Spirecast: Recent Episodes
The Spire Network
You’re either in a crisis or heading towards one.
Suicide, a school shooting, and moral failures are all things Rusty didn’t learn how to prepare for in seminary. In over 20+ years in church leadership, he has witnessed some things we hope you never have to encounter. However, the reality is that you will have to deal with a crisis sooner or later. In this course, we take an honest look at the crisis we’ve faced, what we did right, wrong, and what we would do differently if we had to do it again.
Rusty is offering the Spire Network 50% off his online course "Leading Through Crisis." Enter promo code Spire for 50% off when you check out at https://pastorrustygeorge.com/resources/leading-through-crisis/
It’s important for leaders going through transitions to pay attention to what is going on spiritually, emotionally, and relationally in the process.
Preparing yourself and your team spiritually is key to maintaining the unity and momentum for a healthy pastoral transition. Dave and Kyle discuss the personal side of what they experienced in the transition and how they lead through all those feelings.
They also discuss areas where they would have done things differently!
Navigating a pastoral transition is filled with countless tasks.
Dave Stone & Kyle Idleman discuss the crucial elements to set a church up for a healthy transition of leadership. When Dave stepped down and Kyle transitioned in as the Sr. Pastor of Southeast Christian Church, there was much intentional planning that went into the process. Learn from what Dave and Kyle would make sure to do again and their lessons from things that could have been done better.
Make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss part 2 of their conversation on healthy pastoral transitions.
Mitch continues unpacking the five simple rhythms for refilling and rejuvenating as a leader. Receiving our purpose, recreation, and relationships are the other rhythms that Mitch shares more about. Uncover practical strategies and techniques to incorporate these rhythms into your own leadership journey.
Don't miss out on this insightful and engaging conversation that explores the intersections of leadership, burnout, and replenishment. Gain practical wisdom and discover strategies to enhance your well-being as a leader.
Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our upcoming episodes. Together, let's navigate the journey of leadership and find sustainable rhythms for rest and rejuvenation.
Discover why a staggering 38% of pastors have considered quitting in the last year. Mitch sheds light on the underlying factors contributing to this statistic. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and pressures faced by leaders, and explore potential solutions to combat burnout.
Mitch introduces the concept of five simple rhythms for refilling and rejuvenating as a leader. Get an overview of these essential rhythms and join us as we delve into the first two in today's conversation. Uncover practical strategies and techniques to incorporate these rhythms into your own leadership journey.
Don't miss out on this insightful and engaging conversation that explores the intersections of leadership, burnout, and replenishment. Gain practical wisdom and discover strategies to enhance your well-being as a leader. Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our upcoming episodes. Together, let's navigate the journey of leadership and find sustainable rhythms for rest and rejuvenation.
Any ministry with a vision that takes more than one person to accomplish requires a team.
Healthy teams are essential to thriving in ministry. In this episode of Spireceast, we explore the significance of doing ministry as a team and why it holds such importance. Discover the transformative power that collaboration, shared vision, and collective effort bring to the table.
Relational equity takes center stage as we discuss the role it plays in effective leadership within a team. Gain valuable insights into how building strong relationships and trust within a team can significantly impact its overall success.
Discover the common threads that weave through all teams, regardless of their scale, and how they contribute to the greater mission. Learn the vital aspect of caring for the needs of ministry teams. Uncover the most important elements to pay attention to when it comes to nurturing and supporting your team's well-being. Learn from Jenni's experience as she shares practical tips and strategies for fostering a healthy team dynamic.
Raising children is difficult. Raising children while leading in ministry is filled with so many complicated challenges. Dave & Sydney share about how to create a vision for your family and ways to make disciplining a priority in your house.
Getting everything aligned for a church-wide study takes a lot of work.
Dr. Matthew Bates & Tyler Myers talk about all that went into planning and pulling off "The Gospel Percisley" study by Dr. Matthew Bates. A church-wide study is an excellent opportunity to help build community and even support staff in a powerful way. Learn how you can make church-wide studies as beneficial as possible for your church!
No one asks for restless moments. No one wants to feel irritated, unsettled, or stuck. When pressed into restless seasons in our relationships, work, or faith, we feel the hum: You can't go back, but you can't stay here. But what if restlessness is normal, healthy, and even holy? What if spiritual questions are not problems to be solved but invitations of the soul? And what if spiritual maturity inspires restlessness rather than inoculating us against it?
Spiritual director Casey Tygrett joins Spirecast to upend the notion that restlessness is a sign that we must move up, move on, or move out.
📝 Register for the Spire Conference - https://spire.network/spireconference/
📖 Pre-Order The Gift of Restlessness - https://www.caseytygrett.com/restlessness
What do the female leaders on your team need from you as their leader? Find out why it’s important to champion the women in church leadership at every level of your staff team. Kelly Dagley, Lindsey Harden, and Melissa Mashburn are launching a new track designed for Women in Church Leadership at the Spire Conference.
In recent decades the digital world has taken over our society at nearly every level, and the church has increasingly followed suit―often in ways we're not fully aware of. But as even the culture at large begins to reckon with the limits of a digital world, it's time for the church to take stock. Are online churches, video venues, and brighter lights truly the future? What about the digital age's effect on discipleship, community, and the Bible?Kasey Husen & Jay Y. Kim discuss all this and more on this episode of Spirecast!
Equipping new leaders for ministry is an essential responsibility for every church.
Matt Proctor, Lydia Florence, and Ben Cross share their observations and experiences working with young leaders entering the ministry. They cover the importance of maintaining emotional and spiritual health while serving in ministry, the most important lessons young leaders need to learn, the difference between higher education ministry training and individual church responsibility, practical steps churches can take to equip leaders, and Lydia's recent visit to the revival at Asbury College. Listeners will gain valuable insights and helpful tips for providing young leaders for ministry.
Serving in ministry is challenging. You don't have to try to navigate all the pressure and anxiety without resources.
Dr. Charity Byers talks with Kasey Husen about how you can tell the difference between healthy challenges and toxic stressful situations in ministry. Learn when and how to take a break and honor your limitations. God has given you an important mission. He wants you to be able to navigate pressure and anxiety with a conquering spirit from Him.
You've probably heard the old saying, "culture eats strategy for breakfast."
One of the most significant parts of establishing and maintaining a healthy church culture is staffing. Tim Foot, President & CEO of Slingshot, talks about what you need to do in order to staff well and foster a healthy culture. No matter the size of the church you serve, the way you view resourcing the vision God has given your church matters.
Chasing church vanity metrics has left today’s church leaders weary and burnt out.
In corporate church leadership systems, core theological truths are often given a backseat to the pragmatic solutions that could increase attendance, buildings, and cash. The result is a deep disconnect between being able to embrace ministry as a gift from God. Join Spirecast to learn more about how theological integrity can impact your heart as a leader.
Learn More about The Pastor's Table Podcast where Mark is co-host @ thepastorstable.com
Check out Mark’s new course on Seminary Now: Pastoral Ministry: Calling and Resilience - https://bit.ly/SeminaryNowMQ
Every leader knows the importance of goals. Frustration in the goal-setting process is also something every leader has probably experienced.
Rick Rusaw and Kasey Husen explore a goal-setting framework that not only gets results but helps you connect with a deeper purpose. Stop leaving your goals up to chance and learn more about this helpful framework in today's Spirecast!
The relationship between pastors and elders can either be a tremendous blessing or a great burden in ministry.
Dr. Gary Johnson shares God's vision for pastors and elders working together found in the New Testament. He gives you practical advice about spotting areas of concern that may get your church stuck. He also provides suggestions on steps to take to begin to resolve these challenges.
Holidays can be an extra stressful time for church leaders.
David Jack shares some helpful tools about how stress could be presenting itself in your life. Get practical tips on taking simple steps to improve your wellness. Improving your physical health doesn't have to be a burden, it can be fun and something that enriches your life!
Church leaders can so easily get distracted from the true mission of the church and start playing church.
In this episode of Spirecast, Gene shares the core elements of faithfulness in ministry and how to inspire your congregation to stay committed to the church's mission. Jesus' love and mission are so needed in our world today and you have so much to offer the world today. Ministry costs a lot and it is normal to feel like you want to throw in the towel. Get some encouragement from Gene about the hope you can access in Jesus.
Courage is not a one-time decision one makes to have or not. It requires creating habits and a lifestyle where courage can regularly flow. In this episode of Spirecast Kasey goes backstage with Syndey, Ben and Jake to explore courage on a deeper level.
Ashley Wooldridge kicked off the Spire Conference with a powerful message about how fear will blind you to a future God can only show you with faith. In this episode of Spirecast, we go backstage with Ashley to dive deeper into his talk. Move from a leader steeped in fear to confidently trusting God to sustain his mission in the world.
Does anxiety get in the way of your ability to be an effective leader? Is your inability to notice when you and those around you are anxious keeping you "stuck" in chronic unhealthy patterns?
In this episode of #spirecast, Steve Cuss and Melissa Sandel will be discussing Steve's Book, "Managing Leadership Anxiety." Get powerful tools to help you move from being managed by anxiety to managing anxiety.
No church intentionally drifts from being aligned to the Great Commission, yet it happens often.
Doug Parks, Bart Rendel, and Bill Brown talk about how your church can orient its plans around staying focused on fulfilling the great commission. Don't let your church get caught in the drift away from the most important mission the world has ever seen.
Something is not right. The witness of the church in North America is eroding. Many Christians are alarmed by the decline in church attendance and seek a culprit. Too often, we point the finger away from the church, make culture the enemy, and build walls between us and others. But our antagonism and enemy-making are toxins that further eat away at our witness. Is there a better way?
Tara Beth suggests we cast down the idolatrous false images of God to recover a winsome picture of a kingdom of abundance and goodness. We can be sustained by practices that will tune our hearts to God's and form us into the radiant communities God intends for us and those around us.
Everyone in ministry knows the struggle of letting the study of the Bible become a task for your job. God gives church leaders the privilege to teach His Word to His people, but that privilege can easily turn into pressure.
Join Dr. Orpheus J. Heyward, Senior Minister of the Renaissance Church of Christ, for this #spirecast episode as he discusses how Biblical study can and should nurture the pastor's heart.
Something is not right. The witness of the church in North America is eroding. Many Christians are alarmed by the decline in church attendance and seek a culprit. Too often, we point the finger away from the church, make culture the enemy, and build walls between us and others. But our antagonism and enemy-making are toxins that further eat away at our witness. Is there a better way?
Tara Beth suggests we cast down the idolatrous false images of God to recover a winsome picture of a kingdom of abundance and goodness. We can be sustained by practices that will tune our hearts to God's and form us into the radiant communities God intends for us and those around us.
Every pastor who preaches regularly knows the almost constant challenge of making a connection with their audience.
In Sean Palmer's new book, he has brought together a deep well of insights from the enneagram and practical communication strategies. Join in on this discussion with Sean to learn how you can grow in your own self-awareness as you practice the regular art of connecting with an audience.
Navigating your own feelings about the recent violent tragedies is challenging.
Helping the people in your church process these events are even more difficult. In this special episode of #spirecast, Rick Rusaw hosts a conversation with Drew Sherman, Rusty George, and Dr. Paul Alexander that will give you some guidance on how to process your own feelings and best support your church through these difficult events.
Church leadership is challenging. Trying to lead from a place of isolation is unsustainable. In this episode of #spirecast, Rick Rusaw and Matt Regan explore how to take steps to build a leadership community and the opportunities the Spire Network has created to make that easier for you.
The missing element in spiritual transformation for many in Christian leadership is life with the right people. Dr. Alan Ahlgrim wants to help you form the right relationships and habits to nurture transformation in your life.
When your staff breaks down, it is painful for everyone. Dr. Charity Byers (CEO of Blessing Ranch Ministries) joins Spirecast to help you advance the staff care in your church. You will see it can be as simple as asking 4 questions regularly to the people you lead.
Clergy Advantage has been helping church leaders save money on taxes for over 40 years. In this episode of Spirecast, the team at Clergy Advantage has 3 primary ways ministers can make sure they are maximizing your unique saving opportunities.
Even pastors can struggle with mental health, but there are resources to find help. Dr. Paul Alexander has been investigating church leaders' needs with mental health and he has some actionable steps no matter where you are in your journey of navigating your mental health needs.
Hectic ministry schedules make it challenging to take care of our bodies, but it’s hard to be resilient in ministry without your health. Join fitness and nutrition expert David Jack for some practical ways to stay healthy and thriving in ministry.
Our souls integrate into every aspect of life. As leaders, it is easy to lose track of taking of your own soul when you're caring for everyone else. Join us to be able to grow in your ability to care for your soul!
Leading when you're not in charge is all about focusing on what you can control. Hear Jodi Hickerson explain this in her #spireconference talk and then join Bart Rendel and Rick Rusaw to get practical steps for your ministry!
Caleb Kaltenbach provided 6 questions in his #spireconference talk to help you evaluate what the experience might be like for a member of the LGBTQ at your church.
In the second part of Carlos Whittaker's #spireconference talk, he talks about the steps he took to begin the process of killing the spiders hurting his life.
Join Paul Alexander and Chris Jefferson as they engage with Carlos Whittaker's talk and provide some practical next steps you could take to stop clearing spiderwebs and start killing the spiders wreaking havoc in your life.
We all have hang-ups that we continually make but know we need to change. In Carlos Whittaker's #spireconference talk, he suggests that knocking out deep-rooted habits and issues comes by treating the issue, not just the symptoms.
What can I do today to develop the female leaders in my sphere of influence?
Regardless of your church's theological understanding of women in ministry, there is something every church can do to better develop the church's female leaders. Melissa Sandel addresses 3 challenges and how to take steps to overcome these challenges in her #spireconference talk. Then join Laura Collins and Diana Rush to process the biggest questions on this topic.
If you've felt close to burnout in ministry you're not alone. In his #spireconference talk Dave Stone unpacks how he navigated those difficult waters and how you can be equipped to prepare your heart to stay strong in ministry.
In ministry, it can feel like the valleys are deeper and the mountaintops are few and far between. Join Dave Stone and Rick Rusaw as they recount the first part of Dave's #spireconference talk when he lays the foundation to understand what it takes to remain faithful in ministry.
The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Oscar Muriu has experienced what it looks like to trust God to equip workers for the harvest field. Listen to Oscar's #spireconference talk and then join Drew Sherman for the practical application for your ministry.
The Church is enamored with leadership, but we often have a misguided understanding of what effective leadership requires. Join Ashely Wooldridge with Rick Rusaw to engage with him around his #spireconference talk on Activating Team Leadership.
The occupational hazard many church leaders face is trying to do God’s work without God’s power. Levi Lusko unpacks how to avoid this hazard in his #spireconference talk. Join this #spirecast LIVE to watch the talk and then join Nathan Rector to get guidance on applying it to your daily life.
Winning the war waging within you is key to being able to lead yourself. Levi Lusko lays the foundation of what makes this battle so challenging in the first part of his talk from #spireconference.
Why is it so hard to engage with people who are new to your church and see them take next steps?
Gamification expert Yu-kai Chou has some valuable insight into what drives human behavior. Join #spirecast episode 17 to hear Yu-kai Chou's #spireconference 2019 talk and then engage LIVE with Greg Curtis (Director of Assimilation & Guest Services @ Eastside Christian Church).
What should the church do when excluded from influence in a culture?
Jon Tyson outlines how the church can take Jesus’ path of creating authority in the world. Join Matt Reagan and Chris Jefferson LIVE after Jon’s #spireconference talk for specific next steps for your ministry.
Changing anything in a church can prove to be a challenge. Matt Merold has observed some important realities to guide leaders through seasons of change. Get some perspective on how to foster the change God wants to see in your church.
Is it possible to lose your soul while doing ministry?
Working in the church is challenging. If we’re not careful our lives can become disconnected from God’s Spirit. Join Mindy Caliguire to be equipped with how to care for your soul.
How do you lead when it feels like every decision you make is met with waves of criticism? In the second half of Kyle Idleman's 2020 #spireconference talk, he unpacks how you can continue to advance despite any opposition you may face.
To survive in a changing world, leaders must continue to advance into the future. The Church has a supernatural ability from God to be equipped to advance. Listen in to the first part of Kyle Idleman's talk from the 2020 #spireconference where he unpacks how church leaders can be fueled by God's supernatural power. Then join Rick and Chris for actionable steps for your ministry context!
Great storytellers are key to every great movement in history. Dave Stone interviewed Dallas Jenkins (Creator of "The Chosen" TV series) at the 2020 #spireconference. In this episode of #spirecast, you will get to watch their interview on storytelling. Dave then chats with Jeff Walling to help you get specific steps on leveraging storytelling in your preaching.
It is easy to make developing female leaders harder than it needs to be.
Kadi Cole provided us with 3 simple steps to develop female leaders in her 2020 #spireconference talk. Watch her whole talk and have the opportunity to get specific guidance for your church context.
Could you use some help leading the future direction of your church?
Carey Nieuwhof addresses the 3 disruptive trends he unpacked at the 2020 #spireconference and offers some ways your church could leverage this cultural moment.
Every church goes through difficult seasons, but challenges never leave churches off the hook from the great commission.
Jordan Rice shares valuable principles to continue to build a team in a difficult environment from his talk at the #spireconference. Rick Rusaw and Brian Hunt follow up after the talk to help you take your next steps in building the team that God wants to use to unleash a movement in your context.
🚜Is God's Kingdom advancing in rural America? Jerry Harris has seen first hand the unquestionable ways God has been at work in the rural parts of America and he wants to help equip your church to join this movement.
After Jerry's #spireconference talk, Chris Jefferson and Jerry discuss practical steps about wrecking the rural roof in ministry!
Having a heart for people who are outside your church community is core to Jesus’ mission for the Church. It also can be one of the most difficult values to foster in a church.
Hear from Dave Dummitt about how to lead your church to reach the lost. Tim Harlow and Dave talk LIVE after the teaching to help navigate the specific steps your church can take to make evangelism a key value.
Ever feel like no matter what you do as a leader your church isn't making the progress you believe God desires for you to have? Gene Appel, Steven Kay, and Landon Pickering share the unique story of what God did to help get their churches to get unstuck. Gene and Landon will be following up after their #spireconference talks to answer your questions and help give your church their steps to get "unstuck" and back to leading a movement!
Healthy things experience healthy growth. Hear Nate Ross on Spiritual Formation, Julie Bullock on Generosity, and Greg Lee on Church Planting/Multiplication. Greg joins Johnny Scott live after the teachings to help you clarify the next steps for your church to foster healthy growth in these areas!
How can we engage with the American political landscape in a way that doesn't compromise the gospel or inhibit people from coming to Jesus?
Carl Kuhl, Chris Moerman, and Cam Huxford address navigating this reality in their talks from the #spireconference. Ben Cachiaras and Carl Kuhl follow up after the talks and help answer the most pressing questions about this topic.
What does it take for your church to reflect the multi-ethnic reality of New Testament churches? In this episode of #spirecast we rebroadcast Dr. Efrem Smith's interview from the #spireconference. After the rebroadcast, Rick Rusaw and Brad Tate address your biggest questions on how to move toward being a multi-ethnic church.
Tyler McKenize shares the incredible ways Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY is showing up to "Love the Ville" as they like to say. Ashley Weece unpacks what it looks like to be a leader who courageously moves forward into the future. Tyler and Ashley stick around after their talks to answer specific questions on navigating these important areas of ministry.
Does anxiety get in the way of your ability to be an effective leader? Is your inability to notice when you and those around you are anxious keeping you "stuck" in chronic unhealthy patterns?
In this episode of #spirecast, Steve Cuss and Melissa Sandel will be discussing Steve's Book, "Managing Leadership Anxiety." Get powerful tools to help you move from being managed by anxiety to managing anxiety.
(Test) Every pastor who preaches regularly knows the almost constant challenge of making a connection with their audience.
In Sean Palmer's new book, he has brought together a deep well of insights from the enneagram and practical communication strategies. Join in on this discussion with Sean to learn how you can grow in your own self-awareness as you practice the regular art of connecting with an audience.
The challenging journey of ministry is best done with a guide. You may call them coaches, mentors, or sages, but in order to grow, church leaders need guides who call them to action that help them avoid failure and end in success. In this episode of #spirecast, Dick Alexander will be talking about what mentoring looks like and how you can begin to implement this formative tool in your life.