . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and my friends get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. Ritual: Save 25% on your first month at Ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. CreaTone: Get started with 20% off your first order. at TONETODAY.com, promo code TSF. Brodo: Head to Brodo.com/THATSOUNDSFUN for 20% off your first subscription order and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for an additional $10 off. Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun. NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle talks with Dr. Derwin Gray, co-founder and lead pastor of Transformation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Derwin is also the recipient of the John Perkins Justice Award and the author of books including How to Heal Our Racial Divide and What's Up with Love?. Derwin shares his powerful story—from growing up in difficult circumstances in San Antonio, to becoming an NFL player, and eventually encountering Jesus in a life-changing way during training camp in 1997. What began as a search for identity through football ultimately led him to discover that his true identity was found in Christ.  After retiring from the NFL, Derwin and his wife launched a speaking ministry that eventually led to planting Transformation Church, a Jesus-centered multi-ethnic church committed to reconciliation and gospel mission. Their vision was born from a simple but challenging observation: social spaces often appeared more diverse than many churches.  Throughout the conversation, Derwin challenges church leaders to pursue gospel-driven reconciliation, reminding listeners that the cross represents both vertical reconciliation with God and horizontal reconciliation with others. He encourages church planters to develop thick skin, tender hearts, and gospel-shaped minds, especially when navigating the cultural and racial tensions of today's world.  Derwin also urges leaders to anchor their ministry deeply in Scripture and theology rather than political ideologies. His message is clear: the church must return to the teachings of Jesus and live out the biblical vision of a diverse family of believers united in Christ.

What does it look like to lead a church that's anchored in Jesus when everything around you feels like it's being blown by political winds? Dr. Derwin Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, joins us for an honest conversation about staying focused on the kingdom of God in a divided culture. Derwin challenges us to stop using a 250-year-old country as our biblical filter and instead anchor our churches in first-century gospel truth. The result? A church family that's unified and a living example of Hope to those around them.Derwin shares the real secret behind their multi-ethnic church community and why he refuses to let the spirit of the age put him in a box. He talks about his book "Lit Up With Love" and why evangelism isn't about perfecting a sales pitch—it's about living so authentically in God's love that others are naturally drawn to what they see. If you're navigating leadership in these divisive times, this conversation will remind you that people are hungry for the Jesus of Scripture, not a left or right version.

Episode 30: Field Day With Katie Black

When it comes to money, the issue isn't just budgets or bank accounts—it's identity and ownership.In Christ, we're a new creation and God's dwelling place, which means money is something we manage for the Owner. Today, we'll explore what it looks like to live as God's stewards with Dr. Derwin Gray.Dr. Derwin L. Gray is a former NFL player turned pastor, author, and speaker. He co-founded Transformation Church in South Carolina and is the author of multiple books on faith, discipleship, race, and gospel-centered unity.From Ownership to StewardshipOne of the most significant shifts we can make as followers of Christ is to stop thinking like owners and start thinking like stewards. Scripture makes the point that: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).God doesn't want something from us—He wants something for us. He longs for us to share His generous heart, free from the grip of idolatry. When Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve both God and money,” He drew a line we cannot straddle. Money is a tool to serve God's purposes, not a master to rule our lives.A powerful illustration of this danger can be found in The Lord of the Rings. Smeagol, once a hobbit, discovered a ring of dark power and quickly became consumed by it. Calling it “my precious,” he was slowly deformed—body and soul—by his obsession.Money can do the same thing when it takes God's place in our lives. Instead of being a tool to serve God, it becomes a master that warps our hearts and dehumanizes us. But when grace reshapes our perspective, we see money for what it truly is: not a god to worship, but a resource to manage for God's glory.Generosity Flows from the GospelThe Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”Generosity is not our idea—it is God's nature. Giving is worship, an overflow of gratitude to the One who gave Himself for us. When we give our first and best to God, we not only honor Him but also discover peace, freedom, and deeper trust.This isn't only about giving. Stewardship encompasses saving, investing, and living debt-free. But generosity is foundational. When we trust God with our finances, we learn to trust Him with every other area of our lives. Our High CallingWe are not owners. We are managers of what the King of kings has placed in our hands. Every dollar entrusted to us is an opportunity to worship Him, serve others, and reflect His generous heart.When we embrace this calling, stewardship stops being a burden and becomes a beautiful privilege. How might God be inviting you to live more fully as His steward today?On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I had to retire early because of health issues for both me and my wife. As a custodian, I wasn't able to save much, and now we're living on about $2,400 a month from Social Security. What's the best way to wisely manage these limited resources?I'm 80 years old and have been taking required minimum distributions from my IRA for about ten years, giving some of those funds to charity each year. When I pass away, my children will inherit the IRA. Will they need to continue taking required minimum distributions?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Transformation Church | I Am A Steward (Sermon by Dr. Derwin Gray)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to money, the issue isn’t just budgets or bank accounts—it’s identity and ownership. In Christ, we’re a new creation and God’s dwelling place, which means money is something we manage for the Owner. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Dr. Derwin Gray explore what it looks like to live as God’s stewards. Then, it’s your calls and financial questions. That’s Faith & Finance Live, where biblical wisdom meets today’s finances—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio. Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.To learn more about Rob West, click here. To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our charity auction bid link: https://www.ephraimhope.org/contact-usThis week on Y's Guys, Dave McCann is joined by BYUtv colleague Jason Shepherd, filling in for Blaine Fowler, as Cougar Nation gears up for the primetime matchup at East Carolina. With BYU favored by a touchdown and ranked in the national top 25 across multiple polls, the show previews the Pirates' passing attack and head coach Kalani Sitake's keys to building on BYU's top-ranked defense.Fans will meet two special guests with a unique tie to the weekend. Air Force F-15 pilots Morgan Curridan and Sam Eliason, both BYU supporters, will be flying the jets over Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium before kickoff. Morgan is a lifelong Cougar fan and graduate, while Sam is a convert to both BYU fandom and the Church. Together, they'll share what the flyover means to them, how it came together, and why Cougar Nation feels like family no matter where they're stationed.The spotlight then turns to BYU's defense with Derwin Gray, one of the most respected Cougar alumni and now a pastor, author, and speaker. Gray breaks down BYU's elite run defense, praises rising stars Isaiah Glasker and Jack Kelly, and offers advice to true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier as he navigates his first road test. Later, Christian Eisinger, BYU Alumni rep in North Carolina, checks in with details on pregame festivities and service projects for fans traveling east.The episode also introduces Matt Sanders of Waypoint Travel, who explains a new NIL revenue share program helping BYU athletes while giving fans unique ways to support the program through their own travel plans. Plus, the Re-Lyte Athlete of the Week honors volleyball standout Claire Little Chambers, who powered BYU to a sweep at the LMU Invitational. With Big 12 updates, NFL Cougar news, and Olympic sports highlights, Y's Guys continues to deliver the most-watched collegiate sports livestream in the nation.#BYUFootball #GoCougs #Ysguys #BYUSports #Big12Football #CollegeFootball #ReLyteAthlete #CougarNation #BYUDefense #BYUVolleyball #BYU #LDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Everyone longs for love—especially God's love—even if they don't realize it yet. So, why is it so hard to tell others about the love of God?  For many of us, sharing the gospel can be intimidating! We often feel inadequate, afraid, or just unsure of what to say. But today, we're facing those fears head-on!  Dr. Derwin Gray joins us on the 4:13 and teaches us how to share the gospel—without pressure, without fear, and without needing to be perfect. You'll learn to navigate the internal fears and external obstacles that keep you from telling others the good news, and you'll become equipped to communicate the invitation of Christ with authenticity and love. So, if you've ever thought, “I want to share Jesus, but I don't know how,” listen in! You'll be reminded that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called—and that includes YOU! SHOW NOTES: 413Podcast.com/360   Enter to win the GIVEAWAY and read the episode TRANSCRIPT in the show notes. Get my weekly email, Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new podcast episode releases. Subscribe HERE.

Guest Speaker Dr. Derwin Gray joined us for the first night of Hunger Revival 2025.

Tune in as Pastor Derwin Gray shares about his new book titled "Lit Up With Love" in this weeks episode of the Chasing Elephants Podcast.

Dr. Derwin Gray is a former NFL defensive back, having played with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers for a total of six seasons. He is also the lead pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina, which he co-founded with his wife Vicki in 2010. Derwin and Brian talk about the importance of multi-ethnic church communities and how we can share our faith naturally with a world that so desperately needs it. Links & Episode Notes Derwin GrayTransformation Church Jarryd ColeAmbassador Church Kingdom Builders at Engedi Church Steve Grant John Wesley Lit Up with Love: Becoming Good News People to a Gospel-Starved World God, Do You Hear Me? How to Heal Our Racial Divide Scripture References 2 Corinthians 3 1 Timothy 1 1 Timothy 6 Galatians 3:16 Acts 6 Acts 3 Luke 4:16–18 Psalm 23:4 Matthew 5:44 Made to Advance is a production of Engedi Church and is hosted by Brian Aulick. Send us your feedback at mta@engedichurch.com.

Derwin Gray talks about toxic masculinity and how it plays out in the NFL, the culture, and the church. Plus, insights on using ministry to heal childhood wounds and the challenge of finding the right staff in a growing church. 

What does living a Spirit-filled life look like? (Spoiler: it's about who we are, not what we do!) Continuing our Empowered series, Dr. Derwin Gray shares an important message about the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that, as believers, we were never meant to earn God's love, strength, and identity—we were made to live from it!

What does living a Spirit-filled life look like? (Spoiler: it's about who we are, not what we do!) Continuing our Empowered series, Dr. Derwin Gray shares an important message about the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that, as believers, we were never meant to earn God's love, strength, and identity—we were made to live from it!

What does living a Spirit-filled life look like? (Spoiler: it's about who we are, not what we do!) Continuing our Empowered series, Dr. Derwin Gray shares an important message about the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that, as believers, we were never meant to earn God's love, strength, and identity—we were made to live from it!

What does living a Spirit-filled life look like? (Spoiler: it's about who we are, not what we do!) Continuing our Empowered series, Dr. Derwin Gray shares an important message about the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that, as believers, we were never meant to earn God's love, strength, and identity—we were made to live from it!

Whether people admit it or not, we all hunger for divine love. So why is it so hard for us to share the message of what God did for us through Christ? Pastor and author Dr. Derwin Gray says we need to be "lit up with love." When your life is bathed in the mercy and grace of God, you won't be able to contain that life-giving message. Hear the encouragement on Chris Fabry Live. Resource mentioned:Lit Up with Love For more information about the work of Care Net, click here. Chris Fabry Live is listener-supported. To support the program, click here.Become a Back Fence Partner: https://moodyradio.org/donateto/chrisfabrylive/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Today on the podcast:- Former NFL player turned pastor Derwin Gray joins us to share his transformative experience of faith with the "Naked Preacher," the significance of love in the Christian life, and reflects on Good Friday and Easter.Have a question? Got a guest suggestion? Want to advertise with us? Email us - jason@sportsspectrum.comWATCH all of our podcast episodes on our YouTube page:https://www.youtube.com/SportsSpectrumMagazineSign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15https://www.theincrease.com/products/sports-spectrum-magazine Do you know Christ personally? Click below to learn how you can commit your life to Him.https://sportsspectrum.com/gospel/Have you heard our other Sports Spectrum podcasts?Sports Spectrum's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠What's Up Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with Annabelle Hasselbeck - https://open.spotify.com/show/7CvX5oXnEuKIYI5GCVT7Hi?si=9c61982675f1413dSports Spectrum's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get in the Game Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Scott Linebrink -https://open.spotify.com/show/7CFPZVet3TcsSJMZqRHndI?si=d6599c85917146a7

Many of us long to make a meaningful impact for Christ in our communities but feel inadequate, awkward, and afraid of accidentally causing offense. How can we communicate the life-giving invitation of Jesus in a better way? Ed Stetzer talks with Derwin Gray about his book, Lit Up for Love and how to share the gospel with authenticity, to become a beacon of light in a world desperate for love and belonging on Ed Stetzer Live. Ed Stetzer Live is a listener supported program. To donate, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer Live, click here. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/edstetzerliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derwin Gray, pastor and author, joins Rebecca to explore the transformative power of God's love in a world craving the gospel. They discuss Gray's latest book, "Lit Up with Love: Becoming Good News People in a Gospel Starved World," examining how Jesus' love compels us to love others, transcending racial and social barriers.Buy Derwin's Book:Lit Up With LoveFollow Derwin:Instagram | X | WebsiteSign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/SubscribeFollow Confronting Christianity:Instagram | XProduced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

What does it mean to be lit up with love in a world that's growing colder by the day? Dr. Derwin Gray joins us to talk about his journey from a football-obsessed kid in Texas to an NFL player whose life was radically changed by the Gospel. But he didn't stop at receiving the Good News—he became a messenger of it.In this conversation, Dr. Gray shares why so many believers struggle to share their faith, how relational evangelism can transform lives, and why revival starts with ordinary people embracing their role as everyday missionaries. He reminds us that grace meets us in our mess but doesn't leave us there—it turns us into a masterpiece. Plus, he unpacks themes from his new book, Lit Up With Love: Becoming Good News People to a Gospel-Starved World, challenging us to move beyond a transactional faith and step into a sacred romance with Jesus.If you've ever wondered how to share your faith in a way that feels natural and full of love, this episode is for you.Learn more about Dr. Gray's new book here: https://www.derwinlgray.com/litupwithlove

Our Man Church guest speaker, Dr. Derwin Gray, is the founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community located in Indian Land, South Carolina. Dr. Gray speaks to the challenges of being a man in today's world, emphasizing the importance of three essential gifts that only Jesus can provide: unconditional love, significance, and power. He reflects on his personal journey, sharing experiences from his life, including his upbringing, struggles with identity, and his professional football career. This message serves as both a personal testimony and a call to action for men to embrace their roles and responsibilities, rooted in faith and community.

Has Wheaton College, the flagship of evangelical higher ed, gone woke? Concerned parents and alumni have published a letter accusing the school of valuing diversity more than discipleship. Others have responded by defending Wheaton against the unfounded claims of the MAGA mob. What does the controversy reveal about the state of evangelicalism in the U.S.? A new piece by friend of the show, Karen Swallow Prior, explores the relationship between justice and mercy. Does emphasizing one value more than the other explain the rift in the American church? Derwin Gray is back to discuss his new book, “Lit Up With Love.” He explains how evangelism fits into the bigger narrative of the Bible, and how our reconciliation with God impacts our reconciliation with others. Also this week—North Dakota officially rejects the kingship of Jesus.   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free version of this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123105870/   0:00 - Show Starts   4:07 - Theme Song   4:29 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.   5:26 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - This episode is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Give online therapy a try at https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off 8:09 - Legal Resolution to Recognize Kingship of Jesus   12:56 - Wheaton Controversy, Russell Vought   18:42 - Wheaton, the Cultural Institution   31:03 - Justice and Mercy   37:05 - The Necessity of Wisdom   41:10 - What is Legalism?   53:03  - Sponsor - Fabric by Gerber Life - Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://www.meetfabric.com/HOLYPOST   54:08 - Sponsor - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com and use code HOLYPOST to get 10% off site wide on beautiful cookware!   55:20 - Interview   56:28 - Lit Up With Love   1:00:03 - Appetizer for the New Creation   1:06:11 - Confrontational Evangelism   1:15:10 - The Risk of Loving the Church   1:25:52 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in News Segment: North Dakota House Rejects “Kingship of Jesus” Resolution: https://news.prairiepublic.org/local-news/2025-02-19/house-rejects-kingship-resolution?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic/religion   Mercy and Justice, False Dichotomy https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-faith/justice-mercy-virtues-christianity/   Other resources: Lit Up with Love: Becoming Good-News People to a Gospel-Starved World by Derwin Gray: https://a.co/d/aRcDAuB   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying  purchases.  

Another fun episode of the RESGEN Giving Life Podcast that's just a little different than the normal format! This episode features a conversation Tom had with 3 of our communicators at this year's RESGEN Men's Summit in front of a live audience of over 1100 men. Derwin Gray is a former NFL linebacker, author and the co-founding and lead pastor of Transformation church just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Ted Cunningham is a comedian, author and the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, MO. And Bryan Loritts is an award-winning author of 10 books and a teaching pastor at the Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina.You are invited to listen in as Tom asks Derwin, Bryan and Ted a variety of questions that were sent in throughout the day by Summit attendees.   Topics they discuss include:ParentingAuthenticityMarriageMen's need for friendshipBiblical masculinityThe current state of the American churchand more.The Giving Life Podcast: Conversations about being a man whose life in Christ gives life to others.Watch the video version on YouTube - https://youtu.be/iiS_hCGDCFEMore info about Restoration Generation - www.resgen.org

In this episode, we welcome Derwin Gray back to the show. He is a pastor, author, and former NFL player. He is also the founder and lead pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and played for them from 1993-1997 and then the Carolina Panthers in 1998. He is the author of several books to include his new book “Lit Up with Love: Becoming Good-News People to a Gospel-Starved World”. In this interview, we discuss why it is dangerous for pastors to call themselves “annointed”, the real trauma he suffered during his childhood, how he found an escape through football, the two coaches that invited him to step into the challenge of being a great man, the naked man that helped lead him to Christ, the problem with churches that don't focus on discipleship, why we're all so exhausted in modernity, why most of us don't evangelize, how he strives to make his church man-friendly, how churches should approach the subject of race, and much more. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I get to chat with Dr. Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church and former NFL player, to talk about his brand-new book, Lit Up With Love: Becoming Good-News People to a Gospel-Starved World.Dr. Gray's story is powerful—going from a college football scholarship at BYU to an NFL career, then encountering the relentless love of Jesus through a teammate who shared the gospel with him for five years. He opens up about how that love transformed his life, healed his heart, and set him on a mission to bring the good news to a world desperate for hope.We dive into: • His journey from the NFL to pastoring a thriving, multiethnic church • How sports taught him about leadership, discipline, and faith • The way God's love changes how we see ourselves, our families, and our purpose • Why everyday believers are called to be everyday missionaries • What it means to be “lit up with love” and how the gospel fuels our witnessDr. Gray reminds us that the nations are no longer just “out there” they're right here, and the church has a calling to welcome and love people from every background. He challenges us to see the mission field in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and everyday relationships.This conversation is full of wisdom, encouragement, and a deep passion for Jesus. Don't miss it!

There's a crisis of good news in our world today. The message of the gospel - the radical, transformative love of God poured out through Jesus Christ - has become muted, obscured by the noise of culture wars and the bitter taste of Christendom's failures. For many, the idea of "evangelism" conjures up images of slick preachers and aggressive door-to-door campaigns, leaving a sour note where there should be a jubilant melody. But my guest today, Derwin Gray, is on a mission to reclaim that melody - to help believers rediscover the joy and power of sharing the good news, not as a chore or a weapon, but as an overflow of the love that has set their own hearts ablaze. As the founding pastor of Transformation Church, Derwin has witnessed firsthand the way a community can be "lit up with love" - a people so captivated by the grace of God that it spills out into every corner of their lives. In our conversation, he unpacks a vision of evangelism that is relational, empathetic, and rooted in the overwhelming reality of God's affection. It's a perspective that has the potential to rekindle our passion for the gospel and reshape how we engage a world that is, in many ways, starving for the good news. So join me as we dive into Derwin's story, and discover how the simple act of receiving God's love can transform us into everyday missionaries, compelled to share the most life-giving news the world has ever known. Dr. Derwin L. Gray is the co-founding and Lead Pastor of Transformation Church, just outside of Charlotte, NC. He is also the author of several books, including “How to Heal Our Racial Divide: What the Bible Says, and What the First Century Christians Knew about Racial Reconciliation." You can follow him at @derwinlgray on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, as well as www.derwinlgray.com.Derwin's Book:Lit Up With LoveDerwin's Recommendation:Paul: A BiographySubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowEmail jjohnson@allnations.us, so we can get your creative project off the ground! Support the show

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcastshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Former player for the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, Dr. Derwin Gray sits down with Rusty George in this episode of Leading Simple to. The now founder of Transformation Church in South Carolina, Dr. Gray discuss the importance of diversity in churches and how churches can achieve true diversity Listen in as Derwin shares words of wisdom and even relieves his memories of eliminating Rusty's Kansas City Chiefs from the 1995 playoffs. You do not want to miss that!Derwin Gray Social Media:Website: https://www.derwinlgray.com/Church Website: https://transformationchurch.tc/pastor-derwin/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derwinlgray/?hl=enX: https://twitter.com/DerwinLGray?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 3 to 7 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcastshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman reflect on the recent Faith Driven Entrepreneur conference and introduce a powerful message from Derwin Gray, former NFL player and pastor.Key points:Gray compares spiritual warfare to animal hunting tactics, warning entrepreneurs about the devil's strategies to isolate and weaken them.He outlines three common temptations entrepreneurs face: performance ("I am what I do"), possession ("I am what I have"), and popularity ("I am what others think").Gray emphasizes the importance of adopting a wartime mindset and utilizing the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6.The hosts discuss the relevance of Gray's message to entrepreneurial challenges and the importance of recognizing spiritual battles in business.An upcoming prayer series based on Gray's teachings is announced, designed to equip entrepreneurs with spiritual tools for success.Discussion Questions: How have you experienced the three temptations (performance, possession, popularity) in your entrepreneurial journey? Which one challenges you the most?In what ways can adopting a "wartime mindset" change how you approach challenges in your business?Derwin Gray emphasizes the importance of putting on the "armor of God." How can you practically incorporate this spiritual discipline into your daily routine as an entrepreneur?How can recognizing spiritual warfare in business help you make better decisions and maintain a stronger faith?What steps can you take to build a support network of fellow entrepreneurs to combat isolation and strengthen your spiritual defenses?

Robbie Angle is the Discipleship Advisor for Right Now Media, a company that owns the world's largest library of Bible study videos. Robbie is also the president and CEO of True Face and a professional counselor whose vast experience with small groups makes him one of the leading experts on small group formation. He lives in Dawsonville, GA, with his wife, Emily, and their eight children. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Today's episode is brought to you by RightNow Media. Every pastor knows the importance of small groups to help spur on discipleship, and RightNow Media is THE #1 platform. Church leaders can visit www.rightnowmedia.org to learn more about us and schedule a free demo. RightNow Media is the world's largest library of Bible study videos. With a RightNow Media subscription, everyone in your ministry gets unlimited access to over 25,000 discipleship resources from Christian leaders like me and Robby, as well as Francis Chan, Jennie Allen, Derwin Gray, and more. Visit www.rightnowmedia.org to schedule your free, in-depth tour of the video library today.Additionally, church leaders, I want to invite you to register for a FREE webinar that I'll be doing in November with RightNow Media on their platform. It's November 13th 12-1PM CT and it's all around helping churches define discipleship targets, so they can measure the impact of their discipleship efforts. So, you can visit www.rightnowmedia.org/webinars and register for that. I'm so pumped to be on their platform helping thousands of pastors and would love to have you there.Let's still include some RightNow Media graphics, links, and a link to my webinar here with them when we have it.Resources mentioned in the episode: The Cure: What If God Isn't Who You Think He Is And Neither Are YouThe Cure for Groups: How to Lead a Small Group that People Will Talk About the Rest of Their Lives RightNow Media NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta, GA TrueFaceKey insights from the episode: If God designed us to grow through the context of relationships, then any church with over 50 adults should create an environment that's more conducive for relational and growth. – Robbie Angle The number one question to ask for small groups is what is our pipeline for the formation of leaders? – Robbie Angle A small group that has a shared mission outside of shared study content is often the most impactful. – Robbie Angle One of the greatest differentiators of a group was whether they got away for at least one night together a year. – Robbie Angle Small groups that only focus on “know more and sin less” goals are not focused on the gospel and are not successful. – Robbie Angle 65% of the efficacy of small groups depends on the leader. – Robbie Angle Once you taste the freedom of being fully known and loved in a small group, you don't go back to Supper Club mediocracy. – Robbie Angle Pastors know disciple-making is important, but they don't know how to do it. – Zach Zehnder Robby Angle's Challenge: Ask, “God, what do you want me to know, and what do you want me to do?”Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don't know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it's free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we continue our series of conversations with the guest preachers for The Church of Eleven22's Saturated 2024 with Pastor Derwin Gray of Transformation Church in Indian Land, SC. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Dave and Blaine dive into BYU's 18-15 victory over SMU, which snapped their five-game road losing streak and brought the Cougars to 2-0 for the season. We break down the key highlights of the game, including the stellar performance of the defense, which held SMU to zero touchdowns — a feat not accomplished since 2016.We also preview BYU's upcoming game against Wyoming, analyzing the matchup and sharing insights on what BYU needs to do to secure another win. Special guest Dr. Derwin Gray, a former BYU defensive back, joins us to discuss the current defense and his favorite BYU moments. Jennifer Wise, BYU Alumni Director for Denver, gives us a sneak peek into the alumni activities surrounding the Wyoming game.https://www.ysguys.com#BYUFootball #GoCougs #BYUSports #BYUvsSMU #BYUvsWyoming #Big12 #CougarNation #BYUDefense #BYUGameday #BYUAlumni #DerwinGray #BradyPlus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The racial divide in our culture continues to make headlines. The good news is that the Bible has a lot to say about how to heal our persistent conflicts concerning race. Ed Stetzer talks with popular Bible teacher and pastor Derwin Gray about God's vision for a reconciled multiethnic family, that reflects his beauty and healing presence in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 3 to 7 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcastshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Austin and Isaac are joined by Dr. Derwin Gray to discuss political idolatry in our churches. Dr. Gray is both a pastor and scholar. We wanted to hear from him about this difficult topic, and the fruit he's seeing from it in our churches. We discuss the different manifestations of political idolatry, its causes, and the terrible fruit it produces. Despite that, Dr. Gray is encouraged because Jesus is still building His Church. We hope you are encouraged to fight sin after hearing this. LINKS & SHOW NOTES:This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.You can find Dr. Gray's books here. Support the Show.To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Join us as Derwin Gray dives into the historical origins and modern misappropriations of the term "woke," underscores the importance of racial reconciliation through the love of Jesus, and shares personal stories of transformation and faith. Tune in for a compelling discussion on mercy, understanding, and the church's role in healing racial divides.

It's one thing to fight against a heresy, but what about the people caught in its grasp? Caleb Campbell's new book, “Disarming Leviathan,” argues Christian Nationalism is an idolatrous, anti-Christian movement, but that we ought to take a gentle, loving, and missional posture toward our friends and neighbors following it. Also this week, Ronald Reagan often said America was a shinning “city upon a hill.” Derwin Gray joins Skye and Kaitlyn to discuss the phrase, its original context in the Sermon on the Mount, and how Puritan colonists used it very differently than modern politicians. Plus, what's behind all of the hot A.I. images of Jesus?   Holy Post Plus Discussion of Project 2025 https://www.patreon.com/posts/107830107/edit   0:00 - Intro   1:18 - Show Starts   3:18 - Theme Song   3:40 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order   4:44  - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - Get 10% off your first month at www.faithfulcounseling.com/HOLYPOST   5:52 - Responding to Feedback on Debate Coverage   12:26 - Shining City on a Hill   19:42 - Guiding People Away from Idolatry   30:36 - Perfect Love Casts Out Fear   34:41 - Hot A.I. Jesus   49:30 - Sponsor - Go to https://www.songfinch.com/HOLYPOST and start your song – after you purchase, you'll be prompted to add Spotify Streaming for your original song for FREE - a $50 value!    50:49 - Sponsor - Wheaton Graduate School - Learn in a rich, rigorous Christian environment - www.wheaton.edu/holypost   51:49 - Interview   53:57 - Why did Campbell write about Christian Nationalism?   1:15:15 - Practical Advice   1:23:53 - What About Flipping Tables?   1:33:14 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in the News Segment: Is America a City on a Hill or a Nation on the Precipice? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/opinion/american-exceptionalism-reagan-biden-trump.html   Hot AI Jesus is Huge on Facebook https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/06/hot-jesus-ai/678814/   Other resources:   Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor by Caleb Campbell: https://www.ivpress.com/disarming-leviathan   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  

Today we're joined by pastor, author and former NFL player Dr. Derwin Gray! We talk about the tidal wave of sports betting that's happening right now, and as Christians what we should watch out for. Plus, we have this week's RELEVANT Buzz, covering a surprise show that topped the Netflix charts, two big new album drops that take very different approaches to getting buzz, and an important documentary that just hit YouTube. At the end of the show, don't miss your annoying concert experience feedback!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Humility. Through. This episode hangs on those two words, and how they relate to Christianity today. Joel Muddamalle, Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries, wrote the book on humility, The Hidden Peace. He explains that true, Christian humility--living out the humble life of Jesus--will bring us to God who will get us through the hurts, the hard times, and the exhaustion of life today. We find peace in humility, in that awareness that the Lord is with us always. And knowing that God is with us means God will walk through every broken moment with us.Joel earned his PhD in Theology under the guidance of Dr. Patrick Schreiner and Dr. Michael Heiser. He serves on the preaching team at Transformation Church with Derwin Gray. He writes, studies, and teaches about scripture and theology and how they go hand-in-hand with our every day, busy lives. Resources:Joel's websiteFollow Joel on Facebook and InstagramProverbs 31 MinistriesBuy The Hidden Peace

Welcome to the Sports Spectrum Minute featuring a short clip of inspiration from a previous Sports Spectrum Podcast interview. Today we hear from former NFL defensive back and current pastor Derwin Gray. He first appeared on the podcast back in April of 2017. You can listen to the entire interview here.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 3 to 7 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcastshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676