Today on the podcast, I share an interview I did with Carey Nieuwhof on Barna’s ChurchPulse Weekly Podcast. Our conversation was so timely that I wanted to reshare it with our audience here. Simply put – God is waking up the church. The current mental and emotional health crisis is a giant warning sign through which God is trying to get our attention. This wake-up call is vast and multi-faceted. No one leader or ministry has all the answers. At Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, we believe the way through this crisis requires us to discover the treasures buried in thousands of years of church history. In this interview, I share some of these treasures and why they are vitally important for the leaders of today and tomorrow.

One of the greatest challenges for pastors and church leaders in the west is to learn to follow the crucified, not the Americanized Jesus. This requires we learn to surrender our definitions of success, greatness, and popularity in order to enter into the way of Jesus. In my life and leadership, I’ve discovered that this depth of surrender requires the practice of three specific habits on a daily basis (and often multiple times a day!) These habits are so important, that they’ve become second nature. Each morning, I practice them before I do anything else. In today’s podcast, l invite you to listen along as I walk through these three habits detailed in my book Emotionally Healthy Discipleship.

Everyone at some point experiences the silence of God. Even Jesus, the son of God, experienced the Father’s silence as he hung on the cross. These times or seasons can feel dark and confusing. We often wonder if we have done something wrong to deserve such treatment. But the reality is – everything that happened to Jesus, in some way, happens to us as well. A student is not above His master. In today’s podcast, I share with you a passage that has been instrumental for me as a leader. The scene comes from Mark 15 where Jesus is lonely on the cross. I then offer some encouragement for how God comes to us, even in His silence.

Every day, we face new and great challenges all around the world. Just this week, we’ve learned about the tragic loss of life in Haiti and the hostile Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. It’s all shocking and heart-rending. Like you, we pray for and grieve with our global family. And yes, these events, added to the devasting realities of the pandemic can feel overwhelming. This is all a reminder that our own strength is insufficient in order to face these tragedies. Today, we need the power of Jesus more than ever. This is one of the unexpected gifts of this last season. Cascading crises all around the world have exposed our fragility and thrust us into deeper dependence on Jesus. In today’s episode, I offer encouragement by drawing attention to the enormous power of Jesus in the face of evil. Mark chapter 5 offers us the most graphic story in all of the New Testament. In. Read more.

As leaders, we are called to stand in the face of many kinds of challenges. As Christian leaders, this goes beyond surface-level problem-solving. We also contend with unseen, demonic forces through what we refer to as spiritual warfare. But this leaves us with an important question: How can we discern if what we are experiencing is a direct frontal assault from the evil one, or is simply a spiritual formation moment through which God is maturing us? It’s easy for us to blame Satan for everything or ignore Him entirely. But Jesus calls us into a different understanding. In today’s episode, I share with you a sermon from the gospel of Mark which was written during a time of horrific persecution. Jesus shares a story that points to the reality of spiritual warfare and invites us to overcome the evil one through His power alone.

Every leader exercises the stewardship of power. This may be positional power, personal power, relational power, or cultural power. Whatever form it takes, power is the ability to influence others. Every leader also has dual relationships. For example, your boss may also be your friend. Your spouse may also be a co-worker. Or, a church member may also be a mentor. For church leaders who value community and deep relationships, the proper use of power and dual relationships can be extremely confusing. Lawyers, doctors, and therapists are able to maintain clear boundaries with their clients and patients. But for pastors and church leaders, deeply embedded in their communities, this requires a high level of self-awareness and clarity. When power and dual relationships in your church are not carefully considered, you may be on the road to deep pain, confusion, and division. In this episode, I read five case studies from leaders who are navigating this delicate. Read more.