Podcasts about pastoring

The church is alive and well in Ukraine despite the war. Today, the team in Ukraine shares an update! Our brothers and sisters still need a miracle, but their hope is fixed on Jesus, and the church is full of new believers. They could focus on their own safety or personal loss, but instead, their hearts are full of gratitude for what God is doing and for how many people are coming to know Jesus.

What does it mean to follow Jesus in a city famous for witchcraft? Pastor Steven and Sarah White share how their family and church bring the light of Christ into the heart of Salem, Massachusetts—especially during Halloween, when the streets overflow with spiritual seekers and darkness feels most tangible. ✨ Summary In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson sits down with Pastor Steven and Sarah White to explore what faithful discipleship looks like in one of America's most spiritually charged cities. From prayer walks through the Satanic Temple to welcoming thousands of visitors during Halloween, the Whites describe how God is using gentle presence, prayer, and joy to advance the gospel in Salem. They also open up about the importance of rest, marriage, and raising children amid spiritual opposition—and how light truly shines brightest in the dark.

Blueprint | Building A Church For Impact | Pastor Michael Kennedy

Our guest is MARK BATTERSON, lead pastor of National Community Church in DC, NYT best-selling author of 25 books, including his most recent A Million Little Miracles, and popular speaker. Mark is also the lead visionary of the Dream Collective, and of course helped start Ebenezer's Coffeehouse, one of the top coffee shops on Capital Hill. We discuss miracles, physics, leadership, pastoring in DC, the power of generational vision, and much more. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the list and all the show notes. Thanks again to our partners for this episode: CONVOY OF HOPE - visit http://convoyofhope.org/donate. Convoy of Hope is helping victims of the Texas Floods with recovery and clean up. Please donate to help bring hope to those impacted at http://convoyofhope.org/donate. Convoy is my trusted partner for delivering food and relief by responding to disasters in the US and all around the world. Right now, Convoy of Hope is responding to the Texas Floods, LA fires, and still helping with devastation in the southeast US from Hurricane Helene and Milton, providing basic needs like food, hygiene supplies, medical supplies, blankets, bedding, clothing and more. All through partnering with local Churches. Join me and please support their incredible work. To donate visit http://convoyofhope.org/donate. And COME and SEE FOUNDATION – reaching a billion people with the story of Jesus. Visit http://comeandseefoundation.org. Come and See Foundation is on a mission to ensure that all 7 seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and kept FREE for all. From Michigan to Madagascar, people are encountering Jesus through The Chosen, Join Come and See in inviting a billion people to find and follow Jesus. You can play a supporting role in introducing the world to Jesus. Lean more and get involved at http://comeandseefoundation.org.

This is a reading of the article "Pastoring Home to Home," written and read by Pastor Brett. You can read the article at https://westviewchurchmn.com/blog.

Pastoring a church is one of the most rewarding—and challenging—callings. Today on Equipped, we’re talking about the joys and struggles of being a pastor and asking an important question: How can the church better love and care for their pastors? Don’t miss this encouraging conversation on Equipped.  October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

In this episode, Dr. Phil Newton joins Jared Bumpers and I to discuss pastoring. Dr. Newton began South Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, TN, in 1987 and concluded his 35 years The post Phil Newton on Pastoring appeared first on Preaching and Preachers Institute.

When you stand for Truth, suffering may come with it. When that suffering meets you, will you stop standing for Truth? Will you let a “slap” silence you? We cannot allow others' opposition to keep us from boldly and clearly speaking Truth.

False Belief: If we were really living right—how Jesus wants us to live—then we wouldn't have enemies.The truth is, we can't deny that we have opposition. But Jesus told us to love our enemies. Loving them does not mean embracing their ideologies or helping them carry out their mission. You love them by being kind, treating them as humans made in the image of God, and speaking truth in a way that never compromises it.

We are grateful for great friends and colleagues, great conversation, and a great cup of coffee. This is a new series called "Clergy to Clergy." Watch this conversation with Rev. Tim Ward & Rev. Dr. Katie Philips as they sit down for conversation and coffee. about parenting while pastoring. Available on YouTube and in podcast form on Apple and Spotify.

In this episode of Practically Pastoring, Frank, Jeff, Delmar, Andrew, and Tim tackle two big conversations pastors are facing:1️⃣ Should a pastor's faithfulness be judged by whether or not they mentioned Charlie Kirk's assassination from the pulpit?2️⃣ How should we shepherd well in a season where church attendance is spiking, with many calling it a revival?We'll talk honestly about pastoral pressure, online “coward” rhetoric, and the danger of reducing faithfulness to soundbites. And we'll share practical advice on how to care for new people walking into your church for the first time in years.Timestamps:0:00 Cold Open2:00 Should pastors be judged for silence?10:00 Why “coward” language is harmful20:00 Are we seeing revival?30:00 Practical tips to steward new guestsLinks from the show:

Fire your bow. This is not a time to sit back and be a spectator. Be intentional. Engage. Study so you can understand the questions being asked and answer them from a biblically principled, sound worldview. Charlie Kirk said, “Courage is easy; it's just saying yes.” Say yes, and let courage rise in your spirit.

https://orthodoxsspp.org/    https://www.southeastuary.com/ https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/MGC5Mm9d Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://calendly.com/paulvanderklay/one2one There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333  If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/  All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos.  https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

In the second week of our Vision Sundays series, we're unpacking what pastoring your people looks like for Bethel, as a community. How do you pastor a city? What role does each member play in the story God has invited us into? This message, shared by Gabe Valenzuela, is a practical guide for every believer who wants to be activated in their community, as designed by God. We are called to love our neighbor, to feed the hungry, and to represent Jesus to the lost. There are people in every community carrying burdens, deep pain, and a longing for something you're carrying—a relationship with the person of Jesus. We pray that you're encouraged as you listen and learn about what pastoring people looks like in our house and how you can strengthen or start pastoring, with intention, your own communities

The loss of Charlie Kirk's life was a loss to us, but not to God. Are you prepared to die with your boots on? Today Keith asks the hard questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Was Charlie Kirk taken too soon? Does God have the license to take what belongs to Him? Is eternity real to you? Is the mission real to you? Do you see your life as God's conduit for His possession?

Responding to questions from listeners about the different views of Romans 7, how to live on a pastor's salary in this economy, high church vs. low church, and can Baptists be high church. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Charlie Kirk was a Christian missionary. He taught people to think, not just to feel better about themselves. He made gospel connections that enlightened minds and edified souls. The fragrance of eternity was on Charlie Kirk.What is our response? Refuse to be silent. Stand up. Speak out. Make the death of Charlie Kirk the worst thing that could happen to those who hate the gospel. While we are alive, let's fully live.

Send us a textWelcome back to another episode. Today we have Brother Carlos Frazier in the Studio. He shares with us his journey into Pastoring. He shares the struggles and excitement in waiting for God's will to come to pass. If you enjoy this episode please leave a like or a comment. You can also email us at pulpittothepew@gmail.com. Thanks for tuning in!Support the show

Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeffrey Sargent are joined by Pastor Sandy Whitmire on this episode of Pastoring on Purpose. Sandy and her husband pastor at Ocoee Church of God, and she is currently the Executive Assistant to the Administrative Liaison to the General Overseer at Church of God. Sandy shares her experience with a serious brain bleed and how it has affected her, her family, and her faith.

There is a reason why Jesus picked people who were working when He was choosing His disciples. Work is redemptive because you have to be responsible for yourself, it causes you to benefit someone else, gives you the ability to be generous, and teaches you to solve problems, overcome obstacles, and be submitted to authority. 

Episode 183 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast is live— and if you're navigating church growth, staff retention, or post-COVID tension, this one is for you.In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Frank for a real coaching conversation around two key challenges:Building a budget that actually reflects your mission, not just your maintenance.Leading through political and cultural tension in a multicultural church without losing unity.So many pastors feel stuck in either “survival mode” or “division management.” But it doesn't have to be that way.Here's what we unpack together:✅ How to shift your mindset from just “paying bills” to funding vision✅ What percentage-based budgeting can do for staff alignment and longevity ✅ The hidden costs of not appreciating your team ✅ How to create invisible momentum—before it ever shows up on a spreadsheet ✅ The role of wise transitions when it's time to release leadership ✅ The #1 principle for shepherding through political divideI believe this episode will help you lead with greater clarity, health, and courage.

In this conversation, Jason sits down with Dom Ruso, pastor of The 180 Church in Greater Montreal, to talk about the joys and challenges of church planting in one of the most secularized contexts in North America.Dom shares openly about his discernment journey, how God drew him and his wife back to Quebec despite initial resistance, and what it has looked like to build a church community from scratch in a region where many are spiritually open but institutionally skeptical.Jason and Dom explore themes that matter deeply to pastors today:Dom's honest wrestle with returning to Quebec, and the slow ways God confirmed the call to plant a church there.The unique dynamics of Quebec culture and what it means to preach the Bible in ways that connect with people who carry wounds from religion or who feel indifferent toward Christianity.How congregations can embody health and unity in a divided cultural landscape, and what Canada's regional differences can teach us about God's work across the country.Why it's not enough to “tell” people what the Bible says, but to invite them into its story, and how plot points of Scripture resonate with modern longings for justice, meaning, and identity.Why it matters to recover a distinct vision of pastoral calling, and how the overlap with modern leadership and coaching culture can blur what shepherding the people of God really means.Dom also talks about his new book, The Bible for a Shifting Secular Age, which brings together his pastoral experience and academic work to offer handles for understanding secularism and fresh ways of presenting Scripture today.Show Notes
The 180 ChurchThe Bible for a Shifting Secular AgeGive to our $30,000 August Match Campaign⁠⁠Fall 2025 Pastors Retreat at Barnabas Landing⁠⁠The Pastorate Listener Survey⁠Thank You to Our Episode SponsorSpecial thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their ⁠Bible Course⁠ to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.

Today we continued a series from the archives–If we don't process the “stuff” from people and keep our hearts soft, then we aren't really operating out of the flow of the Holy Spirit. Scripture directs us in how to keep our heart pure with other people. Bear with one another. Forgive each other, just as the Lord forgave us. Put on love, the perfect bond of unity.

Pastoring a church is a rewarding profession and at the same time can be stressful not only to the pastor but also to their spouses and children. We owe our pastor respect. We as his flock should not make his job more difficult than it already is. They watch for our souls.

Today we pulled an episode from the archives–Forgiveness is not intellectual. It is an opening of our spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to wash through us and out to others the same forgiveness that we so desperately depend on. One of the greatest things that has to happen in leaders is the ability to maintain a clean heart by really forgiving people and releasing them from their offenses. 

This episode welcomes Joel Barron back to Pastoring on Purpose! Joel is the associate/worship pastor at Starkville Church of God in Starkville, Mississippi. He is the Director of Choral Activities at Choctaw County High School, and serves as a missionary with the Church of God World Missions. Joel shares his experience as a missionary in Germany dealing with the stress and anxiety that missionaries face, and his success receiving counseling from the Center for Ministerial Care.

Today we continued a series from the archives–How much pressure should you allow a hand to put on your bow? How much pressure are you allowing the hand of money, sex, recognition, and success to put on your bow? Those hands really do mark us. 

In this episode, Josh and I explore some key ideas and quotes from his book, and talk broadly about the gathering of the Church. Then we shift our focus to pastoral ministry and dig into the specific lessons he's learned in planting and pastoring Hope City Church—both the challenges and the moments of clarity.Quotes for Notes:“I think that when the church gathers together it should look like they worship Jesus.”“If we are shooting for churchgoers, then our goal is to keep them in the room… If our goal is believers, then the only way that person is going to come to faith is for that person to experience faith.”“The Gospel is not how to practically make your life better… The Gospel is supernatural transformation.”Links:The American Gospel: https://www.amazon.com/American-Gospel-Letter-Post-Christian-Church/dp/B07Y4JNGNSHope City Church Website: https://www.hopecitymeridian.church/

Today we pulled an episode from the archives–A bow and an arrow work together as one. They are two pieces that make up one instrument. A bow is just a wall ornament unless you have an arrow to go with it. An arrow must be sharp. An arrow must be straight. An arrow must be aimed. We are arrows in the hands of a warrior. Whose hand is on your bow?

On this episode, Joshua Shaw shares about his experience of stepping into leading the FIRST Vineyard church to exist, originally started by Kenn Gulliksen. We discussed the challange of transition into leadership and a lot on preaching! Josh shares some excellent observations about why we should work hard in our preaching! Joshua Shaw is the Lead Pastor of the Vineyard Church (https://vineyardchurch.la), the originating church of the worldwide signs and wonders movement, famously led by John Wimber. Josh and his family live in Los Angeles, CA, where they actively love and serve the broader faith community. Josh is married to Brianne, and they have two sons, Ezekiel and Asher. He holds a Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary. ❇️ Recommended John Wimber Books ❇️ "Power Healing," by John Wimber (https://amzn.to/2HiA3YV) "Power Evangelism,' by John Wimber (https://amzn.to/2TP6Nyd) "Power Points," by John Wimber (https://amzn.to/31NwqSC) "Everyone Gets to Play," by John Wimber (https://amzn.to/2Z4PJdf) "The Way In is the Way On," by John Wimber (https://amzn.to/2ZdiTCg) ❇️ Recommended Books ABOUT John Wimber ❇️ "John Wimber: The Way it Was," by Carol Wimber (https://amzn.to/2HiUFQJ) "Never Trust a Leader Without a Limp: The Wit and Wisdom of John Wimber," by Glenn Schroder (https://amzn.to/3PtHvSM) "John Wimber: His Life and Ministry," by Connie Dawson (https://amzn.to/3FSpYAI) "Worshiping with the Anaheim Vineyard: The Emergence of Contemporary Worship," by Andy Park, Lester Ruth, & Cindy Rethmeier (https://amzn.to/31TDm0w) "Toronto in Perspective: Papers on the New Charismatic Wave of the 1990s," edited by David Hilborn (https://amzn.to/2L3nIsP) "John Wimber: His Influence & Legacy," edited by David Pytches (https://amzn.to/2ZfgbfC) || FOLLOW US || Website: https://sacramentalcharismatic.substack.com Luke IG: https://instagram.com/lukegeraty Luke Twitter: https://twitter.com/lukegeraty Wes IG: https://www.instagram.com/wesmac5 Wes Twitter: https://twitter.com/wesmac5 SUPPORT US BY SUBSCRIBING AND CONSIDERING BECOMING A PAID SUBSCRIBER!

In this episode, Mike speaks with Jordan Faker, a former youth pastor and current missionary in the Basque Country of Spain. Jordan shares lessons from his eight years in youth ministry and reflects on the realities of bivocational life—working a regular job while faithfully shepherding students. He offers practical encouragement for preachers navigating time constraints, limited resources, and the tension of dual callings.The conversation also explores the spiritual climate of post-Christian Europe, the urgent need for long-term missionaries, and how today's young people (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) are spiritually searching in unexpected ways.This episode is especially relevant for those preaching in small churches, ministering cross-culturally, or wrestling with how to balance faithfulness and sustainability in gospel work.Follow Jordan's journey:

When the majority of your meetings are spontaneous or as needed, something else besides you is driving the vision. Today we dove far back into the archives to the first series we did called The Art of the Meeting. Many leaders make fatal errors or don't act quickly because they are simply operating on old information. Who you are meeting with is important. Do that on purpose every time. If you stay in contact with all the different soils in your church, you will hit water every time. 

Pastoring is both beautiful and brutal. In this message from Galatians 4, we get a glimpse into the raw, personal heart of the Apostle Paul—a pastor who's deeply burdened for people he loves yet sees them drifting from the gospel. If you've ever loved someone who walked away from Jesus, or if you've felt the pull to go back to the very things Christ set you free from, this sermon is for you. You'll be reminded that true faith is about knowing and being known by God, that legalism is just another kind of slavery, and that the Christian life is one of growing in Christ and going on mission with Him. Whether you're feeling burned out, heartbroken, or just ready to grow, be encouraged: Christ is still forming something beautiful in you.   Title: Never Going Back Text: Galatians 4:8-20 Speaker: Josh Branham

Today we dove far back into the archives to the first series we did called The Art of the Meeting. When we take the time to set the atmosphere, it tells people that they are important and have been invited to something important. Comfortable chairs and favorable lighting can make all the difference in people's ability to receive and engage in a meeting. Preparing questions ahead of time to promote engagement and discussion is a must during preparation. And ending with clear action items helps people know what is happening next and that the time together was valuable.  

Today we dove far back into the archives to the first series we did called The Art of the Meeting.  Bible experts suggest that Jesus spent 73% of His time with small groups in strategic situations. Who are you meeting with, how often are you meeting, why do you meet, and what is your meeting culture. The answers to those questions are critical to the forward momentum of your church vision. 

Today we're discussing another listener's question. "How do you know when you're ready to be a lead pastor?" Pastoring requires a lot of responsibility and experience. Pastor Jim and I discuss our own transitions and what Pastor Jim has observed in others as they make that transition. We hope it offers some practical help to anyone seeking guidance on their next calling in ministry. 

A mark of maturity is being more disciplined and governed by what you believe than by what you feel. We need emotions, but we can't be emotionally driven. Feelings are real, but they're also temporary—and they can compromise good decisions. People who haven't developed their faith often let their feelings shape their beliefs. But those who operate in a spirit of faith are consistent in not allowing their emotions to lead them.

In today's episode, Jason sits down with pastor and church planter Pradeepan Jeeva for a vulnerable conversation on calling, suffering, and leading a church where everyone can find their place. Pradeepan and his wife Amritha co-lead Kalos Church in Bellevue, Washington, a vibrant, multicultural community born out of a literal dream and built one backyard barbecue at a time.With tender honesty Pradeepan shares about the joy and heartbreak of planting in one of the most unchurched cities in America, and how his family's story, from Sri Lankan refugees to pastors in Seattle, has shaped the unique multicultural demographic of their church. From his personal mental health challenges to his children's autism diagnoses, Pradeepan opens up about what it means to keep pastoring when life gets tough, and how the Church he founded became an essential support to his family.In this conversation, Pradeepan shares:The spiritual roots of Kalos Church and how a dream led them to plant a church in Seattle,How the Church helped carry him through personal grief, personal breakdown, and family hardship,How his son became the inspiration behind their church's thriving special needs ministry,A fresh, practical model for discipleship borrowed from his son's individualized education plan,and why story-sharing and vulnerability are non-negotiables for building a diverse, healing community.Pradeepan's passion for Jesus, love for the Church, and unwavering commitment to those on the margins will leave you encouraged, challenged, and deeply moved.Show NotesPradeepan's Mailing List and Book NotificationsKalos Church The Pastorate Listener Survey Fall 2025 Pastors Retreat at Barnabas LandingSupport the Work of The PastorateThe work of strengthening pastors across Canada is only possible because of generous partners like you. As we look to the future, would you consider joining us in prayer, sharing this episode, or making a gift to invest in a vibrant, Jesus-centered church in every community? Thank You to Our Episode SponsorSpecial thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their Bible Course to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.

This homily was given at an outdoor chapel up in the mountains at Camp St. Thekla on the 27th of June, 2026.  The recorder was a few feet away from Fr. Anthony, so the recording has a chorus of insects as background noise.  In the homily, Fr. Anthony describes our calling to identify and nurture the good in creation (to include that in our souls!) towards perfection.  Enjoy the show!

Christina Foor is joined by Pastor Carlos Rincon to discuss what life is like right now in Los Angeles. Pastor Carlos shares about how he and his church are serving their community right now, the importance of showing up with compassion, and some ways you can pray for those in LA. If you want to learn more about how you can get involved, check out CCDA's Immigration Network at ccda.org/immigration. And for more information on the immigration process, watch our Immigration Law Basics webinar. Click here for prayer requests from CCDA members in Southern California.Rev. Carlos Rincon is the CEO and president of Instituto de Avance Integral Latino Community Development Corporation. Carlos Rincon has been pastoring in Los Angeles for over 35 years and has developed strong ties with the community. He is also a member of many coalitions, such as COPALA, which works closely with Chirla, LA Voice, Homeboy Ministries, Jesse Miranda Center, and Assemblies of God Network. Pastor Carlos is also part of CCDA's Flourishing Congregations Initiative. Connect with Pastor Carlos on his Facebook page, facebook.com/vidavictoriosa. Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube.

Your attitude determines your altitude. Complainers identify problems and conclude that progress is impossible. People with vision identify problems—and find a way forward. A mark of maturity is refusing to be a complainer.

By Mary Lindow Hello to all of you who are listening via podcast today or who are reading this message! I just finished being a part of our weekly prayer gathering this evening, and I have to tell you, the presence of the Father was so absolutely strong and evident in our time together! I am literally to the point that I anticipate all day long on Thursday evenings, getting together with the group that we pray with.    We have been blessed week after week, month after month with the sweet and strong presence of God as we intercede for our nation, for the globe, and for so many other things that the Lord lays on our hearts to pray about.   I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PODCAST THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. I am still trying to get it to compile and come together and I know that if I rush this, I will not share it in the light of how the Lord wants it to be presented properly.   BUT, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ANOTHER MESSAGE AND WORD FROM THE LORD STIRRING DEEP WITHIN MY SPIRIT, AND SO THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. Hearing God accurately in the mess and chaos that the world is in right now, is of huge importance!  May the Lord continue to use you all to proclaim and speak truth, no matter what the cost. It is so worth being called a servant of the Lord during hard and challenging times.   TODAY, I'M GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN A PLACE OF SAFETY, A PLACE, OR A “HAVEN” OF BEING SHELTERED BY THE LORD. Especially during very, very difficult and hard times. I'll share how to discern and hear His voice in the chaos of the nonstop noise the dark world bombards us all with. It's ratcheted up to crazy levels, and shouts loudly to attempt to distract us from discerning the times, and hopes to discourage us and knock us off balance with fear, and then rob our peace.   IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE EARTH IS IN ONE MASSIVE UPHEAVAL, AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU TURN RIGHT NOW, THE CRISES CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND BOIL! And so, people begin to put aside spending time in the word of God, and certainly in his presence, to spend time with the love of the Internet and scrolling through their telephones through social network information and high charged doomsday podcasts and videos. This can absolutely create stress and anxiety, and it also creates a terrible problem with comparing ourselves to other people and where we are at in life.   PRAYER IS NOT A BORING HARD THING WHEN YOU REALIZE  THAT YOU ARE FACE-TO-FACE, OR LITERALLY,  “PRESENCE TO PRESENCE” WITH THE FATHER.   A tremendous man who walked daily in the Presence of God, Andrew Murray, said in a book that he wrote,  “It's one of the terrible marks of the diseased state of the Christian life in these days that there are so many that are content, and remain passive and content, without the distinct occasion of having experienced answered prayer. They pray daily, but know very little of direct, definite answers to prayer as the rule of their daily life.”    Psalm Thirty verse four says, “I sought the Lord and he answered me.”   We must understand that it's the Father's will that WE SEEK HIM OUT to daily have dialogue with his will, and it's his will to have his children to listen to him and then, he listens to his children and agrees to their requests. It's his will that we should come to him day by day, with specific requests, and he will every day, do for us great and wonderful things! What we ask sometimes might be a case where the specific answer is that he refuses our request, but our Father lets us know when and why he can't give us what we request. It's like his Son Jesus, and so we will withdraw our petition or our request.   When did Jesus do that? Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If this cup could pass from me, but not my will, but your will be done.”  He said this to the Father.   WHETHER OUR REQUEST IS ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL OR NOT, GOD WILL BY HIS WORD AND BY HIS SPIRIT, TEACH THOSE OF US WHO ARE TEACHABLE, and he will give us time to withdraw our requests if they're not according to God‘s mind or purposes.   LET'S PRESS IN. LET'S JUST STAND FIRM UNTIL THE ANSWER COMES! PRAYER IS GIVEN TO US TO OBTAIN AN ANSWER! It's in prayer and its answer, that the exchange of love between the Father and we his children takes place.   MY QUESTION IS, “ARE YOUR  PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED?” During the last hours of the age that we're in, there will be two opposing groups or alliances in the world.    The First group are those whose hearts are absolutely overwrought with bitterness, resentment and hatred.   The Second group is those whose love has actually increased, and are experiencing the power of the Kingdom of God, now!   Jesus told us about this in Matthew in chapter 4:10-13. He said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” And then in Matthew 24:14 he added, “This gospel (good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations and then the end shall come.”   SO, THE BIG QUESTION IS... ...“WHAT IS THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?”  It's the whole truth Jesus came to bring, not only that part that saves us from our sins, but also that part which creates us in his image! It's the full message, the full good news with all its requirements and all of its rewards!  It's is the full price for the full power! It's the most glorious pearl that a person can possess. The presence of God in His glory, revealed, made known within and among us!   IF WE WANT TO GAIN THIS GREAT LOVE, WE WILL CONTINUALLY BE FORCED TO MAKE CHOICES TOWARD MERCY, OR, TOWARD UNFORGIVENESS, and if we don't walk in a forgiving attitude, we will certainly become prey to an embittered spirit, if it's in fact, God‘s plan to allow wickedness and holiness at the same time,  so they grow to full maturity.   We must guard our hearts ahead of time from reacting in bitterness or unforgiveness because the increasing anarchy will certainly give us occasions to lose love, with the attempt to make us hard so we can survive in this cruel world.   WE OFTEN WITHDRAW FROM THE GENUINENESS OF PURE LOVE! We can't choose cautious, selective love, and also walk in the power of God's kingdom, my friends! To defy pain, we sometimes unconsciously shut down our love, because after all, its love that makes us vulnerable.   GOD WANTS US TO BE A PEOPLE WHOSE LOVE IS GROWING HOT, NOT COLD. Jesus didn't say that we had to trust our enemies, but he did say that we had to love them anyhow. You might be asking why!  One reason God allows difficulties is to test us! ( I know! I know! We don't want to hear that! ) He wants to see if our Christianity is just an intellectual pursuit or just thoughts and feelings of the mind, or if following him is truly the highest passion of our hearts. So, he tells us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Wow!    SOME OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH REJECTION AND BETRAYAL MOST LIKELY. The Lord says to you today, “You did not fail, you have continued to love, and although you went through great pain, yet you have forgiven, those who have hurt you.”  My friends you have passed the test.   THERE ARE HOWEVER, SOME OF YOU LISTENING OR READING THAT STILL HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR LIVES THAT YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN, AND WHOM YOU DO NOT LOVE.  Maybe you're right, they don't deserve your forgiveness, but what you don't realize is the consequence of your anger. You see, as long as we refuse to forgive, a part of this is trapped in the past where you will always be reminded of your pain, and until we forgive, we will not be fully released to go on with our life. Even the time of year in which you were hurt will bring depression.   THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN HAVE TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND THAT IS IN THE HERE AND NOW, RIGHT NOW, LIVING IN THE PRESENT. But if our mind is in conflict with others, we're neither here nor in the present. When we live in the past, we are cut off from God! What people did to us to hurt us is over! It's done; it doesn't have any real existence or life of its own, except in your mind.   SO THERE WITHIN US, THE DEED CONTINUES TO LIVE AND FESTER AND AS LONG AS IT LIVES, WE'RE STILL BEING HURT BY IT. The person or the people who wounded you may have long since died. They can't be blamed because it's us who keeps our wounds alive. Not only is the quality of our spiritual life affected, but often our physical health pays a price as well!   As long as we keep holding onto the burden of what someone has done to us, every time we think about it or think about that person, the stomach acids start to churn and anxiety increases, and then of course our body is continually put under stress.   If we don't forgive those who have hurt us, we lose a measure of our capacity to love and whether they deserve forgiveness or not, we deserve a better life! God wants to give you a better life but you can't enjoy abundant life and carry unforgiveness, because we're shackled to something that was hurting us. Did you know that our own unforgiveness tortures us?   SO HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF THAT PRISON?  HOW DO YOU FIND THE PROTECTION OF GOD FOR YOUR SOUL?    Well, God calls us to forgive. You have to see the hands of God reaching to you in the midst of your pain. He wants to redeem that conflict using that specific crisis or hardship to develop and perfect character in you. It will be this experience that he will use to make you like Jesus. To become like Jesus is to dwell, to live, in the place of rest and the safety of God. Every time we say, “Father, I choose to love. I choose to forgive. I choose to forget and not hold it against this person”, we are taking on the nature of Jesus. Friends, rejoice that Jesus is taking over your heart. You are entering into the strong, safe haven of God's shelter.   I DO MANY THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED ME TO DO IN LIFE NOT ONLY AS A MINISTER, BUT ALSO AS A PASTORAL COUNSELOR. I also host and facilitate a group called “The international Prophetic Women's Mentoring Council.” This is a group of women from all walks of life several cultural groups and different backgrounds. We meet through zoom video sessions and individually. The thing that is “the glue that bonds us” is the fact that each of us have been called into ministry, and each of these women flows in a different expression of the prophetic gift. This past week we had a zoom session and our conversation and subject matter was regarding, the power of intercession and what it takes to approach the Face of God, in a right attitude.   One of the things that stood out so strongly in our time of dialogue and accountability to one another was the fact that in order to hear clearly from the Spirit of God, we need to have the inward witness, or the “inside part of us that communicates with God”, clearly in a place of submission and humility before him, and, that we first come into a place where we have asked the Lord to cleanse us. That means cleanse our hearts before we try to come to Him in prayer.   MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD. They seek it through quick daily devotionals, or they seek the voice of God through other people every day, instead of seeking the Lord himself. The scripture tells us clearly in John 10:4-5, “His sheep know his voice, and strange voices, they will not follow.”   SO WHAT ARE THE STRANGE VOICES? The voices from the external world that are constantly pumping us full of data, fear, rhetoric and forced compliance to social conditioning. If we choose to listen to the voice of strangers, then we move further away from being sheep in the pasture of the Lord.   SO HOW DO WE KNOW HIS VOICE? How do we discern that it's him? The number one thing, is that God always speaks life. He always speaks truth. And when God speaks, it brings peace, even in the midst of hard difficulties or hard decisions. An absolute solid peace comes and says, “This is the way, and this is what you have to do!” Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. That's Isaiah 30:21.   THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU. God absolutely wants to direct your life through your decision-making. The Holy Spirit guides us in our spirits (not through our physical body). The Number One way The Holy Spirit leads and guides us is through what the Bible calls, the “Inward Witness.” Proverbs 3:6 says,  “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”   WHAT IS AN INNER OR INWARD WITNESS? An inner witness is an impression, or a sense or perception on the inside of you. Romans 8:16 tells us, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit, to affirm, to confirm, that we are God's children.” Jeremiah 7:23-24 says this to us,  “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.'  Yet, they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward.   AS KINGDOM PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT LED BY OUR SENSES. We're not led by our ears or our eyes. We're led by our spirit. When we talk about hearing God, we're not talking about hearing God with our physical ears. We're talking about hearing Him in our spirit.  Here's a great example:  The Apostle Paul had been arrested and he was headed to his trial. Before he took the journey he sensed something in his spirit. He wasn't the captain of the ship, but he sensed something in his spirit.  In Acts 27:10, Apostle Paul said, "Men, I perceive we're going to face a disaster and heavy losses on this voyage. This disaster will cause damage to the cargo and the ship, and it will affect our lives." It wasn't long before the ship hit a cyclone, but an angel appeared and guaranteed Paul that everyone would make it, and they did! What was it that what Paul said in the beginning? “I perceive".   This is what we're looking at right now. We're talking about being led by the Spirit of God, no matter what circumstance or difficulty we might encounter.   BEING A PERSON WHO IS CALLED TO A PROPHETIC MINISTRY, I AM CLEARLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT 90% OF WHAT I DO, ALSO COMES FROM TEACHING PEOPLE FROM THE WORD OF GOD REGARDING HOW TO  “HEAR” THE VOICE OF GOD.   My job is not to be a telephone for people to connect to God with, nor simply through prophesying. This is not going to change lives long term if the word of God is not taught and also if people don't act on it and obey it.   I HAVE HAD SOME STRANGE ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT I HAVE SOME KIND OF HOTLINE OR SATELLITE CONNECTION TO GOD TO HELP THEM GET ANSWERS. They need something or want to hear what the Lord has for them by asking me for a prophetic word. My friends this is not how the prophetic word of knowledge or word of wisdom works!  I had a lady when we were Pastoring a local fellowship come up to me after the service and she asked me if I would please, “do whatever I do, do that thing that I do”, and see if God would show me where she had put her wedding ring. She had lost it. I remember feeling very uncomfortable and a cold chill went through my body! My thought process was, “this woman wants me to be like a palm reader, or a magic eight ball! She wants me to use divination to find her wedding ring!“ Very kindly but firmly I told the woman, “You can ask the Lord to show you where it is yourself, or just simply go on looking for it. Pray that the Lord would lead you to it, but to ask me to ask the Holy Spirit to show me where it is, is basically trying to use another voice to speak to God for you when you can speak on your own to him.”   THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN GOD WILL SPEAK A WORD, AND IT IS DONE THROUGH A PROPHETIC UTTERANCE, and it gives us a word of knowledge about something or a word of wisdom about a specific event where we need to have insight, but it will always confirm with the Spirit of God what he has already put down on the inside of us that we can't seem to quite untangle, until the prophetic word comes and brings a clarity to it.   SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HAVE SOMEONE BRING A PROPHETIC WORD THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF LOVING CORRECTION, BUT IT IS STILL CORRECTION, AND PEOPLE GET ANGRY AND SHOUT, “HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME! Who are you to judge me?!”   Of course what this is a reaction to being caught out in bad behavior or hidden sin, and the Lord gently, lovingly, brings a word of warning.   ALL OF US KNOW WHEN WE SLIP AWAY FROM SPENDING TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. We know when we slack off from reading the scripture and from meditating on it, letting the Holy Spirit speak through the word to us. This is where the areas of bitterness and lack of purity in our walk with the Lord get all tangled up.   FRIENDS.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE LED BY HIM. (By the way, you might need a refreshing of your commitment to only follow his voice.) You don't need a prophet to hear from God for you, or have a constant prophetic word to make decisions. Simply say these words. “Holy Spirit, teach me how to be led by you.” Then, before you make any major decisions, acknowledge God. Say, “God, this is what the situation is,  >  insert your situation  

A mark of maturity is being coachable. A coachable person invites change, is committed to a process, and allows someone they have a relationship with to coach them. What part of your game do you want to improve? How are you going about that? Who have you invited to coach you?

In episode 89 of the pod, we are joined by Shawn Johnson—senior pastor, amateur boxer, part-time scorpion wrangler. We talk air-conditioning-less barns, near-terminal diagnoses, how to Kiss the Fire and cry more.

God desires maturity in us and is calling us to a higher place. Leadership comes with standards, and a mark of maturity is accepting and working within them.

On this Holy-Filled episode, the Brothers are joined by Pastor Jae and Lady P of Momentum Church. They discuss how opposites attract and their different paths to God before and during their marriage and their way to Pastoring and being First Lady of a Church. Get inspired and see if Woo can be on his best behavior. Don't forget to download the NspireU on Air App, go to Contentville and catch all the new episodes on Mondays. Why??? It's the Wooisms Way.

In this special Q&A episode, the Practically Pastoring crew tackles your questions! From favorite sermon prep playlists to the hard lessons of leadership, this one has laughs, insights, and a dose of raw honesty. We even talk about firing staff, shifting theological views, and how not to burn out your best volunteers.⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Summer break & podcast intro2:00 - Church merch & thrift store shirts4:00 - Sermon prep playlists (Lo-fi, silence, & alien grunge!)8:45 - Developing leaders without burnout13:00 - Churchy phrases we'd outlaw14:00 - Leadership lessons learned the hard way17:00 - What we'd do differently our first year22:00 - Sermon prep rhythms & staying fresh31:00 - When to let staff or volunteers go36:30 - The theological views we've changedLinks from the show:

"Most ministries grow to the size that its leadership can empower people."--Keith TucciToday we are pulling an episode from the archives–The Power of Delegation. The purpose of delegation is not to take something off one person's plate and put it on another person's plate. The purpose is having the right thing on the right person's plate. Delegation is the heart of multiplication.

This week we are pulling an episode from the archives–Handling Leadership Privilege. How we handle trials shows who we are, but how we handle privilege shows our character even more. We should never come to a place where our privilege stops us from being a servant or being accountable. Serving God is a privilege and that means not taking advantage of every opportunity. 

Patria Lead Pastor Adam Mesa shares how viral podcasting helped grow his church from 1,100 to 7,500+ in five years, his experience as a millennial taking over leadership from his dad, and navigating the strengths and challenges of ADHD.