Podcasts about Shepherding

Episode 210 | Why Does My Child Seem So Different Than Me? Understanding and Shepherding Your Child's Heart Have you ever looked at one of your children and wondered why they seem so different from you? Maybe they process emotions differently, communicate differently, or respond to situations in ways that leave you feeling confused or frustrated. It's easy to assume something is wrong when our children don't think or react the way we do. But what if their differences aren't a problem to solve? What if they're an invitation to know them more deeply while allowing God to continue His work in your own heart? In this episode of the Faith Led Working Moms Podcast, we're continuing our parenting series by looking at our children through a biblical lens. Rather than focusing only on behavior, we'll explore how Scripture encourages us to shepherd our children's hearts while allowing parenting to reveal and shape our own. If you're a Christian working mom who desires to parent with wisdom, grace, and biblical truth, this episode will encourage you to move beyond frustration and toward greater understanding, connection, and Christ-centered parenting. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your child's personality and temperament may be very different from your own. How unrealistic expectations can create unnecessary conflict in parenting. Why biblical parenting focuses on shepherding the heart, not simply managing behavior. Practical ways to become a student of your child and better understand how God uniquely designed them. How God uses parenting as a tool for your own spiritual growth and sanctification. One of the unique aspects of this podcast is that each episode is grounded in Scripture and informed by biblical counseling principles, helping you apply God's Word to the real-life challenges of motherhood, parenting, relationships, anxiety, overwhelm, and everyday life. Ready for more personalized support? If you're navigating parenting challenges, anxiety, grief, relationship struggles, overwhelm, or simply desire someone to walk alongside you through God's Word, Faith Led Ministries now offers biblical counseling sessions. Biblical counseling is designed to help you examine life's struggles through the truth of Scripture, offering Christ-centered encouragement, biblical wisdom, and practical application for everyday life. To learn more about biblical counseling through Faith Led Ministries or to schedule a session, visit: https://calendly.com/lindsay-faithledministries/30min  

If there's one thing church leaders should be obsessed with, it's the front door. In this special compilation episode, we’ve pulled together four conversations from leading churches and ministry organizations that are seeing success in helping first-time guests move from curious visitors to fully engaged disciples. The challenge facing churches today is different than it was even a few years ago. Guests are arriving with different motivations, different expectations, and different questions. Churches that continue using yesterday's assimilation strategies may unintentionally lose people God is already drawing. Don’t miss the four critical lessons every church should consider as they prepare for the fall ministry season. From changing guest motivations to intentional follow-up systems, discipleship pathways, and data-driven care, each conversation offers practical insights that can help churches better connect with the people walking through their doors. People Are Coming to Church Looking for God Greg Curtis shares a remarkable shift he's seeing among first-time guests, particularly younger adults. Where people once came primarily looking for community, support, or practical life help, many are now arriving already searching for God. In some cases, they've already begun reading Scripture, exploring faith, or experiencing spiritual curiosity before ever attending a service. This means churches must be prepared to engage people with greater intentionality from the moment they arrive. Key Takeaway // Many first-time guests are no longer casually checking out church. They're arriving with genuine questions about God and faith, often after beginning a spiritual journey on their own. Churches must be prepared to meet that curiosity with intentional next steps. Listen to the Full Episode // They’re Looking for God … Don’t Miss Them: Fixing Your Church’s Assimilation Problem with Greg Curtis & Tommy Carreras (March 26, 2026) Follow-Up Can't Be Left to Chance John Sellers explains how Journey Church creates a clear and repeatable process for helping guests take their next step. Through intentional touchpoints—including a welcoming first interaction, relational next-step environments, and a six-week follow-up process involving texts, emails, phone calls, and personal invitations—the church ensures guests don't simply attend once and disappear. Consistent follow-up may not be flashy, but it remains one of the most effective growth strategies churches can implement. Key Takeaway // Fast-growing churches rarely rely on a single welcome interaction. They build systems that encourage guests to take multiple steps over several weeks, increasing the likelihood that visitors become connected participants. Listen to the Full Episode // From Guests to Baptisms: Building Clear Next Steps with John Sellers (November 13, 2025) A Clear Pathway Helps People Keep Moving Ashley Lentz outlines Lutheran Church of Hope's discipleship pathway, which helps leaders identify where people are spiritually and what their next step should be. Rather than treating every attendee the same, the church intentionally helps people move from seeker to believer, from believer to follower, and ultimately into servant leadership. The framework creates clarity for both staff and volunteers while helping people continue growing long after their first visit. Key Takeaway // People are far more likely to stay engaged when churches provide a defined pathway for spiritual growth. Clarity helps both guests and leaders understand what comes next. Listen to the Full Episode // Clarity Is Kindness: Simplifying Next Steps in a Growing Church with Ashley Lentz (September 18, 2025) Data Is a Tool for Shepherding, Not Just Administration Ronee de Leon of TouchPoint challenges churches to view their database as more than a record-keeping system. Using her framework of Conviction, Collection, Clarity, and Care, she explains how churches can use data to proactively identify opportunities for discipleship and connection. Effective data practices ensure people do not fall through the cracks and allow churches to provide personalized care at scale. Key Takeaway // Churches cannot effectively shepherd hundreds—or thousands—of people through memory alone. Healthy systems and meaningful data help leaders identify opportunities for connection, care, and discipleship before people drift away. Listen to the Full Episode // From Data to Discipleship: The Four Cs Every Church Needs with Ronee de Leon (April 30, 2026) This episode serves as a timely challenge for church leaders preparing for the months ahead. As more spiritually curious people walk through church doors, the question isn't whether guests are coming. It's whether our systems, pathways, and follow-up processes are prepared to help them stay. The churches seeing the greatest impact are not leaving assimilation to chance. They're intentionally creating environments where people can move from a first visit to a life transformed by Jesus. 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! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Friends, Rich here from the unSeminary Podcast. Thanks so much for tuning in. We’ve got a very special compilation episode for you.Rich Birch — Listen, I have heard echoes of similar things happening over the last year or so on the podcast, so we’re pulling together these episodes because I want to point out to you critical lessons for your church, particularly here in the summertime, as you think about what are some things that we should be reloading for this fall. Listen, friends, you know, and I know that you and I are a part of the local church and the local church is the only organization in the world that exists for people that are not here yet. You and I should be fanatically focused on the front door.Rich Birch — We should be first-time-guest-obsessed. And on today’s episode, I want to peek in on four discussions that talk about changing dynamics when it comes to connecting with first time guests. And no conversation around this whole area of assimilation would be complete without talking to and listening to Greg Curtis. Rich Birch — If you do not know Greg, where have you been? He’s been at Eastside Church for the last decade running their assimilation work. And he’s really seeing some interesting shifts in particularly young adults when it comes that I keep seeing across the country. And in this clip, he’s going to open up and tell you about a subtle shift that he has seen and some of the changes they’ve made around assimilating people when they come in.Rich Birch — Now, today’s conversation, we’re going to really frame around Greg’s three part model. We talk about the screen to the seat, the seat to the circle, and then the circle to the street. We want you to understand that how we’re connecting with guests today is different than what it looked like five years ago.Rich Birch — It’s definitely different than what it looked like pre-COVID. So let’s listen in first and see if we can catch what Greg is seeing and think about the dynamics that you’re seeing at your church. Listen in to what Greg’s got to say… [Clip 1 Begins]Rich Birch — People get assimilated, get connected. What have you noticed maybe something that’s maybe different in the way people are engaging right now that’s different than maybe even a year or two ago?Greg Curtis — A crescendo over the last two years has been remarkable in its shift towards—this is going to sound crazy because we’re talking to churches—they’re wanting God now. And what I mean by that is prior, we were having to sell the benefits of following Jesus – most growing churches, which there are. And I think it was a compelling thing to share with the culture.Greg Curtis — And so people were coming to church to find community, to find help with parenting, to find support in marriage or to, you know, a variety of different things. And so the draw and what was causing people to engage with church was really, what help in my life? How can I increase the quality of my life? Maybe even get some pretty powerful pain points addressed. Greg Curtis — This has shifted. I’ll put it in the terms of our young adult pastor. His name is Charles. He came to me. He said, Greg, prior to two, three years ago, maybe not even that long, he said young adults were coming, 80% of them to find friends and community, and about 20% to find God.Greg Curtis — He goes, it’s flipped. It’s flipped. Now it’s 80% God and 20% community.Greg Curtis — And that has expressed itself in some remarkable ways. I’ll just throw two out. At the end of last year, I was covering somebody, a pastor who was going to baptize somebody after the service. He had to be gone. So I said, yeah, I’ll cover it. So in our context, I’ll meet that person ahead of time and kind of show them where to sit in the service, when to come out, where the baptistry is, et cetera.Greg Curtis — And I met her. She was 28 years old, named Connie. And I said, as we’re walking through the baptistry, so, you know, I asked these typical questions: how long have you been coming to Eastside, which is my church?Greg Curtis — And she says, oh, I’ve never been to Eastside. I was like, oh, so you’re from our online campus. And she goes, no, I’ve never really heard of Eastside.Greg Curtis — And I said, well, what’s led you to be baptized today? And this was her story. She goes, I grew up in a very non-religious home, and I’ve never been to church. And I vowed I’d never even date a religious person. But I had some friends, three months ago, that invited me to watch The Chosen with them. I didn’t want to.Greg Curtis — I was mad at myself for getting engaged after the first episode, kept watching, decided to buy myself a Bible two months ago. I started reading the Old Testament and New Testament concurrently and decided I love Jesus and I want to follow Him, and I could tell what I needed to do was get baptized. But, get this, I’m the game day operations coordinator for the NFL. So I work on Sundays, and I just Googled who would baptize me on a Saturday. And your form came up, and I filled it out. So here I am.Rich Birch — Wow. That’s amazing. Greg Curtis — Yeah. And I’ll tell you what, she didn’t know, Rich, that this baptism was going to be in front of other people until we were in the water and the whole church was looking at her. Rich Birch — Wow. That’s incredible.Greg Curtis — The questions she had, we’ve remained in touch. The questions she asks are so precious. But I’m telling you, I’ve had a few of those that are similar. That one’s pretty dramatic, but are very similar. No background at all. They’re coming because they’re having a God moment before they get to us.Rich Birch — Yeah. Greg Curtis — And that’s a big shift because God is doing something literally worldwide and in our culture right now that they’re coming to us to find God, and they’re already encountering him in some way, and they need help with that and want it. And that’s a huge shift. [Clip 1 Ends]Rich Birch — Fantastic. Listen, if 80% of the guests are arriving at your church with a God question burning in their heart, the first 60 minutes, what we do every single weekend is critically important. I have seen this over my career.Rich Birch — Listen, I had recently one of those birthdays with a zero on the end. And I can tell you, as someone who’s been three decades into ministry experience, there was a time where people stumbled into our churches. And that’s just frankly not happening anymore.Rich Birch — People are arriving with real questions. And we might have been able to, in a previous generation, entertain them or try to diffuse this idea that we ain’t your mama’s church. But that isn’t where people are at anymore. Rich Birch — They’re coming with real live questions in their heart. They’re not stumbling into your church on Sunday morning because they don’t know what’s going on there. They’re coming looking for real questions.Rich Birch — And you and I, our processes, what we do on Sunday morning has got to meet that intensity. We can’t just hand them a coffee mug and say, we’ll see you next week. We’ve got to follow them up with some fervor and excitement and frankly a bit more intensity than what most churches are doing. Rich Birch — I love this conversation that’s coming up with John Sellers. He’s executive pastor of locations at Journey Church in Central Florida—three campuses with a fourth on the way—and is one of the most consistently fastest-growing churches in the country. Now, listen to what John talks about when he talks about the follow-up process, that they aren’t just leaving it to chance. They are working with intention to move these first time guests and get them plugged in. Rich Birch — The question I have for you is, is this the kind of intensity that you’re following up your first time guests with? Let’s listen in. [Clip 2 Begins]John Sellers — So at our church, every location has a tent. It’s a new here tent. And so the first step that we’re communicating, the clear step on that first or second week is: stop by the tent.John Sellers — Like, I know that’s a big step and we have to remind our serve team. And behind the curtain, that seems simple to us, but like to a new person at a church, even going to a tent or making themselves known by filling out a Connect card, even if it’s digital, like that’s a big step for somebody. John Sellers — And so a lot of our communication’s go to the tent. We’d love to meet you. We’ve got a gift card for you just to celebrate the step of faith you took to be here today. And so once they take that step, it starts us being able to follow up through text messages, emails, phone calls, and really encouraging them to step into our Next Steps class.John Sellers — And so when they step into our Next Steps class, one of the things we’re even constantly trying to think through what we call it because “class” probably isn’t the best way to describe it. And we’re actually revamping it right now. John Sellers — But for us, even that Next Steps class is a round table. It’s relational. It’s getting them around our Next Steps team that wants to hear their story. You know, what brought you through the doors? Wants to begin to hear about maybe what’s on their heart? Where are they at? What’s their next faith step?John Sellers — And so those are the first couple of weeks. If we can encourage them to stop by the tent, that allows us to stay in contact with them relationally. And then the next step would be go to one of our Next Steps classes after a service.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Can we pull apart a bit of the detail there? Just because I know people are wondering this because I get these questions.Rich Birch — So it sounds like when you arrive at the New Year tent, there’s a gift card there. Where’s that gift card for? What is the value of that? And why a gift card? Talk to us about that.John Sellers — Yes. So for now, and we’ve experimented, we’ll change this up like constantly. But right now it’s for a local coffee shop. And it’s literally a $5 gift card. It’s just a thank you to say thank you for coming. John Sellers — It’s a little gift bag. It’s got information about our church, obviously. And it’s just a step. The way we phrase it is we know it’s a big step of faith you took to be here today. And so we just want to celebrate the fact that you made it in the room. And so that’s what it is – $5. John Sellers — On big events, we’ll do a Journey Church cup and make it a little more substantial. But it’s just a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. And I love the thinking behind that, friends, that are listening in, is sometimes what I see churches do, they’ll be like, hey, if you want to get connected, or if you’ve got interested about your Next Steps, or if you’re wondering where to go, drop by the tent outside. People are not asking that question when they first come.Rich Birch — We’ve got to take a celebratory step. And I like what you’re saying. I love that language of we want to celebrate the faith step by being here today. And we want to give you a gift in exchange for that. People will do that for a $5 gift card, or a coffee mug, or whatever. That’s good.Rich Birch — And then the other thing that caught my attention you said was, you said: and we follow up with texts and emails. Talk about how many of that, what’s that communication process look like? There’s another area where I see churches drop the ball all the time.John Sellers — Sure, it’s a variety. There’s a workflow that we use through our database system planning center that is owned by our Weekend Experience team members. But basically, it starts with an email from our lead pastor with a short video for them to watch, a message directly from him.John Sellers — It includes a text message or phone call from the location pastors within two weeks. It includes other text messages and emails. So it lasts about six weeks. And it’s more information about how to take steps at our church. John Sellers — And so some of its vision, a lot of it is geared towards stepping into the Next Steps class. But yes, it’s multiple, and it’s a variety. And it’s over the span of six weeks. And then we even have, you know, workflows built out that, you know, if somebody goes through that six-week process without taking the next step, that periodically we’ll check back in with them. [Clip 2 Ends]Rich Birch — Boring stuff grows churches. I’ve said it before. I’m going to keep saying it.Rich Birch — A monthly Next Steps cadence or New Year cadence, whatever you call it at your church, a $5 gift card may not be exciting, but it’s the kind of thing that we see time and time again at fast-growing churches. But the question is, what happens after week six? Where do we take people beyond this initial connection?Rich Birch — In fact, I’ve seen in some churches that have done extensive studies on this. If people do not get plugged in in the first 100 days, they might come, they might even come back. But if they don’t take a significant step, that is get on a team or in a group in those first 100 days, they will just not connect to your church. Rich Birch — So I want to peek in on a conversation we had with Ashley Lentz. She’s the Connections Pastor at a fantastic church, Lutheran Church of Hope, a multi-site church with seven campuses in Central Iowa. There’s 7,000 people at their one location every single weekend.Rich Birch — And she really takes the longer arc view. Where do we go? It’s really, going back to what Greg talked about, there’s this kind of seat to circle, and then there’s the circle to street. That’s what this conversation is all about. How do we get these people who have taken these first few steps, what are we doing to get them actually plugged in? Let’s listen in to what Ashley has to say. Rich Birch — There’s so much we can learn here. And again, I want you to be thinking about when you think about this fall at your church, are there some things you should be adjusting as we go into the fall? [Clip 3 Begins]Ashley Lentz — One of the tools that we use, and it is very much an internal tool is what I would call it. We call it the Hope Circle. And it is what I would call a discipleship tool or a discipleship pathway.Ashley Lentz — And if I were to say that to our congregation members, they would really have no idea what I’m talking about. It is very internal. But it’s helpful to identify where people are on this Hope Circle.Ashley Lentz — And so the circle starts with being a seeker. At a church our size, we have people every weekend who have zero idea what the church thing is about. They’ve maybe never been introduced to Jesus. Someone just invited them to church. They maybe knew they needed church and walked in the door, but have no idea what to expect. And so they are seeking something that has been missing in their life.Ashley Lentz — And so helping people identify if that’s where you are, here are kind of the very preliminary places that would be helpful for you to start plugging in. As we move around that circle, we get to believers, people who are like, okay, I’m bought into the Jesus thing. I’ve heard the message, I believe, now what? I wanna understand this better. I believe in Jesus. I believe in God. I’m here for it, but I don’t really know the things. Ashley Lentz — So where do we go from there and how do we help them then move into being super excited about Jesus? I don’t just believe, I’m on fire for Jesus. I’m a follower, right? I am all in, my life looks different. I’ve been transformed. How do I follow him? Ashley Lentz — And then how do you serve people in that arena too? Because that’s gonna look different than somebody who’s come in as a seeker looking for Jesus and somebody who’s on fire for Jesus.Ashley Lentz — So how do we move them around the circle? So it’s seeker, believer, follower, and then kind of the last part of our circle is servant leader. How do we move them then into serving and letting the transformed nature of the gospel pour out of them into the world around us?Ashley Lentz — And I would say our secret sauce here at Hope is we love volunteers. Like as we move people around the Hope Circle, I and my colleagues, we want to equip people to lead. So being a servant leader inside these walls, but also outside these walls is really like, that’s what’s attractional to people is letting them know like you’re on fire for Jesus, go tell everyone about it and serve in the arena you find yourself in, whether in the church or outside the church. [Clip 3 Ends]Rich Birch — A pathway you can’t measure is a pathway you cannot improve. Friends, you’ve got a brain problem. Over 200 people, you simply cannot track where people are at in the processes we have talked about before.Rich Birch — Your mind literally cannot hold in place where all of these people are at in their process. And so underneath everything we’ve talked about today, you need a robust approach to data. Rich Birch — Listen, your church database is a care mechanism. It’s just a way we make sure people do not fall through the cracks. And so everything that we’ve talked about in today’s episode needs a robust approach to data and the way you handle data to move people just from a broad, kind of like they’re attending all the way through to caring, ensuring that they are plugged in. So I wanna peek into one final conversation. Rich Birch — Ronee de Leon, she’s the executive director of Partner Church Success at Touchpoint. But outside of that, she’s formerly on staff at a large multi-site church in Columbus, Ohio. And Touchpoint sits across hundreds of churches and Ronee sees the patterns.Rich Birch — Listen, what I want you to listen to carefully here is these four Cs that she talks about. Conviction, collection, clarity, care. And ask your question, are you doing this with your data?Rich Birch — Does your data structure actually allow you to move people along in a way that ensures that we’re actually getting them plugged in? Friends, I don’t want you to miss the opportunity that God’s bringing your way. And this conversation could help you think differently about that, particularly in the next couple of months. [Clip 4 Begins]Ronee de Leon — Let’s alliterate some more. Like I said, I was on church staff for a long time. Rich Birch — Yes, exactly.Ronee de Leon — And it does become memorable, right? So this is a really simple framework that really is more stages. It’s a progression. But even though it’s simple, whether they know it or not, every church is in one of these stages when it comes to data-driven discipleship. Ronee de Leon — And so four kind of Cs of this or stages are conviction, collection, clarity, and care. And I’ll just give a brief description of each of those and then we can go dive in a little bit deeper.Ronee de Leon — But conviction, really the question that we’re answering here is, do you truly believe this matters even when it’s not easy? So leaders believe that shepherding is important, but do we wanna move into doing it proactively? And are we comfortable using data as a tool to do that well? So that’s kind of the conviction piece. Do you really believe that this matters? Ronee de Leon — Collection then, are you committed to consistently gathering the data that’s needed? Not just once, but as a rhythm. It’s hard work, but it is a worthy cause, a valiant effort. Ronee de Leon — Let’s move to clarity real quick. Again, the question we’re answering is, now that you have the data, do you have the insight? Do you really see what it’s telling you? And what are we doing with it?Ronee de Leon — And then the last one here, of course, is where we’re acting on the insights to connect with our people. Will you actually act on the insights and shepherd people or will it stay theoretical? That’s kind of where we’re headed with this. [Clip 4 Ends] Rich Birch — We started this off today talking about how we see this pattern happening across the church. And I think these four episodes really hang incredibly together. Greg Curtis, he really named the moment that we’re in. I really do think that we’re seeing something that is generationally important. And I do not want your church to miss it. Rich Birch — John Sellers, I thought gave a really clear discussion around how we move these people that are arriving. How do we get them to take those first steps and get plugged in? Rich Birch — Then Ashley Lentz, she unpacked what it looked like to go from the seat to the circle, to the circle to the street pathway. What are we doing to actually get people to plug in deep in our community?Rich Birch — And then finally, Ronee brought it home, giving us a measurement layer to really bring the whole thing together with some honesty and truth. Rich Birch — Listen, this is the question: if I was sitting across from you and your staff this week, if I was in your staff meeting, the question I would simply ask is this, which of these four pieces is the weakest in our church as we approach this fall? And what’s the smallest move we could make in the next 30 days to improve where we need to in these areas? Rich Birch — We’ve got links to all of these show notes before. Please stay tuned. We’ve got incredible episodes coming up all summer long and all fall long here at unSeminary. Rich Birch — We’re on a mission to help 100 churches like yours grow by a thousand people by talking about stuff they don’t talk about in seminary. Rich Birch — Thanks so much for being here, friends. We’ll see you next week. Take care.

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Ephrata Conference Centre, Abidjan

Before D. L. Moody became the greatest evangelist of the 19th Century, he ran a storefront Sunday School to reach some of the street kids of Chicago. The story is told of one tough little guy who was seen on Sunday after Sunday. He lived a long way from his destination. Well, on one brutally cold and snowy Chicago day, one man saw the boy walking into the wind, making his usual Sunday morning journey to Moody's Sunday School. He asked the boy why he would make that effort every Sunday, even on a day when no one else was out, especially when he passed by a lot of churches that were a lot closer to his home. The boy's explanation was pretty clear and pretty simple, “I go there Mister, because they really make a fellow feel loved there.” I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “A Leader's Real Assignment.” The first portrait of Jesus I can ever remember seeing as a child was one that portrays Him as the Good Shepherd, with His sheep following Him closely and this one little lamb cuddled in His arms. Interestingly enough, now that I'm in Christian leadership, I realize that picture is also what I'm supposed to be about. And you, too, if God has entrusted you with any kind of influence or direction in people's lives. Your template is supposed to be that of a shepherd of whom people say, “He or she sure makes a person feel loved.” Listen to 1 Peter 5, beginning with verse 2. It's our word for today from the Word of God, and it's a picture of leadership worth planting deeply in your heart. Writing to those in leadership God says, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...” OK, quick timeout here! Notice whose sheep your people are—your children are. They're God's; they're not yours. Don't ever start acting like they're yours. And notice, too, that they are given to you to be under your care, not under your thumb. Peter goes on: “Not because you must, but because you are willing…not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” OK, what's the Biblical picture of being a leader? Right, shepherding. Leading the sheep, not lording it over them. Loving the sheep, not using them for your own ends. Modeling more than demanding. So if you're a shepherd, what should you be doing? Well, a shepherd always leads the sheep to what they need. If you've been entrusted with people to lead, it's your job to gently direct them to what they need emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, and to know when they need encouraging, and when they need correcting, and when they just need loving. Christian leadership is all about you meeting their needs, not them meeting yours. Shepherding also means keeping your sheep from wandering—establishing clear boundaries and pulling them back at the first sign of wandering. Being a shepherd also means protecting your sheep from the enemy. A few verses later in this passage, Peter talks about resisting the roaring lion who's looking for someone to devour. It is the Christian leader's job to keep his eyes open for where Satan might get in and then to defend his flock from the stalking of the lion. And Jesus taught us one other thing the “good shepherd” does. He said, “He calls His own sheep by name” (John 10:3). I love that! In other words, if you're a good shepherd, you will give each of His sheep individual attention, the kind that street kid in Chicago must have felt at D. L. Moody's Sunday School. Make each one feel like the most important person in the world when they're with you. There's nobody else for you right now, than them. Don't treat them just like another nameless face in the flock. Jesus was a shepherd, and now He's called you to be one, trusting you with some of the sheep that He died for. Your children, your grandchildren, your church, your Bible study. All those people under your leadership. Is leadership worth the price you pay? Is it worth the sacrifices you make? Listen to the bottom line in 1 Peter 5:4 - “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory, that will never fade away.”

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Ephrata Conference Centre, Abidjan

Elders are God-appointed, not self-promoted.1 Peter 5:1-5, Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Elders shepherd the flock willingly, not from obligation.1 Peter 5:2 Elders eagerly serve the flock, not themselves.1 Peter 5:2, Ezekiel 34:2-3Elders strive to model Christ.1 Peter 5:3, Mark 10:42-45 Elders are accountable to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.1 Peter 5:4 --------DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH RON MOOREGet Ron's Daily Devotional to your inbox each morning; visit biblechapel.org/devo.CAREGIVINGDo you have a need we can pray for? Do you need someone to walk alongside you? Do you know of another person who needs care? Let us know at caregiving@biblechapel.org.GROWTH TRACKWe all have a next step - what's yours? To learn more about our Growth Track and to take your next step, biblechapel.org/connect.

Sermon By: Pastor Roman Folia

Thanks for watching! This sermon was preached by Dave Cook at Calvary Baptist Church on 6/21/2026 as part of our Gospel of John sermon series. We'd love to have you join us in person or learn more about who we are.

Philip Wenger: June 21, 2026

Welcome to the Inverted Orthodoxy Podcast! We're Blake, Kyle, and Doug the pastors from Living Springs, here to take you on a weekly adventure through the twists and turns of faith. Got questions? We've got answers, and sometimes more questions! Join us as we explore, celebrate, and embrace the beautiful complexities of belief. This week tackles the following questions: (2:32 into episode) Feb 23-  In church, and since the start of lent, we have been talking about hunger - both literally and figuratively. Is there anything in the Bible that discusses the issue of excess (specifically in terms of weight) and having a relationship with god? (I.e. is it a sin to be fat / indulge in excess)?(12:09 into episode) Feb 25-  I understand what it means to love the Lord, my God with all my heart and all my mind, but what does it mean to love with all my soul?(28:54 into episode) Feb 27- I don't know if this has been asked before, as I am a newer listener: What is your personal and biblical opinion on spanking your children?As a newer parent, spankings have never felt right to me. I grew up with Christians quoting Proverbs 13 as a reason why we should spank our children. I have recently heard the argument that sparing the rod is more in the context of a shepherds rod and not spanking. That we are to shepherd our children. (Teaching and modelling behaviours, correcting, protecting and disciplining). What are your thoughts?Do you have a question you've been wanting answered? Head on over to our website www.invertedorthodoxy.com to submit a question. You can find us on Wednesdays on Youtube, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts. To learn more about our church, you can visit www.livingspringsairdrie.com

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@gmal.com Garth Heckman So what am I talking about today?  But we get our gifting, our passions our talents and our purpose all confused. What is what? Gifting is a natural ability. Athletics, singing, math, Art Passion is something we love doing. Performing, creating, teaching, playing Talents are typically something we have practiced to achieve.  And sometimes these all weave together for the perfect storm.    But none are the sum total of our purpose!    The Bible doesn't give just one single sentence for a person's purpose;  it unfolds it like a grand narrative with a few core pillars.    OT and NT a person's ultimate purpose is generally broken down into three main relationships:    -  your relationship with God,    -  your relationship with others,    -  and your relationship with the world around you.   1. To Know God and Bring Him Glory MGLG At the very foundation, the Bible states that humans were created by God and for God. Your primary purpose is to be in a relationship with Him and to reflect His character to the world.   Reflecting His Image: In Genesis 1:27, it says humans are made in the "image of God." Think of this like a mirror—our job is to reflect His love, justice, kindness, and creativity into the world. Bringing Him Glory: MGLG -The prophet Isaiah quotes God as saying, "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made" (Isaiah 43:7). BOTTOM LINE: LOOK LIKE GOD AND MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD       2. The Twin Pillars: Love God, Love People When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment in the entire scripture was, He simplified the entire Old Testament law into two direct actions. This is often looked at as the "Ultimate Summary" of human purpose.   MATTHEW 22:37 The first commandment Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and spirit. Second greatest is to lover your neighbor as yourself.        3. Cultivate the World (The Cultural Mandate) Purpose in the Bible isn't just spiritual; it's also practical and action-oriented. Right at the beginning of the human story, God gave mankind a specific job description regarding the earth itself. In Genesis 1:28, humans are told to "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." This is often called the Cultural Mandate. It means humans are designed to be stewards—caretakers of creation. Your purpose includes taking raw potential (whether that's land, a business, a family, or a talent) and cultivating or literally squeezing everything out of it to help life thrive. 4. Walking in Unique, Prepared Good Works   the Apostle Paul writes about how Gods purpose intertwines with our purpose which is good works.  We are uniquely crafted for specific contributions to this world.   "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." — Ephesians 2:10   The word used for "handiwork" or "workmanship" in the original Greek text is poiema (where we get our word poem). The Bible views your life as a unique masterpiece designed to carry out specific good deeds that match your exact strengths, personality, and experiences. Does "Handiwork" Tie into "Good Works"? Thematically yes, strongly: The verse's logic flows from identity (we are God's crafted masterpiece) to purpose (created for good works God pre-planned). Being God's poiema equips and orients us toward the erga agatha. Good works are the outworking and goal of His creative work in us—not the cause of salvation, but its fruit (tying back to vv. 8–9).   Picture this: His work in us, created us for his works through us to fulfill his purpose.      Handiwork vs. Good works in Eph. 2:8,9 Two different words. Gods work is a masterpiece Our work is a labor. ONE IS OUR IDENTITY THE OTHER IS OUR ACTIVITY     Life experiences we see in scripture and the real world.  Their life experiences were not random or wasted but formed the precise preparation, character development, skills, relationships, and credibility God used for their callings.** The Bible shows a consistent pattern: God shapes people through seasons of obscurity, suffering, failure, cultural exposure, and incremental faithfulness long before the "big moment." These experiences built humility, dependence on God, specific competencies, empathy, and strategic positioning.     David (1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel) **Key experiences**: Rejected by His father born illegitimate, Shepherd boy overlooked by family, given menial jobs, trials by lion/bear protecting sheep, anointed privately as future king, served Saul as musician/warrior, faced Goliath with past faithfulness as proof, 13 plus years as fugitive hiding in caves from Saul, attracted misfits and losers, forced to work with the Philistines his enemies.    - **How it prepared him**: Learned how to deal with rejection and turn to God. Shepherding taught leadership, courage, and reliance on God (Psalms reflect this). Defeating Goliath came from tested faith in small battles. Wilderness years forged trust in God's timing (refusing to kill Saul), developed military strategy, and created a loyal following. These equipped him to unite Israel, establish the kingdom, write worship that endures, and prepare the way for the temple/Solomon. His "rejection" years were kingship training.

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart. It is the wellspring of life.” How do we parent our children so they will not only be driven by behaving well and will actually have insides that match the outside? On this week's show, Kurt and Chad welcome Ken Idleman - former pastor, college president and current consultant for The Solomon Foundation. Ken talks about reaching a child's heart without losing the importance of teaching behavior. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy)

Welcome to Christ Community's Online Service! What does healthy spiritual leadership really look like? In 1 Peter 5:1-4, Pastor Alan explores Peter's powerful picture of leadership—not as a CEO, celebrity, or authority figure, but as a shepherd. Whether you're a pastor, parent, small group leader, mentor, or simply someone influencing others in their faith, this message offers practical encouragement and challenge. Discover how our identity in Christ shapes the way we care for others, the heart attitudes that can strengthen or undermine our influence, and the eternal reward God promises to those who faithfully shepherd His people. If you've ever wondered what it means to lead like Jesus, this message is for you. For prayer and to stay connected, please visit: https://www.cccgreeley.org For Giving: https://www.cccgreeley.org/give/ Discussion guide: https://cccgreeley.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-6-13-14-Group-Discussion-Questions.pdf Drop In for Listening Prayer

Shepherding God's Flock 1 Peter 5: 2-4 1. By exercising oversight over God's flock 2. By being examples to God's flock 3. By honoring the Shepherd of God's flock

Mass Readings for 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 14, 2026 Reading 1, Exodus 19:2-6 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 5 Reading 2, Romans 5:6-11 Gospel, Matthew 9:36-10:8

Listen and be blessed

THEME: AFTER GOD'S OWN HEARTSPEAKER: MR. ANDY SELORM (AGCM PRESIDENT)

This episode wraps up the conversation between Tim, Joel, Judy, and Mulu. The Lintons describe the amazing Sundays their church family spends together, which run from the crack of dawn until the night. Their ministry is “organic,” focusing on making disciples of Jesus Christ who go beyond the superficial. The church in Yilan County, Taiwan is all about living life together, just like Bonhoeffer wrote about in Life Together. Along the way, they also talk about the ins and outs of worship music and the merciful discipline of children.The first part of this interview is here. Another interview with Joel and Judy can be heard here.***Desire to become a pastor? Check out New Geneva Academy. Listen to NGA's brand new podcast, "What I Wish They'd Told Me," here or watch video here.***Out of Our Minds Podcast: Pastors Who Say What They Think. For the love of Christ and His Church.Intro and outro music is Psalm of the King, Psalm 21 by My Soul Among Lions.Out of Our Minds audio, artwork, episode descriptions, and notes are property of Warhorn Media, published with permission by Transistor, Inc. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Joel and Judy Linton, missionaries and church planters in Yilan County, Taiwan, join Pastor Tim Bayly again. Their conversation will continue in the next episode.During this session, Joel, Judy, and Tim discuss the conversion and discipleship of a particular family that has become a central source of strength in the church plant in Yilan County (you'll hear from one of them directly during the podcast!). They also discuss the nature of language and how it shapes a people—preparing or hindering their understanding of Scripture, the necessity of discipleship (not merely conversion), and how a church should make decisions about age-specific ministries. For more about Joel and Judy's work in Taiwan, visit their website here.***Out of Our Minds Podcast: Pastors Who Say What They Think. For the love of Christ and His Church.Intro and outro music is Psalm of the King, Psalm 21 by My Soul Among Lions.Out of Our Minds audio, artwork, episode descriptions, and notes are property of Warhorn Media, published with permission by Transistor, Inc. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Main Point: God calls parents to shepherd their children's hearts through intentional, gospel-shaped leadership and loving biblical discipline so that they grow into worshipers of the living God. 

Anchored in the Word Morning Reflection: Season 5 Episode 105 Shepherding the Church of God: Application Ephesians 4:11-16 #morningreflections #churchlife #pastoralcare #growth #ministry

Anchored in the Word Morning Reflection: Season 5 Episode 104 Shepherding the Church of God: Goal Ephesians 4:11-16 #morningreflections #churchlife #pastoralcare #growth #ministry

Anchored in the Word Morning Reflection: Season 5 Episode 103 Shepherding the Church of God: Duties Ephesians 4:11-16 #morningreflections #churchlife #pastoralcare #growth #ministry

In this episode, Dudley and Jared explore the growing tension many believers feel with modern church culture, Church Leadership, and the structure of the Mega Church model. Through honest conversation and grounded biblical reflection, they challenge the corporate approach to ministry and revisit what the New Testament church — and the early House Church — was designed to be.Together, they unpack topics like Biblical Eldership, Shepherding, discipleship, and Tithing, while addressing why so many Christian Men are quietly leaving church despite remaining deeply committed to the gospel. Dudley and Jared explain that this isn't Deconstruction — it's hunger — and discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in equipping every believer for ministry, rather than limiting spiritual leadership to a select few.This conversation invites believers to rethink modern church systems through the lens of Scripture, calling the church back toward authentic community, shepherding, and Church Reform rooted in the gospel.We pray this message will encourage, challenge, and transform.As always, we invite you to share it with someone who needs it.  Get Dudley's Weekly Word delivered right to your inbox every Friday! Click here to get access ➡️ https://dudleysweeklyword.com/opt-inFor more information and resources, visit https://kerygmaventures.com/podcast/ Follow and subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/41N9SAP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LEIxeo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerygmaventures Watch our "Conversations At The Ranch" series: https://bit.ly/conversations-at-the-ranch Watch our “Dudley's Monthly Message” series: https://bit.ly/dudleys-monthly-message 

Our guest today, Fred Provenza, has spent his career listening to what animals can teach us: about landscapes, about food, about the deep intelligence woven into the living world.Fred is professor emeritus of Behavioral Ecology at Utah State University, where he directed an award-winning research program that pioneered our understanding of how early experience, family, and landscape shape the foraging wisdom of animals. He is the author of over 300 scientific papers and three books, including Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us About Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom, Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World of Change, and The Art & Science of Shepherding, co-authored with French herder Michel Meuret.In this conversation, Fred draws on a lifetime of ranching, research, and wide-ranging inquiry, taking us from the pastures of Utah to the pre-alps of France. Together we reflect on what we've lost, what endures, and what it might mean to come home to a more intimate relationship with the land.In this episode, we dive into: His childhood in small town Colorado and how it cultivated a deep sense of community that has since largely vanished from American rural life Seven years working on Henry De Luca's ranch, and what that experience revealed about the irreplaceable knowledge embedded in intimate relationships with land and animals What the concept of epigenetics tells us about the deep, inherited intelligence of locally adapted herds The extended family lives of livestock, and what shepherds in France have long understood about nutritional wisdom, plant diversity, and the art of moving animals across a landscape What Buddhism, near-death experiences, and quantum physics have in common, and why Fred believes consciousness is our truest nature The local food economy as a web of interdependence. And much more…More about Fred:Fred Provenza is professor emeritus of Behavioral Ecology in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University, where he directed the BEHAVE program — an international network of scientists, ranchers, farmers, and land managers integrating behavioral principles with local knowledge. His books include Nourishment, Foraging Behavior, and The Art & Science of Shepherding. He has published over 300 research papers and spoken at more than 600 conferences around the world.Find more of Fred's work: Nourishment The Art & Science of ShepherdingAgrarian Futures is produced by Alexandre Miller, who also wrote our theme song. This episode was edited by Drew O'Doherty.

Anchored in the Word Morning Reflection: Season 5 Episode 102 Shepherding the Church of God: Building Ephesians 4:11-16 #morningreflections #churchlife #pastoralcare #growth #ministry

Anchored in the Word Morning Reflection: Season 5 Episode 101 Shepherding the Church of God: Christ Ephesians 4:11-16 #morningreflections #churchlife #pastoralcare #growth #ministry

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Revival International Ministry, Kpong

Главная цель церкви / The Main Purpose of the ChurchЕфесянам 4:16-21I. Суть жизни Христа / The Essence of Christ's Life A. Искупление / Redemption B. Образ Божий / Image of God C. Смысл / Meaning D. Полнота / FullnessII. Практика жизни Христа / The Practice of Christ's Life A. Смерть и воскресение во Христе / Death and Resurrection in Christ B. Преображение мышления Христом / Transformation of the Mind by Christ C. Подчинение Христу / Submission to Christ D. Служение Христу / Service to ChristIII. Школа жизни Христа / The School of the Life of Christ A. Пастырство / Shepherding B. Ученичество / Discipleship

Guest Speaker Scott Owen - 1 Peter 5:1-11

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Revival International Ministry, Kpong

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Revival International Ministry, Kpong

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Revival International Ministry, Kpong

Preached at The Art Of Shepherding Conference, Revival International Ministry, Kpong

Every follower of Jesus has been given something — a spiritual gift that the church desperately needs. In Part 2 of our series on Word gifts, we explore three of the most misunderstood gifts in the body of Christ: Leadership, Shepherding, and Evangelism. What does kingdom leadership actually look like? Who carries the shepherd's assignment? And why does evangelism make so many church people uncomfortable? This message is an invitation to stop sitting on the sidelines and step into what the Spirit has entrusted to you.

Get in touch to share sheeping stories or questions anytime!So what happens when you are on your own and you have to do sheep stuff? In this ep we explore the jobs we need to do and how to manage them when you are solo sheeping and solo farming. Some tips and tricks from us but we'd love to hear yours! Contact us on IG at Hallston Valley Farm or email at jill@hallstonvalleyfarm.com.auDesigner Mini Goldendoodle puppiesDesigner Golden Doodles offers the best quality mini and micro mini goldendoodle puppies.Support the showThank you for supporting our pod! Sign up via our sheep supporters tab !https://www.buzzsprout.com/954910/supporters/new

Catie Maclennan-Dobson, High Country Shepherding, Alberta, CAHigh Country Shepherding website: ⁠⁠https://www.hcshepherding.ca/Instagram: ⁠⁠@high.country.shepherding⁠Farm Dog is presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goats On The Go®⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and hosted by its founder, Aaron Steele. Questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Let us know at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FarmDogPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and buy some branded merch while you're there to support us!⁠⁠⁠Get the audio book, Goats for Good: Making Goats Profitable for Your Farm, Your Community, and the World at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoatsForGood.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com.

Kevin Wells returns to continue the discussion about his book, “Coached by the Curé – Lessons in Shepherding with St. John Vianney,” offering insight into shepherding for priests.

In this episode, Stephen Vanover shares his journey from pastoring to pioneering a more relational, disciple-making approach outside traditional church models. He discusses the systemic issues in church engagement, the importance of authentic discipleship, and practical steps for living out faith in everyday life.

Kevin Wells discusses his book, “Coached by the Curé – Lessons in Shepherding with St. John Vianney,” and how this patron saint of priests encourages clergy, parents, and laity.

Dr. Brick Lantz of Christian Medical and Dental Association talks about the politics and monies behind both the fast-tracking of reviews of certain psychedelic drugs and moving marijuana to a schedule 3 drug, and the lack of any medical evidence supporting any such moves.  He also addresses some potential treatments for pancreatic cancer with the help of mRNA vaccines. Theologian Michael Kruger, co-author of "The Good News Family Devotional," talks about leading your family, young and old, toward God through meaningful time together in the Word.   The Reconnect with Carmen and all Faith Radio are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here

Are you searching for contentment in all the wrong places? In this powerful message from Psalm 23, Pastor Terry unpacks the difference between living in contentment and living in want — and why the answer isn't about getting more, but about who's leading your life. Whether your marriage feels too far gone, your anxiety won't quit, or you've been trying to be your own shepherd — this message is for you.

The Resurrection -- Part 3: Jesus Gives Us His Great Commission Just Before His Ascension MESSAGE SUMMARY: Introduction from “The Resurrection -- Part 3: Jesus Gives Us His Great Commission Just Before His Ascension: At Jesus last appearance to His Eleven Disciples as a group and just before His Ascension, Jesus gives His Great Commission to us and to His Disciples. In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus commissions or, indeed, commands us: “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”. Jesus, in Matthew 28:16-20, has commissioned us and commanded us to: Go, Make Disciples, Baptize, and to Teach everything that he has taught us (e.g., the Bible, our walk with the Holy Spirit) to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Remember again, that this commission and commandment (i.e. “as you go”) was the last thing that Jesus, as the Incarnate God-Man, told His Disciples and, therefore, us before His Ascension into Heaven to become solely God again. Because of the Resurrection and God's Grace, we have the opportunity for Salvation and Eternal Life; and God has given this opportunity to others next door and around the world, through us, if we Go, Make Disciples, Baptize, and Teach! Today' Message – Hearing God's Voice: In John 10:1-18, Jesus presents the picture of the Shephard and the Shepherd's relationship to His flock. Shepherding, in the First Century, was an intense and demanding occupation with the need for the Shepherd to lead and communicate with His sheep and to prevent “false shepherds” from stealing sheep. In communicating with His sheep, the sheep learn and listen for the Shepherd's voice which protects the sheep from “false shepherds”. Jesus tells us, in John 10:7-11, that He is the Shepherd and only through and with Jesus can we enter into the Gate, which is our Salvation and Eternal Life:' So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'”. Jesus tells us that the sheep will hear His voice; therefore, if we are followers of Jesus, we should hear Jesus voice – we are all called to be Jesus' sheep. How do we know the voice of Jesus our Good Shepherd? To hear and know Jesus' voice, we need to consider: 1) we must “enter through the Gate” – the “Gate” is only Jesus; 2) we must be a sheep (i.e. must be saved and have a personal relationship with Jesus) of the Good Shepherd to hear and distinguish His voice from the “false shepherds”; 3) we must learn to listen – God's voice can present to us in many ways, especially through the Holy Spirit – the Holy Spirit gives us an insight into the mind of God and puts our mind in sync with God; 4) the voice of Satan is discernable from the voice and message of Jesus; and 5) we must obey the Lord as we listen – in the New Testament, the words “hear” and “obey” are the same; and God wants to guide and direct us. Ultimately, God tells us: “Be still and know that I am God.”. He is Risen, and He is alive today!   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 28:16-20; John 21:1-14; Acts 1:8; John 3:3-8; John 10:1-27; Ezekiel 34:22-24,31; Psalms 23:1-6; John 5:25; Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 43:2; 1 Kings 19:12; Isiah 30:21; Ephesians 1:17-18; Hebrews 3:7. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “For Jesus Followers, Fasting, with Food, Will Symbolize a Victory Over Oneself and Solidify a Personal Relationship with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

What role does mental health play in ministry, and how can we create safe spaces for open conversations grounded in faith? On this episode of Student Ministry Connection, Steve talks to student ministry veteran and author of Shepherds of the Mind, Tomy Cummins, about mental health. Tomy shares how a wave of students taking their lives pushed him toward training and building a ministry culture where it's safe to talk about depression and anxiety, seek help, and involve others when someone is unsafe. He recounts his own journey and explains how Ezekiel 34:4 frames his approach to shepherding. In addition to sharing what not to do, but Tomy points to Jesus as the model of grace and truth. Join Steve and Tomy as they discuss the need for student ministry pastors to seek community, reject isolation, and take the next right step toward better care for themselves and their students.    Links referenced in this episode:  Connect more with Tomy at https://tomycummins.com  Learn more about Shepherds of the Mind and find more resources at https://shepherdsofthemind.com  Get a copy of Shepherds of the Mind - https://amzn.to/4eUukZY Find your next speaker at The Speaker Hub - https://youthminhub.com/speakerhub  Learn more about Steve's ministry with NNYM - https://nnym.org/stevecullum  Sign up to get Steve's newsletter - https://bit.ly/cullumnewsletter  Support the ministry by giving online - https://bit.ly/cullumsupport  Contact Steve about partnerships, speaking, coaching, or consulting - https://bit.ly/cullumcontact  Follow Student Ministry Connection on Instagram - https://instagram.com/studentministryconnection  Read Steve's blog - https://stevecullum.com  Follow Steve on Twitter - https://twitter.com/stevecullum  Follow Steve on Instagram - https://instagram.com/stevecullum  Follow Steve on Facebook - https://facebook.com/stevecullum    Be sure to join us in prayer for revival every Wednesday at 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET.    Get a copy of the Cards Christians Like card game by using the link https://bit.ly/cardschristianslike and also support Student Ministry Connection.    Looking for student ministry resources? Check out Steve's curated list of books, games, and more at https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevecullum    Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. By clicking them, Steve may receive commission to support this ministry.    Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Links to the more popular ones are at https://linktr.ee/studentministryconnection     If you like what you hear, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and comment! Thanks, be sure to get connected, and may God bless your ministry!    

Send us Fan MailJesus seeks out the once‑blind man, using the same divine initiative that first opened his eyes to now offer him spiritual sight and life, revealing Himself to be the true Shepherd. God bless you today and I encourage you to spend time in God's Word https://www.instagram.com/biblicaltapestry/https://www.facebook.com/HyperNike12

Faithful shepherding in a digital age begins when parents recognize how technology both reveals and shapes the desires of the heart. Devices do not create our problems—they expose what is already ruling us—making wise, intentional discipleship in the home essential. As screens influence identity, relationships, attention, and worship, parents must move beyond managing behavior to shepherding hearts, helping their children interpret life biblically and follow Christ in a world that is constantly discipling them in a different direction. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-575-shepherding-your-family-in-a-digital-age/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Segment 1 • Todd sits down with Dr. Ted Tripp, author of “Shepherding a Child's Heart”. • Are parents confusing a child's ability to use tech with actual readiness to handle it? • Porn, smartphones, and distraction—there is a veritable minefield out there for the next generation. Segment 2 • Why are Christian kids walking away—and is disengaged parenting the real root issue? • Influence and intentionality in our children's lives doesn't just happen—it takes real effort. • Identity crises, online affirmation, and peer pressure—are your kids being discipled more by screens than you? Segment 3 • That our kids should own and use a cellphone shouldn't be taken as a given. • Influence vs. authority: which one actually keeps your teenager from rebelling? • It may not be the case that every child has to go through a rebellious phase. Segment 4 • It's never too late for parents to reach their children—even those parents who feel like they've failed. • Are you giving your kids behavior control… or actually shepherding their hearts? • When everything feels lost, your hope must be not in your own parenting power—but in the power of the gospel. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!