Spiritual Life and Leadership

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! This episode unpacks the concept of differentiation—how it allows us to recognize when someone else's anxiety affects us and vice versa, and the significance of maintaining our personal identity while staying connected in relationships. With vivid examples and relatable scenarios, we'll explore strategies to navigate crises and anxiety within our congregations and leadership teams without succumbing to the contagious nature of anxiety. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Steve Cuss in Episode 47, Leadership, Anxiety, and Family Systems: “[Differentiation] is your ability to notice when you’re getting infected by someone else’s anxiety, and how to stop your anxiety from infecting someone else.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Healthy leadership is about paying attention to what God is up to in the people we’re leading. Our job, then, is not to force people to be something they’re not so they can support our own initiatives. Our job is to take note of how our people are wired and then help them live that out for the sake of God’s mission. This is true, by the way, not only for the people we lead; it's true for the leader, too. In this episode, Tommy Nixon, the CEO of Urban Youth Workers Initiative, does an amazing job unpacking that reality. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Urban Youth Workers Institute RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: Urban Youth Workers InstituteThe Radical Middle Podcast The Future is Here PodcastThe Beatitudes and Spiritual Leadership, with Mark ScandretteYou Can’t Be Found if You’re Never Lost, with Steve CarterDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the powerful reminder that as pastors and leaders, we are not God and that recognizing our human limitations can prevent dysfunction within our ministries. This conversation will shed light on the protective nature of limitations for both leaders and those entrusted to their care. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Mandy Smith in Episode 36, The Vulnerable Pastor: “Limitation is a ministry resource.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Terry Walling is Founder and President of Leader Breakthru and the author of Unlikely Nomads. In this episode, Terry Walling shares about people he calls “nomads.” They love Jesus, but they don’t love the more traditional expressions of the church. They want to be part of the church, but the way most of our churches are structured isn’t life-giving for them. Terry and I reflect together on what a “nomad” is, what “nomads” are longing for, and how churches like yours and mine can love and bless “nomads” as they seek to live out their love for Jesus. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINK: Leader BreakthruThe Nomad ChroniclesUnlikely NomadsStuckDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson unpack a powerful quote from Steve Carter, "You only learn resilience through the fire and through the suffering." This quote emerged from Steve Carter's experience of letting go of everything he had known and worked towards when he offered his resignation from a church leadership position in the wake of abuse allegations against the senior pastor, Bill Hybels. From this, the conversation explores the concept of resilience and how leaders are formed in the crucible of change and suffering. Tod Bolsinger draws from his work in Tempered Resilience to discuss the importance of reflection, relationships, and spiritual practices in developing resilience in the face of suffering. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Markus Watson in Episode 163, You Can't Be Found if You're Never Lost : “You only learn resilience through the fire and through the suffering.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Daniel Lee is the academic dean for the Center for Asian American Theology and Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Doing Asian American Theology. Daniel Lee discusses the fact that each of us does theology from a particular persepective. Recognizing our own "particularities" makes us far better leaders. Why? Because the more we are aware of our own cultural particularities, the more we become competent as leaders in regard to one another's cultural particularities. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: Center for Asian American Theology and MinistryDoing Asian American TheologyDoing Local TheologyChurch Leadership InstituteEpisode 173: The Art of Interpreting Culture, with Justin BaileyEpisode 167: Called to Each Other, with Claude AlexanderEpisode 149: Ministry Leadership in a Racialized Society, with David SwansonEpisode 143: How the Church Can Respond to ImmiDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore a powerful quote from Lisa Lamb: "An abdication of leadership is also an abuse of leadership." Lisa's perspective as a preaching professor adds a unique angle to the discussion, highlighting the responsibility of leaders to recognize and respond to the needs they see in the world. Tod shares insights from his experience, emphasizing the collaborative nature of leadership in calling for change and transformation. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Lisa Lamb in Episode 161: Preaching for Deep Connection: “An abdication of leadership is also an abuse of leadership.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this conversation, Adam McHugh, the author of Blood From a Stone, opens up about his transition from ministry as a hospice chaplain to the world of wine, becoming a wine tour guide and sommelier. Adam shares about the emotional rollercoaster that goes along with redefining one's identity and faith outside of traditionally established ministry roles. For pastors and ministry leaders struggling with letting go of their church-centered identities, or struggling with transitioning in the way they are called to lead in a constantly changing world, this conversation will encourage you to lean into the patience and the inner transformation needed to live and lead in new ways. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: InterVarsity Press bioBlood From a StonePowers and ThronesManaging TransitionsEp. 142: Navigating the 7 Stages of Transition, with D. Michael LindsayEp. 194: Saudade, Leadership, and Nurturing the Inner Life, with Jeff CrosbyDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the transformative power of vocation as they discuss a poignant quote by Steven Garber. Join them as they unpack how each person's calling is woven into the very meaning of God's work in the world. They shed light on the profound implications of vocation for spiritual formation, the vitality of the church, and the overarching mission of God. With engaging anecdotes and thought-provoking insights, this discussion promises to spark a deeper understanding of vocation's profound impact on individual lives and the collective mission of the church. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Scott Thumma in Episode 157: Seamless Leadership: “Vocation is integral—not incidental—to the missio dei, to the very meaning of God’s work in the world.” THIS EPISODES' HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! When I walked the Camino de Santiago in 2022, it was something I had been longing to do for years. After a fairly traumatic experience at a church I'd been serving, the thought of just walking with Jesus for an extended time felt like exactly what I needed. I walked the Camino together with Jon Huckins, the founder and Director of Journey Home. In this episode, Jon unpacks why pilgrimmage is so meaningful and how it can help those of us in leadership to be our best selves for the sake of those we're leading, for the world, and for ourselves. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Journey HomePoint Loma Nazarene UniversityJourney Home RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: Journeyhome.info@journey_home_pilgrimagesFalling UpwardLeadership on the LineEp 163: You Can’t Be Found if You’re Never Lost, with Steve CarterEp 112: The Beatitudes and Spiritual Leadership, with Mark ScandretteChurch lDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the concept of disequilibrium and its impact on systems, leadership, and organizational health. They discuss how prolonged equilibrium can be detrimental to a system's ability to adapt and innovate, and how crises and moments of disequilibrium can actually reveal underlying problems and present opportunities for growth and change. Drawing from experiences and examples, they highlight the potential for systems and individuals to become stronger, more resilient, and healthier due to the experience of disequilibrium. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Markus Watson in Episode 139: Disequilibrium and the Mission of God : "When a system experiences disequilibrium, the system has the opportunity to become stronger, to become more resilient, and even to become healthier." THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Would your neighborhood even notice if your church ceased to exist? I imagine that’s a question many of us have thought about. Maybe you’ve even posed that question to your congregation. Maybe the question should be, as churches, how do we become more present to our neighborhood.? That’s what I talk about in this episode with my guest, Tim Soerens, the author of Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church Right Where You Are. Tim walks us through his shift from wanting to be a big church pastor to learning what it means to truly embody the Christian narrative in our neighborhoods. And he helps us better understand the concept of a parish and what it means to have a “minimum viable presence” in your community. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: Parish Collective WebsiteEverywhere You LookEpisode 129: Recalibrating the Church Around Jesus, with Michael Frost and Alan HirschEpisode 185: From Sunday Services to Real Transformation, with E.K. StrawserEpisode 177: Exploring New Forms of CDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the technological challenges faced by congregations during the pandemic. They discuss a quote from Scott Thumma about the hybrid and customizable nature of the world and its implications for congregations. Tod shares insights on the importance of aligning values with technological adaptations, the decreasing willingness to change post-pandemic, and the need for enduring long-term adaptation. Together, they discuss practical strategies for pastors to navigate these challenges and ensure congregations reflect the ever-changing world. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Scott Thumma in Episode 198: Clergy, Congregations, and Hope After the Pandemic: “Our world is customizable. It is on demand. It is hybrid. It’s virtual as much as it is in person. In the rest of our lives we’ve come to understand that’s how the rest of the world works. So, we really have to think about how do we make our congregations reflect that.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Barry Rowan has had a 40-year career in leading businesses after graduating from Harvard Business School. He and his wife are entering into a new encore calling, which includes his new book, The Spiritual Art of Business. Barry Rowan, in this episode, challenges the dualism of the sacred and the secular, and shares his incredible journey of surrender, transformation, and integrating faith into his 40-year-business career. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: barrylrowan.comFree The Spiritual Art of Business study guideThe Spiritual Art of BusinessEp. 27: Developing a Framework for Intentional Spiritual GrowthEp. 44: Spiritual Formation and Lectio DivinaEp. 94: Centering PrayerEp. 126: A Crisis of Adult DiscipleshipEp. 179: The NeurosciDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the distinction between change and transition. Quoting D. Michael Lindsay, they discuss how change happens in an instant, whereas transition unfolds over weeks, months, and sometimes years. Bolstering this idea with personal anecdotes, they delve into the importance of giving oneself the time and space to adapt to change, acknowledging the losses involved, and ultimately finding comfort and growth in the new realities. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Sarah Bereza in Episode 142: Navigating the 7 Stages of Transition: "Change happens to us in an instant. Transition happens over weeks, months, sometimes even years." THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Michael Rhodes is lecturer in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College and the author of Just Discipleship: Biblical Justice in an Unjust World. From the biblical concept of justice and the role of worship in shaping our approach to justice, to the practicalities of addressing poverty and racial justice, Michael Rhodes takes us into the heart of what it means to live out just discipleship. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: @michaeljrhodesCarey Baptist CollegeJust DiscipleshipPracticing the King’s EconomyEp. 29: Serving the Poor and the ImmigrantEp. 42: Speaking Out Against InjusticeEp. 143: How the Church Can Respond to ImmigrationEp. 167: Called to Each OtherDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the challenge of being fully authentic as a ministry leader. The conversation centers around a quote from Sara Bereza, highlighting the difficulty people in professional ministry face when trying to be their true selves. Through an exploration of the biblical story of Moses, Paul's writings in 2nd Corinthians, and personal anecdotes, Markus and Tod discuss the weight of wearing a facade and the importance of cultivating vulnerability, authenticity, and resilience in the ministry space. They emphasize the need for secure relationships and intentional efforts to be one's genuine self amidst the pressures and expectations of the ministry environment. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Sarah Bereza in Episode 141: Being Fully Yourself in Leadership: “It can be really hard for people in the professional ministry space to be fully themselves.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Scott Thumma is Professor of Sociology of Religion at Hartford International University and Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Scott is also Principal Investigator of a study titled Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations. In this episode, Scott Thumma shares insights from that study, including the tension between clergy and congregations, the rise of hybrid worship, and the ongoing struggle to adapt to a changing world. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations REPORTExploring the Pandemic Impact on Congreagions WEBSITEExploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations WEBINAR SERIESHartford Institute for Religion ResearchFaith Communities TodayEp. 153: Leadership in a Time of Declining Church Attendance, with Thom RainerDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson unpack a quote by Andy Crouch emphasizes the importance of finding the right meaningful risk in unlocking flourishing for both oneself and those entrusted to their care. Tod and Markus discuss the concept of meaningful risk as distinct from mere risk-taking, emphasizing the role of discernment in pursuing risks that are truly worth taking. They delve into the idea that meaningful vulnerability, willingly embraced for the sake of others' flourishing, is an essential aspect of leadership. Drawing on theological insights, they reflect on the example of God's meaningful risk in incarnating into the world, offering valuable perspectives on how to navigate fear and resistance to vulnerability in leadership. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Andy Crouch in Episode 113: Flourishing Leadership: “Finding the right meaningful risk will unlock flourishing for you and the people you’re entrusted with.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Todd Hunter leads Churches for the Sake of Others, a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, and is the author of What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion. In this episode, Todd Hunter and I discuss “bad religion,” “good religion,” and what it means to be the church God has called us to be. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS: www.toddhunter.orgwww.c4so.orgCenter for Justice and PeaceWhat Jesus IntendedJesus and the Victory of GodA Church Called Tov,Pray as You GodFresh ExpressionsEpisode 126: A Crisis of Adult Discipleship, with Brian WallaceDid you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!