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Emmanuel: The God Who Chose Us

Christmas reminds us that God is not just with us—
He wanted to be with us.

In this special Christmas-week episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we reflect on the meaning of Emmanuel and the often-overlooked truth behind it: God didn’t come reluctantly. He came willingly.

Drawing from Philippians 2, this episode explores the humility of Jesus, the intentionality of the incarnation, and the deep comfort found in knowing that God chose proximity—not distance.

Because there’s a big difference between someone being present…
and someone wanting to be present.

In This Episode:

• Why Emmanuel means more than “God is with us”
• The difference between presence and desire in relationships
• How Philippians 2 reveals the heart behind the incarnation
• Why Jesus’ humility points to God’s longing for closeness
• What it means to be wanted by God—especially when you feel overlooked

Key Scripture:

• Matthew 1:23 – “They will call him Emmanuel (which means ‘God with us’).”
• Philippians 2:5–11 – The humility, obedience, and love of Christ

Big Idea:

God didn’t come because He had to.
He came because He wanted to.

Take a Moment:

As you move through the busyness of Christmas, pause and sit with this truth:
You are not an obligation to God.
You are loved.
You are wanted.

Next Steps:

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear they matter
• Subscribe to The Reluctant Leader Podcast
• Leave a review—it helps others find the show

Merry Christmas from TRLP.
Keep giving God your best—and He’ll do the rest.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul unpacks a powerhouse Greek word hidden in Philippians — συναθλέω (soon-ath-LEH-oh), a term ripped straight from the ancient athletic arena. It doesn’t just mean “work hard for Jesus.” It means strive together — shoulder-to-shoulder, like teammates fighting for the same goal.

Then we take that truth straight into Christmas. When Jesus was born, He wasn’t called “God with me.” He was named Immanuel — God with us. Plural. Team language. Community hope. The incarnation is God yelling into our isolation:

This one’s for every leader feeling the grind, carrying too much weight, and wondering if they’re supposed to fight these battles by themselves. You’re not.

In this episode:

• Why Christianity isn’t a solo sport
• The gritty team-language of συναθλέω
• How Christmas pulls us into community courage
• What “Immanuel” means for worn-out leaders
• A practical reminder: joy grows when faith goes side-by-side

Key Scriptures:
Philippians 1:27 • Isaiah 7:14

Takeaways:

• Faith is shared sweat
• God came close and brought others with Him
• We fight better when we fight together

If this hits home, share it with someone on your team — encouragement multiplies when it’s passed around.

Connect:
Follow, like, and subscribe to keep the conversation going each week. And if this episode helped you today, consider sharing it with the teammate God’s placed in your life.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Episode Theme: How choosing gratitude reshapes our leadership, our relationships, and our mental and spiritual health.

Episode Summary:
We live in a culture trained to obsess over what’s missing. But the way of Jesus flips that narrative. Gratitude doesn’t ignore hard circumstances — it invites us to see God’s goodness right in the middle of them. In this episode, Paul shares how thankfulness reorients us, strengthens us, and becomes a weapon against the lies that drain our joy. We’ll laugh a little, reflect a lot, and walk away with a practical practice to help gratitude come alive in real life.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why gratitude doesn’t always come naturally
• How thankfulness actually rewires the brain
• Why Paul calls gratitude “resistance” in a culture of scarcity
• Where Scripture anchors us when the struggle gets real (1 Thess. 5:18, Psalm 100:4, Luke 22:19, Philippians 1:3)
• A simple daily challenge to speak gratitude into someone’s life

Key Takeaways:

• Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s lacking to Who’s present
• Thanksgiving is a doorway into God’s presence, peace, and perspective
• You can give thanks in all circumstances without pretending you’re thankful for all circumstances
• Naming what you’re grateful for disrupts the enemy’s lies
• Leaders become healthier when love, not lack, sets the tone

Practice of the Week — “Name It Forward”
1️⃣ Think of someone God has used to bless your life
2️⃣ Tell them specifically why you’re thankful
3️⃣ Watch how encouragement multiplies joy

Questions for Reflection:

• Where do I naturally drift — toward gratitude or grumbling?
• What’s one gift from God I’ve been overlooking?
• Who can I thank today for the impact they’ve had on me?

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

My guest is Dustin Scott — husband, dad to a miracle five-year-old named Roman, and a leader who’s spent years walking with people through recovery. He’s from Tucson, Arizona, and recently shifted from working in addiction recovery to teaching theology—because, as he says, “recovery is spiritual formation.”

In this episode, Dustin and I talk about what it really means to let Jesus meet us in our mess instead of waiting to get our act together first. We dig into why slowing down to breathe—really breathe—isn’t some new-age trick, but a way to remember that God’s Spirit still fills our lungs like He did in Genesis 2.

We also talk about the tension leaders live in: bringing peace to others while fighting for it ourselves, holding joy and pain in the same hand, and realizing that fixing a problem isn’t the same as healing a soul.

Dustin shares the incredible story of his son Roman’s birth—a miracle that came after years of heartbreak—and how that experience reshaped his view of faith, leadership, and what it means to walk with a limp but still lead with love.

We end up where Philippians 2 points us: Jesus came close, so we can, too. Whether it’s addiction, anxiety, or just the everyday chaos of life, formation happens when we stay close enough to let Him shape us through it.

Connect with Dustin: Recovery Formation on Substack

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this powerful and honest conversation, Paul sits down with Christa Cordova, a mental health educator and fellow doctoral student, to talk about something many believers quietly carry — spiritual hurt and church trauma.

Christa has walked the road herself, serving in both church and parachurch roles that left deep scars. Now, she uses her experience and training in Critical Incident Stress Management to help others heal, discern what they’ve experienced, and rebuild a healthy, whole faith.

Together, Paul and Christa unpack what spiritual abuse really means (and doesn’t mean), how to spot the difference between being hurt by church and being abused by church, and how pastors and leaders can cultivate safe, trauma-sensitive spaces that honor both truth and healing.

They also talk about:

• Why awareness and self-reflection are vital for healthy leadership
• The concept of the “bell sheep” — a beautiful image of spiritual leadership that follows the Shepherd closely
• The Japanese art of Kintsugi and how it pictures God’s work of turning brokenness into beauty
• How churches can take practical steps toward being places of refuge rather than harm
• The courage it takes to come back to church after being wounded

Christa offers tangible advice for pastors and church leaders, including the value of the 988 Crisis Hotline, why every church would benefit from having a trauma-trained leader, and how building a network of local therapists can transform pastoral care.

Whether you’re a pastor trying to lead with compassion, or someone still healing from spiritual wounds, this conversation will remind you that Jesus meets us in our scars — not in our perfection.

Resources Mentioned:

• A Church Called Tov by Scot McKnight & Laura Barringer
• When the Church Harms God’s People by Diane Langberg
• The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
• National Crisis Hotline: 988

Connect with Christa:
👉 christacordova.com

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

What do you do when the place that was supposed to heal you is the place that hurt you?

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Paul sits down with Sarah Holstra – pastoral counselor and self-described “boundary coach” – to talk about the messy but holy work of relational repair.

They cover:

• What a “boundary coach” actually does (and why you probably need one)
• Why most church hurt is more about relationships than leadership
• How to walk with people who have been wounded by the church – without piling on shame
• The crucial gap between what we expect and what we experience – and how to fill it with trust instead of suspicion

This episode will encourage pastors, leaders, and anyone longing to re-engage with community after pain. Sarah reminds us that healing is possible, relational repair is holy work, and God is still writing better stories for us than the ones our pain has been telling.

Links & Resources:

• Sarah Halstra – Love Your Story Therapy
• Holy Hurt by Hillary McBride
• Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @emotionalsupportpastor
• SarahHolstra.com

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Episode Summary:
In a culture that’s always chasing the next new thing, why are so many young people drawn to what feels ancient, rooted, and steady? In this episode, Paul explores how the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16), the old wells (Genesis 26:18–33), and the deep roots of old trees point to the surprising attractiveness of tradition. Whether your church is 200 years old or just a teenager, this conversation will encourage you to rediscover the treasures that give stability, refreshment, and depth to the next generation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why younger generations are drawn to tradition in a world of constant change.
• How Jeremiah’s “ancient paths” offer wisdom for today’s church.
• What Isaac teaches us about “re-digging the wells” of spiritual life.
• Why the stability of older churches matters in an unstable world.
• Practical ways younger or non-traditional churches can tap into ancient practices without losing their vibrancy.

Practical Takeaways for Non-Traditional Churches:

• Introduce rhythms of Scripture reading, prayer, or creeds.
• Teach church history alongside the Bible to anchor people in the bigger story.
• Be intentional with communion, fasting, and prayer gatherings as deep wells of grace.
• Offer consistency in leadership and discipleship that builds stability over time.

Key Quote:

Resources & Links:

• Jeremiah 6:16
• Genesis 26:18–33
• Want to dig deeper? Visit pauljenkins.tv

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.