Send us a text

A little Christmas cheer, a few groan-worthy dad jokes, and a surprisingly practical deep dive into Acts—this one brings warmth and wisdom in equal measure. We start with a laugh and then move straight into Acts 6 to ask a hard question every leader faces: how do you protect your core mission without doing everything yourself?

We unpack how the apostles solved a real growth crisis by empowering seven trusted leaders instead of centralizing control. That choice becomes a modern playbook: delegate to develop people, not just to dump tasks; give meaningful responsibility; show everyone how their role fits the mission. From there, we trace Stephen’s courage and Philip’s initiative, drawing a direct line to teams that advocate boldly for the work they believe in. If your team only executes, they don’t own the vision yet—and that’s a leadership problem you can fix.

The conversation shifts to Saul’s conversion and Paul’s far-reaching journeys, where partnership and accountability keep the mission moving under pressure. Alongside the inspiration, we get honest about burnout, boundaries, and the “invisible war” inside every leader: procrastination, excuses, self-doubt, distractions, and the comfort zone. You’ll hear practical frameworks you can use today—time blocking, batching communication, and delegating outcomes with real authority—so you can scale without losing focus or your life outside of work.

If you lead a team, guide a community, or simply want to work with more clarity and less stress, this episode gives you a field-tested blueprint from the early church to now. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s the invisible battle you’re facing this week? Tell us—we’re listening.

Send us a text

New chapter, fresh playbook. We close the long trek through John and step into Acts with a simple goal: translate the early church’s momentum into practical leadership you can use this quarter. Between holiday chuckles and a milestone anniversary, we trace how Luke documents a team that loses its founder’s physical presence and still accelerates—with planning, empowerment, and courage.

We break down the structure of Acts and zoom in on three big takeaways. First, succession planning isn’t a luxury; it’s mission insurance. Acts 1 shows a team staying put, praying, naming replacements, and protecting continuity. We unpack why 70% of organizations still avoid real succession—fear of losing control, time pressure, or anxiety about new strategies—and how to build a plan that preserves the mission while giving future leaders room to adapt tactics. Second, Pentecost becomes a modern operating principle: empowerment beats busyness. Annual retreats, quarterly huddles, and clear roadmaps energize teams to move from cautious to public, from talk to execution.

Finally, we sit with a small but potent detail: Jesus’s brothers appear in the upper room after years of doubt. That’s a masterclass in discernment. Some teammates are late adopters who turn into anchors; others resist the core and need a gracious off‑ramp. We share ways to tell the difference, then show how to turn brainstorms into action plans with owners, deadlines, and visible follow‑through. Because nothing erodes trust like a meeting that produces no change, and nothing scales culture faster than promises kept in public.

If you lead a church, a crew, or a company, this conversation connects Scripture’s leadership DNA to your next planning session—succession, empowerment, alignment, and accountability. Subscribe, share with a leader who needs clarity, and leave a review telling us the one meeting you’ll add to protect your mission next year.

Send us a text

A hundred episodes in, and we’re more convinced than ever that leadership rises or falls on how we handle failure, focus, and people. We mark the milestone with gratitude for listeners across 451 cities and 40 countries, then get straight to the heart of John 19–21: what it looks like for a leader to restore someone who stumbled—and why restoration, when done right, can change the trajectory of a team.

We walk through the scene where Jesus meets Peter by the fire and turns love into assignment: feed my sheep. From that moment, we pull a practical framework you can use in annual reviews or crisis moments: decide who is restorable, specify expectations, match support to responsibility, and set an accountability window. Restoration is not leniency; it’s structured trust-building. Along the way, we talk about when it’s wise to part ways, how to guard your mission from distraction, and why servant leadership isn’t soft—it’s disciplined care that elevates performance.

We also tackle time, priorities, and the busyness trap. If you’re still grinding 80-hour weeks, it’s time to redesign your work. We share simple, high-leverage tools: a 48-hour time log, the 80/20 rule for ruthless prioritization, and weekly planning rhythms that reduce decision fatigue. Know your people, too; dips in productivity often have human roots. When leaders understand the story behind the numbers, they coach better and earn deeper commitment. We close with a preview of Acts and a hidden leadership insight waiting in chapter one.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who leads, and leave a review with the one habit you’re changing this year. Your feedback shapes the next 100.

Send us a text

Pressure changes the volume on everything. Some voices get loud, priorities get scrambled, and comfort tempts us to drift. We walk from the Last Supper to the Garden of Gethsemane and draw out modern leadership lessons you can use this week: build an inner circle you can trust, protect solitude for mission clarity, and create white space that turns constant motion into meaningful progress.

We share a quick recap of John 17 and then sit with the moment Jesus invites the eleven, leans on Peter, James, and John, and finally steps away alone to pray. That rhythm—team, advisors, solitude—maps neatly onto how great leaders make decisions under pressure. You’ll hear practical ways to build margins into your calendar, use commutes and buffers for learning, and avoid the back‑to‑back grind that erodes judgment. We also bring it home: presence beats presents. A quiet walk, a shared laugh, a simple coffee can do more for your family and your leadership resilience than any big purchase.

From John 18 comes a core conviction: stay on mission when it hurts. Interest rates rise, timelines slip, friends bail, but values aren’t negotiable. We talk about character revealed in crisis, the danger of cutting quality to chase short‑term wins, and simple, durable habits that outlast January hype. Start now with one ten‑minute practice, two white‑space blocks, and one relationship you’ll honor with undivided attention. It’s a grounded, hopeful path to lead with clarity when the room gets loud.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s gearing up for the new year, and leave a quick review to help others find these conversations. Your feedback shapes what we explore next—what habit will you protect this week?

Send us a text

A storm only looks like weather until it hits your team. We explore how one intense night in John 13–17 becomes a field guide for modern leadership under pressure: power that kneels, pruning that strengthens, and unity that endures. We start with the moment Jesus washes feet—a vivid picture of authority expressed through service—and translate it into daily practices leaders can use to build trust and influence. Expect concrete takeaways on modeling behaviors you want multiplied, designing roles that protect focus, and creating space where the best work can ripen.

Then we unpack the vine and branches: why pruning isn’t about loss, but about fruit. If you’ve wrestled with tough staffing calls, unclear responsibilities, or the chaos of “helpful” people working outside their lane, this conversation offers a humane framework. We share practical tools like 90‑day focus plans, boundary setting, and the “right seat” mindset, plus the hard truth that delayed decisions drain cultures. You’ll hear why hiring for attitude outperforms hiring for pedigree, and how “unity with candor” beats nice, vague teamwork every time.

We also address common questions about communion practices and how tradition can be reframed to renew purpose. Whether you fast before receiving or not, the point is remembrance that reshapes behavior—an idea leaders can apply by pairing rituals with reflection across their teams. We close with an invitation to find a church home and a circle that knows you, challenges you, and sends you. Storms will come. Strong roots—servant leadership, clear lanes, honest pruning, and real community—help you stand and bear fruit.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who leads people, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your feedback helps more leaders find these conversations.

Send us a text

What looks like waste to some can be the wisest investment a leader makes. We open with a candid debrief from the road—hours spent at the Flight 93 National Memorial and a surprising tour beneath the Greenbrier’s halls—before shifting into John 12, where Mary breaks open a year’s wages to honor Jesus. That single act challenges our reflex to measure value only by spreadsheets and speed. Vision often looks wasteful to the uninspired, and yet those “inefficient” choices—gratitude, presence, and personalization—are the seeds of durable culture.

We get practical fast. When budgets are tight, appreciation becomes strategic currency: handwritten notes on work anniversaries, a small, thoughtful gift that says “I see you,” public recognition that elevates character as much as output, and blocked time to simply walk the floor and listen. We unpack the difference between rewarding performance and honoring people, why leaders must know names and stories, and how consistent, low-cost gestures compound into trust. Along the way, we look at the plot against Lazarus and the triumphal entry to illustrate how pressure, popularity, and distractions test mission clarity.

There’s a reason John devotes nearly half his Gospel to the final days of Jesus’ life. Focus intensifies when stakes rise. We explore how to fight drift by naming the few priorities that drive most outcomes, moving even when conditions aren’t perfect, and building momentum through small steps. We even leave room for joy—yes, dad jokes and an unexpected owl cameo—because a light touch helps teams breathe in heavy seasons.

If you’re ready to honor people, protect the mission, and turn vision into daily habits, this conversation will give you tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a leader who needs encouragement, and leave a review to tell us how you’re practicing appreciation this week.

Send us a text

The shortest verse in the Bible—"Jesus wept"—reveals one of the most profound leadership principles we can apply today. When faced with the death of his friend Lazarus, Jesus didn't hide his emotions but expressed them authentically. This teaches us that great leaders aren't afraid to show appropriate emotion, creating space for genuine human connection even while maintaining authority.

The story of Lazarus's resurrection demonstrates how exceptional leaders empower their teams. When Jesus arrived at the tomb, he could have single-handedly removed the stone and grave clothes through divine power. Instead, he deliberately invited participation: "Take away the stone," he commanded, involving his disciples in the miracle process. After Lazarus emerged alive, Jesus again delegated: "Take off his grave clothes." This pattern reveals that truly transformative leadership doesn't hoard meaningful tasks but creates opportunities for team members to participate in significant achievements.

Perhaps most powerfully, Jesus saw life where everyone else saw death. After four days—when Jewish tradition held resurrection was impossible—Jesus envisioned possibility beyond apparent limitations. This exemplifies how visionary leaders consistently see potential where others perceive only obstacles, then inspire their teams to embrace this expanded perspective. The aftermath also teaches valuable lessons about managing success: the miracle created both positive momentum and intensified opposition, mirroring how organizational breakthroughs often generate complex consequences requiring strategic navigation.

What leadership situations are you facing where you need to show authentic emotion, empower your team through meaningful delegation, or see possibilities where others see only limitations? Join us next week as we explore Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of his final week of ministry.

Send us a text

What makes someone a true leader rather than just a person with authority? Drawing from the rich metaphor of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John Chapter 10, we unpack powerful leadership principles that transcend time and context.

The shepherd imagery provides a fascinating framework for modern leadership. Just as shepherds in ancient Israel would sleep in the entrance of the sheepfold—becoming the literal gate through which sheep passed—great leaders serve as filters for their organizations. They discern what influences, ideas, and attitudes should enter, while protecting against harmful elements.

This episode explores how effective leaders balance quick decisions with thoughtful deliberation, understanding which issues deserve extensive processing and which can be handled efficiently. We share real-world examples of companies that failed because leaders refused to innovate, contrasting them with organizations that thrived by embracing necessary change.

Perhaps most compelling is our discussion about promise-keeping. Through a personal story about a father who made a casual promise to his young son about hiking Pike's Peak—only to discover a year later that the boy had been secretly training for the adventure—we illustrate how leadership credibility is built or destroyed on the foundation of integrity. As we note, "Once you get in the habit of breaking promises, it takes a long, long time to overcome that mindset in the eyes of your people."

Whether you're leading a corporation, a small team, a family, or simply yourself, these timeless principles from John 10 offer a roadmap for leadership that earns trust, inspires loyalty, and creates lasting impact. Listen now to discover how being a "good shepherd" can transform your leadership approach.