Episodes

  • Formed by the Spirit: Theology Anchors for Spiritual Formation

    Formed by the Spirit: Theology Anchors for Spiritual Formation
    Apr 13 2026
    In Season 3, Episode 14 of The Five Gifts Podcast, “Formed by the Spirit: The Divine Urgency of True Transformation,” we examine the essential role of the Holy Spirit in authentic spiritual formation. This episode addresses a growing challenge in the Church: the tendency to substitute content-driven discipleship for Spirit-led transformation. While teaching and structure are valuable, they cannot produce the inward change that only the Spirit brings. We explore the theological and practical shift from external law to internal transformation, highlighting how the Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and progressively conforms believers into the image of Christ. Listeners will gain a clear framework for understanding the process of spiritual formation, along with practical strategies—especially for those operating in the Teacher Gift—to ensure that discipleship leads to genuine transformation, not just increased knowledge. This episode is a call to recover dependence on the Spirit in both personal growth and corporate ministry, resulting in lives and communities that reflect the character and power of Christ.
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    28 mins
  • Formed by the Trinity: Theology Anchors for Spiritual Formation

    Formed by the Trinity: Theology Anchors for Spiritual Formation
    Apr 6 2026
    In this episode, we examine the formative power of theology and why a right understanding of the Trinity is essential for healthy spiritual formation and leadership. Rather than treating theology as abstract doctrine, we frame it as a shaping force that influences identity, relationships, and ministry practice. We explore how the life of the Father, Son, and Spirit provides the pattern for Christian living and leadership, and how distortions in our view of God often lead to dysfunction in the church. This conversation calls leaders and believers alike to recover a deeply relational, Trinitarian vision of God—one that transforms not just what we believe, but who we become.
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    25 mins
  • Don’t Lose the Harvest: Contend, Celebrate, & Multiply

    Don’t Lose the Harvest: Contend, Celebrate, & Multiply
    Mar 30 2026
    Easter creates opportunity—but without intentional follow-through, much of the harvest can be lost. In this episode, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell conclude the 5-week evangelism series by equipping leaders to navigate the critical window one week before and immediately after Easter. They address the spiritual resistance that often intensifies before breakthrough and provide practical strategies for contending in prayer, executing a service designed for transformation, and establishing effective follow-up systems. Listeners will learn how to shift from measuring attendance to cultivating discipleship through relational connection, clear next steps, and leadership activation. The episode emphasizes the Divine Urgency of the Evangelistic Gift, highlighting the responsibility not only to reach people but to establish and multiply them within the body of Christ. This conversation provides a blueprint for churches and leaders who want to build sustainable evangelistic culture beyond seasonal events.
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    43 mins
  • The Invitation Strategy

    The Invitation Strategy
    Mar 23 2026
    Two weeks before Easter marks a decisive moment in evangelism. In this episode, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell equip leaders and believers to move from preparation to action by mastering discernment-based invitations. Building on weeks of prayer, fasting, and relational investment, they introduce a clear framework for recognizing spiritual readiness through three stages: internal, external, and convicted seekers. Listeners will learn how to extend invitations naturally, remove barriers, and operate in the Divine Urgency of the Evangelistic Gift—reaching people not as projects, but as sons and daughters being drawn home. This episode provides both theological clarity and practical tools to help individuals and churches maximize their impact this Easter season through Spirit-led, relational evangelism.
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    41 mins
  • Conversations and Compassion

    Conversations and Compassion
    Mar 16 2026
    Season 3, Episode 10: Conversations and Compassion Four weeks before Easter is when evangelism becomes relational. In this episode, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell explore how pastors can equip evangelistic leaders to move from prayer into intentional conversations and compassionate action. Drawing from the CLMM strategic framework, they outline practical steps churches can take to prepare the relational ground before inviting people to Easter services. The discussion highlights how meaningful conversations, acts of kindness, and Spirit-led discernment open doors for the gospel long before Easter Sunday arrives. You’ll also hear a powerful real-world example of churches that shifted their evangelistic approach and saw significant spiritual breakthrough.
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    34 mins
  • Releasing Kingdom Blessing: Planning Easter with Precision

    Releasing Kingdom Blessing: Planning Easter with Precision
    Mar 9 2026
    In Season 3, Episode 9 of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell continue the 5-part Easter planning series by focusing on Week Five before Easter: Releasing Kingdom Blessing. This episode trains pastors and leaders to move from general intercession to targeted, Spirit-led prayer. Using the Six Receptive Gates framework, leaders learn how to discern where God is already working in a prospect’s life and how to align intercession strategically. Topics include: • The Six Receptive Gates of receptivity • Why evangelism must begin in prayer before conversation • The role of fasting in sharpening spiritual focus • How CLMM strategic planning integrates prophetic discernment • Why Heaven prepares hearts before invitations are extended Easter harvest is spiritual before it is numerical. This episode provides the system to cultivate breakthrough intentionally. For leadership consulting and spiritual life coaching: charlesrusselltraining.com charlesrussellministries.com coachingcardia.com
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    43 mins
  • Praying for the Harvest: Precision Planning for Easter

    Praying for the Harvest: Precision Planning for Easter
    Mar 2 2026
    In Season 3, Episode 8 of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell launch a five-episode series on planning Easter through strategic evangelistic mobilization and Spirit-led systems. Six weeks before Easter, the focus is not invitations — it is identification and intercession. This episode walks pastors and leaders through: • Mobilizing an evangelistically wired core • Training believers to identify four spiritually disconnected people within their relational network • Beginning disciplined weekly fasting for spiritual breakthrough • Praying six Kingdom realities over specific individuals • Understanding why salvation is a process of Holy Spirit drawing, not merely an event Through the lens of the CLMM framework, this episode integrates apostolic strategy, prophetic intercession, and evangelistic precision to create measurable, scalable Kingdom impact. If you want breakthrough this Easter, start with names. Start with fasting. Start six weeks early. For coaching and consulting, visit: charlesrusselltraining.com charlesrussellministries.com coachingcardia.com
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    31 mins
  • Spiritual Gifts: Stewardship of the Prophetic

    Spiritual Gifts: Stewardship of the Prophetic
    Feb 23 2026
    In Season 3, Episode 7 of the Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell explore how to steward prophetic ministry responsibly in the local church. Grounded in Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 14, this episode addresses the tension every Pentecostal-Charismatic leader faces: how to cultivate prophetic vitality without inviting disorder or theological confusion. Key themes include: • The biblical priority of edification • Why delivery matters as much as content • Building safe small-group “greenhouses” for prophetic growth • Corporate vetting processes for public worship • Establishing red lines and avoiding life-direction prophecy • Separating identity from gifting in prophetic individuals The conversation offers practical frameworks, pastoral insight, and leadership diagnostics to help churches pursue prophetic ministry with both courage and clarity. Prophecy must not be silenced—but it must be stewarded.
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    35 mins