What happens when a Christian leader fails publicly?
And what does that have to do with exegesis, sermon prep, and pastoral care?

In Episode 21 of Faith in Real Life, Nat Crawford and Dan Coke unpack the recent controversy involving Michael Tate of the Newsboys, and how the Church should respond when spiritual leaders fall.

Then they go deep into the art and weight of sermon preparation—from hours of study to rightly dividing the Word through exegesis, hermeneutics, and prayer.

Whether you preach, lead, or listen—this episode brings clarity and conviction to what faith looks like behind the pulpit and beyond.

🟠 Key Topics Covered:

• Responding to moral failure in Christian leadership
• The necessity of forgiveness and restoration
• The time and discipline behind solid sermon preparation
• The difference between exegesis and eisegesis
• Why context and clarity are non-negotiables
• The role of prayer, humility, and pastoral care in preaching

Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you stream.

#FaithInRealLife #ChristianPodcast #MichaelTate #SermonPrep #Forgiveness #ExpositoryPreaching #ChurchLeadership #Hermeneutics #BiblicalPreaching #PastoralCare #NewsboysControversy #GraceAndTruth

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Follow us online
Pastor Nat:
FB - @natcrawfordspeaker
X - @natmaan
Instagram - @natmaan
YouTube - https://youtube.com/@NatCrawford?si=_ObFu-smVYoZul2w
Website - www.natcrawford.com
Church - www.livinglifereformed.org

Pastor Dan:
FB - https://www.facebook.com/dan.coke.9
Church - https://sowerchurch.com/

"Culture is happening in your church—whether you’ve defined it or not."

In Episode 20 of Faith in Real Life, Nat Crawford and Dan Coke dive deep into one of the most overlooked areas of church leadership: organizational culture.

From defining mission, vision, and values to real talk on discipleship, communication, and leadership buy-in—this episode will challenge and equip anyone involved in shaping the life of a local church.

They also explore how myths, stories, and unspoken norms often guide churches more than the Bible does—and how intentional leadership can change that.

🟠 Key Topics Covered:

• How to define and build a healthy church culture
• Why mission and vision must be revisited regularly
• What it really takes to make disciples
• How to lead cultural change in a church
• The hidden power of personal stories, family values, and buy-in from leadership
• Why values must be visible, not vague

📌 Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or church member—this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full episode here:
👉 https://youtu.be/ [insert link once available]

#FaithInRealLife #ChurchCulture #OrganizationalCulture #ChurchLeadership #Discipleship #MissionAndVision #BiblicalLeadership #ChristianPodcast #ChurchGrowth #HealthyChurches #SpiritualLeadership #GreatCommission #CoreValues #FaithAndLeadership

Support the show

Follow us online
Pastor Nat:
FB - @natcrawfordspeaker
X - @natmaan
Instagram - @natmaan
YouTube - https://youtube.com/@NatCrawford?si=_ObFu-smVYoZul2w
Website - www.natcrawford.com
Church - www.livinglifereformed.org

Pastor Dan:
FB - https://www.facebook.com/dan.coke.9
Church - https://sowerchurch.com/

“Music is only 20% of the job. Worship is a pastoral calling.”
In Episode 19 of Faith in Real Life, Nat Crawford and Dan Koch sit down with Worship Pastor Donald Adams to unpack what worship truly is—and isn’t.

Donald shares his journey into worship ministry and challenges the idea that worship is just about music. He outlines a biblical philosophy of worship that exalts God, edifies the saints, and evangelizes the lost.

This episode digs deep into evaluating worship effectiveness, balancing excellence with authenticity, and understanding the pastoral weight of leading people in worship.

Whether you're a worship leader, church member, or just someone wanting a richer understanding of corporate and personal worship, this conversation will shape how you see worship—and how you engage with it.

🟢 Key Topics Include:

• Worship defined: more than music
• The pastoral role of the worship leader
• Excellence vs. entertainment in worship
• Teaching theology through song
• Supporting congregational singing
• The beauty and creativity of God-honoring worship
• The difference between personal and corporate worship
• Emotional expression and theological depth in worship music
• Advice for aspiring worship leaders

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full episode here:
👉 https://youtu.be/IksRrc52TgI?si=7Y7-vIEDG2AcBo7P

#FaithInRealLife #WorshipMinistry #WorshipPastor #TheHeartOfWorship #DonaldAdams #ExcellenceInWorship #ChurchLeadership #ChristianPodcast #WorshipPhilosophy #TheologyInWorship #CongregationalSinging #WorshipIsPastoral #WorshipThatMatters #BiblicalWorship #ChristianMusicMinistry

Support the show

Follow us online
Pastor Nat:
FB - @natcrawfordspeaker
X - @natmaan
Instagram - @natmaan
YouTube - https://youtube.com/@NatCrawford?si=_ObFu-smVYoZul2w
Website - www.natcrawford.com
Church - www.livinglifereformed.org

Pastor Dan:
FB - https://www.facebook.com/dan.coke.9
Church - https://sowerchurch.com/