Fierce Leadership Podcast (Previously Bible Leadership)

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In this episode of the Fierce Leadership Podcast, Pastor Mark Carter shares what he considers to be some of the toughest stuff in ministry in an interview with Pastor Arman Sheffey on the Fury and Friends podcast.

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In this next course from the Leadership Foundations series, Pastor Mark Carter explains the major purposes of prayer and shares four ideas that will help you know Jesus deeply through prayer.

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In this episode of the Fierce Leadership Podcast, Pastor Mark Carter explains why there is no cruise control in ministry or serving. He also reminds us to keep God at the center of it all.

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Is your confidence in yourself, or in God? Do you value the counsel of others? Are you aware of your blind spots? In this episode from the "Best of" series, Pastor Mark Carter and special guest Pastor Gary Ricci discuss how to remain humble as a leader, keeping the focus where it belongs: Jesus.

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Marriage is meant to unite two people as one, but unexpected trials and difficult seasons can create distance between couples. In this episode from the "Best Of" series, Mark and Mackenzie Carter reflect on 20 years of marriage and share three helpful commitments for building a strong, healthy marriage with God at the center.

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Have you ever felt passed up for promotion?

Bible leaders are reliable – they are marked by an internal and external constancy that is both seen and felt.

In this first episode from the "Best Of" series, Pastors Mark and Brandon contrast David and Saul and give 6 practical suggestions for how get our hearts right as we wait for God to reveal His way for us.

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If we're going to lead anything of any significance there's going to be a plot to take us out through compromise, so we must take our leadership call seriously.

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There's a danger in despising the war because it isn't the pasture. But God made us to fight for that which He has already given us. And you get to the pasture BY WAY of the war.

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As leaders, our disposition matters to God. In this quick leadership droplet, Pastor Carter talks about setting a tone of grace, especially in ministry and ministry related environments, and adjusting our attitude to be in line with how God wants to be represented to his people.

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Pastor Carter continues discussing how to share your God story with gentle clarity as part of the Leadership Foundations series.

Salvation Illustration »

Related Posts:

Why You Need a God-Sent Picture of the Future
Did God Forget His Promise to You?

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The new year is often a time when we’re admonished to once again come up with a vision, make big goals, make this year different, etc. But the mystery of happening-upon a phenomenal vision can be a tremendous weight to put on people.

What if we’re not very good at developing or thinking like a visionary?
What if we don’t get the vision right?
What if I invest a lot of time and energy into the WRONG thing?

Read the rest of this post at Fierce Leadership (fierce.church/leadership).

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Christ is seen most vividly in the compassion we show to others.

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In order to appear nice, are we veiling our allegiance to Jesus? In this episode, Carter interviews Dr. Tracey C. Jones about the difficulty and blessings of going public for Jesus in our spheres of influence.

Recommended Resources

Tremendous Leadership
Dr. Tracey C. Jones
Book: Beyond Tremendous by Dr. Tracey C. Jones
Book: Spark by Dr. Tracey C. Jones

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If you're a parent, you have an invitation to respond to.

God invites us to LEAD our children.

To NOT respond to the invitation means we are assuming our kids will get all they need through media, friends we don't know, music, and every other influence the enemy and the world can throw at them when we are not around.

You can also read this post at Fierce Growth and subscribe to the Fierce Church podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify!

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God has no favorites.

It can be tempting to believe that the success or influence of people we see around us or from a distance is evidence that God prefers them over us, but He doesn’t.

READ this post here: https://fierce.church/god-loves-you-just-as-much-as-the-people-you-think-are-important/

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Leadership Lesson: Refusing to absorb people’s responsibilities doesn’t mean you’re unloving.“For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” (Galatians 6:5, NLT)

You can plead with people, appeal to their conscience, and make compelling arguments, but at the end of the day, people are responsible for their own decisions.

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One of Satan’s greatest lies is the suggestion that feeling close to God is a passing phase.

I don’t want to suggest that walking with Jesus is a feeling, but a consistently cold heart toward our Creator is often a sign of relational distance.

Read this post on Fierce Growth or Bible Leadership. Find more spiritual growth resources from Fierce Growth.

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The devil doesn’t want you to enjoy being forgiven. Even your flesh will resist it.

You might have to get a little rough.

Legalism can be defined as thinking we’re either made right with God or kept right with God based on our performance.

Read this post on Fierce Growth or Bible Leadership. Find more spiritual growth resources from Fierce Growth.

Like this message? Find the whole Shameless series at the Bible Leadership store.

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In this interview with Dr. Tracey C. Jones (Tremendous Leadership), we look at how to lead well when you have a "Judas" on your team.

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Whether you’re a parent, parent-to-be, grandparent, or are lucky enough to mentor kids in some way, we influence the younger generation.

It’s easy to pick apart what other parents seem to be doing wrong.

It can be much harder to see our own weaknesses.

But as far as it depends on us, we need to be stirred up about positively (and relationally) influencing our children.

Did you enjoy this podcast? Find the full sermon series, Grace for Parents here.

Find more parenting resources at Fierce Growth.

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Anxiety is a constant threat that, on some days, feels like it's going to overtake us. In this podcast, we share some thoughts on helping you KILL anxiety when it shows up, and I think you'll be surprised how we do it.

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Grab the complete Killing Anxiety series at the Bible Leadership store.

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In this episode, Dr. Tracey Jones interviews Carter about the price of leadership.

The Price of Leadership Book
https://tremendousleadership.com/
https://www.traceycjones.com/
Tremendous Leadership on Facebook
Tremendous Leadership on Instagram
Tremendous Leadership on Twitter

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Leadership Lesson: Spiritual leaders model and encourage disciplined generosity.

Two questions to ask ourselves about generosity:

1. Am I being disciplined with generosity?
2. If the people in my sphere of influence mimicked my personal generosity level, would the prosperity on their life increase?

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If we're going to do much of anything for God for very long, we're going to need liberal amounts of communication from Jesus through the Holy Scriptures.

Related Posts

Full Message: God's Battle, God's Book
Full Message: The Test of Relational Loss

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In this episode, Carter continues his conversation with Tammy Chapman (The Chapel, Lake County) on engaging with the Holy Spirit and investigating supernatural healing.

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One of the most challenging battles of my life has been the one for INNER integrity.

Is my secret life PROGRESSING and staying focused on Christ?

When I meet Jesus face to face, will He declare that I spent a lot of time more concerned about outward appearances than with living from a tender soul that was devoted to knowing and loving Him?

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In this episode, Carter interviews Tammy Chapman (The Chapel, Lake County) about how the gift of tongues deepened her walk with the Holy Spirit.

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Show NotesIn today’s episode, Pastor Carter conducts a fascinating interview with Tammy Chapman, Pastor, and wife to Senior Pastor Scott Chapman, at the Chapel, a local multi-site church. They discuss how to be faithful to and effective for Christ through partnering with Him, and the freedom and joy this offers.

Relationship with the Holy Spirit and yearning for more. // Tammy gave her life to Jesus when she was 14 and admits she didn't know much. In college, she joined a Christian group and was discipled by a classmate. As she was growing and learning through God's word, her mentor, Jennifer, helped her connect to God through prayer. One of the group rules specified that speaking in tongues was not allowed, but Jennifer told Tammy that she had that spiritual gift. Tammy was moved by how close Jennifer was to God and how prayer flowed from her. She wanted a similar, deep intimacy with God, so she began to pray for the gift of tongues, before she had even heard it spoken.

Presence and power of the Holy Spirit. // Gifts such as speaking in tongues or prophesying can be seen by some as somehow illegitimate, or fake. The Holy spirit is doing a work, worldwide, in His Church. His presence and power need space and acknowledgment. Some cessationists have recanted, and we're seeing less resistance and more openness to expressive spiritual gifts. [Read More]

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Prefer to read this post instead?

Leadership Lesson: I don’t have to listen to this, devil.

Are you taking on too much pressure for things you CAN’T CONTROL?

Let’s face it – no leader is at their best when they feel unnecessary pressure to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

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Part of spiritual maturity is growing in faith that God tells us WHAT we need to know WHEN it’s time to know it.

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You only get one life. How can you use it to make a big impact? In this podcast, we’re going to look at three questions you can ask to develop your spiritual gifts so you can focus on doing what only you can do.

You can also watch this post as a video here ▶️ https://youtu.be/SUG_nMvHM_c

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In today’s episode, Pastor Carter reminds us- YOLO. To fulfill our purpose, the questions we ask are key. Listen to this valuable message to hear how to ask the right questions to develop your God-given gifts. The Church needs you to do what only you can, to make an impact for Christ.

Watch your priorities, you don’t come first. // Commencement speakers are always telling young people, ‘Follow your passions. Be true to yourself’. While this sounds great, and you shouldn’t waste your life trying to be someone else, make sure you’re not making yourself the priority. When you put yourself first, your life will begin and end with ‘self’. The spiritually mature don’t ask what they want from life, but, ‘What is God asking of me, from my life?’.

Don’t ask for only what you want and bury your spiritual gifts. // Make your spiritual gifts a priority, discover them and use them, they reveal your purpose. Remember, the power is from God, not from you, and it’s for building up the body of Christ... [Read More]

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In our hurting world, we have endless opportunities to minister to others, and it's so needed. But, are you taking advantage of the authority given to you to minister like Jesus? Pastor Jamie Wamsley shares a simple but profound model, a step by step how-to partner with God to encourage others in a way we alone are utterly incapable.

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SHOW NOTES ⤵️

Welcome to BLP. In today’s episode, Pastor Carter and Pastor Jamie Wamsley explore how to partner with the Holy Spirit while ministering, to be a clearer conduit for God’s transformative work. Pastor Jamie currently serves as Associate Senior Pastor at The Chapel, a multi-site church in Chicagoland, where he has been on staff for 23 years.

Jesus’ Model of Ministry. // When we examine scripture, we see Jesus didn't wave a magic wand and heal many. He talked, prayed, and laid hands on individual by individual. He did ministry by the thousands, but person by person. We're called to share in the same kind of ministry. John 20:21 (NIV) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” If you take Jesus at face value, he tells us we will do the same things that he did.
Presence. // When you’re speaking to someone, quietly invite the presence of God. Begin a dialogue with God. As they are sharing, ‘God help me to see this the way you see it. Would you enter into this moment, would you open my eyes and ears, would you help me to hear what you hear, see what you see? God would you speak to me in this moment? Would you be present right here, right now, with me and lead this time?’ [Read More]

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It’s always an advantage to consider the tactics of the enemy, and one often overlooked device is his commitment to WEAR YOU DOWN.

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How would you rate your Kingdom comprehension? Is Christianity simply a box we check, a free pass to heaven, or is there more to the story? Join Pastors Carter and Jamie Wamsley as they delve deep into what Jesus' Gospel shows us about the Kingdom of God and what it could mean to the Church and our lives, today.

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SHOW NOTESWelcome to BLP. In today’s episode, Pastor Carter and Pastor Jamie Wamsley discuss the theology of the Kingdom and how leaders can access its full resources, beyond just the basics. Pastor Jamie currently serves as Associate Senior Pastor at The Chapel, a multi-site church in Chicagoland, where he has been on staff for 23 years.

Ministry of Jesus // When ministry gets busy and you’re drawing more and more people, it can feel like you’re on a gerbil wheel. Externally one can see God is at work, but internally you can feel exhausted and spent. John Wimber, in his book The Way In is the Way On, writes ‘All ministry is the ministry of Jesus’. Does this ring true for your ministry, does it reflect the ministry of Jesus, what Jesus did? After being confronted with this question, Pastor Jamie reached a crossroads, he asked God, “Have I gotten it all wrong?” God led him in a process of re-examining everything he believed, Biblically about his faith, which led to a complete overhaul of his Christianity. [READ MORE]

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You’ve been through the fire, tried all the steps, done all you know to do, and yet your situation didn’t change, the thorn in your flesh hasn’t been removed, and your righteousness hasn’t shown like the sun (Psalm 37:6).

Welcome to one of the very last and hardest things to do in a trial – the part where you surrender the ending.

This is an excerpt from the e-book When Your World Caves In. You can purchase the e-book at the Bible Leadership Store or on Amazon Kindle.

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What do we do when the world has caved in but no one, not even God, seems to be willing to come dig us out?

This is an excerpt from the e-book When Your World Caves In. You can purchase the e-book at the Bible Leadership Store or on Amazon Kindle.

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We're going to look at one thing that NEW LEADERS MISS and how to grow that area into a STRENGTH.

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HOW we go THROUGH the crucible determines how valuable it is and how we come out on the other side.

This is an excerpt from the e-book When Your World Caves In. You can purchase the e-book at the Bible Leadership Store or on Amazon Kindle.

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Have you ever been in a long-term trial?

Have you ever questioned God's goodness?

God's sovereignty?

God's heart?

Me too.

So what do we do when our world caves in?

**
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What do we do when God's timing seems VERY SLOW in coming?

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Words oftentimes matter more than we realize, am I right? While it's tempting to shy away, these two types of discussions will change your leadership forever. Here's how to shift perspective and take hold of these opportunities to build up and care for your people and the church. All for the glory of Jesus!

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**SHOW NOTES

• Hard conversations, embrace them. // No one likes to have difficult conversations and our natural tendency is to avoid them, hoping the problem will resolve itself, which only makes matters worse. It’s important to step in quickly and address the issue. Remember that confrontation, when it comes from a Christian leader, comes from a place of caring. You’re calling others to a standard, as Christ-followers, and helping shape emerging leaders... [Read More]**

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In this episode, Chris Rivers speaks with Mark Carter and discusses the building blocks for making good decisions. Chris is the founder of CultureBus, which he created to help teams create tools to ensure a forward-moving culture.

Chris and Mark also discuss the Fierce Code, which is our cultural compact and act as core values that guide our decision making.

Along with this episode comes the Making Good Decisions Tool, generously provided by CutureBus. You can access it here.

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EPISODE RESOURCES:

CultureBusTools.cc
The Fierce Code
Swordgirl Conference
Built to Last by Jim Collins
New to Fierce?
Exploring Jesus?
Want to support Fierce Church?

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Who Is On Your Board Of Directors?

When Change is Unexpected Part 2 (Read at: https://www.bibleleadership.com/who-is-on-your-board-of-directors/)

For the leader, the job of asking questions is probably never done.

Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. - (Proverbs 11:14 NASB95)

A lack of perspective outside of our own can lead to a fall.

This is because, especially when change is coming on suddenly, we are more likely to respond in emotion or impulse, potentially making decisions that could be difficult to undo.

Gather Data

One of the most important things we can do when navigating change is to get good information about what may be coming, and how we can respond in wisdom.

Elmer towns wrote,

“You make good decisions on good information. You make bad decisions on bad information. (Towns, Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, 65)

Because we need trusted perspective that is beyond our own, we must have a plan to bring others to our personal leadership table.

Is the threat of change staring you down and trying to get you to cry “chicken”?

In the next few posts, I’ll lay out three places you can go looking for information that will help you make better decisions in the midst of change:

Your God
Your Crew
The Authorities (not the police)

Think of the following groups as your personal board of directors. Each of them is important for different reasons.

The first place you need to get information?

Ask God Some Questions

Of course, the Lord is first.

Even if you have NO ONE ELSE on your personal board, the Lord is the strongest contributor (plus He has all power . . . So . . . One less thing).

A side effect of change is that it can leave us feeling disoriented. This being the case, during shift is possibly the WORST time to be inconsistently connecting with God.

The Lord knows everything about what is coming, which parts you need to know, and which you don’t.

A plain reading of the Scripture would lead us to believe that Jesus didn’t go heal Lazarus without the Father’s counsel (see John 11:5 and John 5:19). When He might have gone right away, He declined and tarried 2 extra days.

Jesus’ determination to be led by the Father (rather than by emotion or even human loyalty), caused the more-glorifying outcome to be attained.

Ask the Lord,

How do you want me/us to think about this?
What Scriptures would you bring me to in order to shape my heart about this?
How do you want me to be other-centric in this situation?
What are some enemy pitfalls I should watch out for?

It may be that He just wants you to be at peace and be still, or He may want you to jump to action and strike while the iron is hot. Either way, you need to hear Him say it (Here is a podcast on being careful not to walk in PRESUMPTION about God’s will).

Where do you look for answers?

Now is the time to be quietly listening before the Lord. If you’ve kept a spiritual journal, now is the time to review your highlights.

Whatever you do, now is not the time to be neglecting time in God’s word. Not only might He use it to bring revelation on what to do (or NOT do), the Word ALONE has the power to show us where our hearts are not in alignment with His . . .

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In the rush and temptation to 'make it all happen', are you owning too much of your leadership results? How do we put ourselves aside, allowing God do what only He can do, in and through us? In part 2 of this series, Carter and Erin Thompson delve into how to lead from a place of ultimate security and freedom in Christ.

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Show Notes | Get the PDF1. How to stay coachable and not take personal criticism too personally.

Don’t find your value in your performance.
Be secure in how God made you.
Encourage and celebrate.
Keep taking the next, right step.
God’s got this, take steps.
God has purpose in His timing.

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In a world of comparison and competition, it's easy to feel not good enough, different, or like we're somehow falling short of God's expectations or desires. In this episode, Carter interviews Erin Thompson about her journey from insecurity and false guilt to leading from her identity in Christ and His deep love for her.

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Show NotesWelcome to BLP. Today, Pastor Carter interviews Erin Nicole Thompson. She is a wife, mother, author, speaker, and leader alongside her husband and pastor, David, at The Chapel, a local multi-site church. Erin wrote the Bible study Daughters: Your Identity Rescued, Your Value Restored.

In this episode, they discuss overcoming personal insecurities, through grounding ourselves in our identity in Christ, and the repercussions this has on our leadership in and out of the church.

You have to know who you are in Christ. // You may feel different from other people- whether it’s taller, bigger... fill in the blank, but the reality is that this stems from a false sense of self. You can know in your head that Jesus loves you, that you're a child of God, but not feel it in your heart, leading you to feel like you don't belong. When what you know intellectually isn't connected to heart-knowing, it changes your perception of the world, yourself, and your contribution. It’s important to know whose you are and who you are in Christ, how He sees you and how He feels about you. An underdeveloped identity in Christ fuels the enemy’s lies that you wrestle with in your leadership roles- in church and family. Without that strong foundation, you may start to lead out of a place of the negative script you play in your thoughts and labels you believe about yourself.
We live in a visual culture, is this helping or hindering the way you see yourself and others? // Don't compare your weaknesses to someone else's strengths. This happens in the church, on social media and plays into our insecurities if we are not sure of who we are in Christ. The comparison can be individually, or how you as a church are performing. Instead, reaffirm, Lord, this is the lane you called me to, I'm going to move forward one step at a time. Put blinders on, but don't disengage altogether, we can be a light to others.
Don't believe the enemy's lie that what you do is more important than whose you are. // It's easy to go down a negative spiral when you experience defeat, which can lead to self-deprecation. When you know God has a life he's calling you to, one he equipped you for and envisions for you, one closely yoked to him... but you just can’t find the time to abide in Him, you may believe you're letting God down. You may see these discouragements as sins you're carrying, and think God sees this when he looks at you, but He doesn't. Isaiah 61:10 ESV I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. A robe is clothing, it's what people see first, it’s what God sees first. You are free, to see yourself as He sees you, you are not letting Jesus down, and you're free to fail. Throughout the Bible, God uses imperfect people to do the immeasurable, because it's about Him, not about us... [Show Notes]

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In the final episode in this series, Brandon and Carter got together again to discuss two more leadership principles they wish they'd known when they started out in ministry. Even if you're not in a church planting context, these lessons are applicable to leaders in every season.

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Carter and Brandon discuss two more lessons learned in the early years of a church plant: 1) be sure to get wisdom, coaching and vision, and 2) be slow to trust people who brag; everybody starts at the bottom.

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Show NotesWelcome to BLP. Today, Pastor Carter interviews Brandon Adkins, his partner in planting the church, ten years ago. Brandon is Worship Pastor at Fierce Church.

Wisdom, Coaching, Vision. // Lean into these three categories and seek each of them out, you will not lose your leadership authority by doing so. Instead, you will limit your options by relying only upon yourself. Proverbs 11:14 (NASB) Where there is no guidance, the people fall, But in abundance of counselors, there is victory. Ask, “How else might we solve this?”, God speaks and leads through other people. Ask for advice, especially in your areas of weakness or where you might be overlooking details. Hire or find a free(ish) coach, they will provide valuable feedback from an objective, outsider’s perspective. Lastly, you are not the sole source of the church’s vision. Engage your team to contribute to the vision by visiting other, bigger churches, to be encouraged and refreshed by seeing the amazing things God is doing and can/will dothrough their church.
Beware of the brag. // Be patient when trusting others with an important position when they say they don’t have to start at the bottom. Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Bragging is a red flag, the spiritually mature will trust God to raise them up. When you have no history with someone, let them show that they are competent at a lower position before trusting them with more responsibility and influence. Follow a distinct process so newcomers can learn culture, values, and represent the church well. On the flip side, also beware of saying no too early when you sense arrogance, that person may be good, and by starting small the Lord could refine them and you may be able to shepherd them through that shortcoming. It’s important to always keep a will-see perspective and give the person a chance to show their gifts, notwithstanding the nonexistent spiritual gift of critique. The right to critique is earned by becoming part of the tribe, over time.

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So, you want to start a church or you're in the first several years of a church plant? Carter and Brandon discuss four lessons lived and learned over the past ten years since their church plant partnership.

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Show NotesWelcome to BLP. Today, Pastor Carter interviews Brandon Adkins, his partner in planting the church, ten years ago. Brandon is Worship Pastor at Fierce Church.

In this episode, Carter and Brandon discuss four lessons they learned over the years, that in retrospect may seem really obvious, but come from God-given wisdom based on experience.

Jesus over “likes”. // When you work toward the goal of popularity, especially in the form of social media attention or “likes”, it can distract your mindset and motives from what’s important. Remember the difference from what is fleeting and what is lasting, what is world-pleasing and what is Jesus-pleasing. Whose applause are you seeking? Are you focusing more on image than substance? Sensational stories of amazing kingdom work, while super cool, are also rare and out of the “norm”. Thinking that your work has to be newsworthy can pull you away from the essential: the day in, day out loving, discipling, witnessing and pursuing of scripture. Don’t give in to the lust to feel important, do what’s important.

1 John 2:16 (GNT) Everything that belongs to the world- what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of- none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.There can be a lot of “world” in the Church. Demonstrate excellence unto the Lord with your work ethic, your hustle. Awesomeness takes hard work and God is worthy of it, even if no one else notices. Come back to your “why”. Be humble enough to work with the resources you have (as small and imperfect as they may be), in faith, and God will trust you with more.

Don’t make promises with the purpose of keeping others happy. // Proverbs 29:25 (NASB) The fear of man brings a snare. It’s natural to want to keep others happy, but keep in mind that they will bring expectations and sometimes mixed motives. People will look toward you to do what only God can, but keep pointing people back to God and His power. Be discerning, emotionally neutral, and patient in your decisions to reward or appoint people a position within the church. Invest in Sith robes. Watch for those seeking significance through ministry, God provides validation, positions do not. Shepherd others in their relationship to the Lord, to make sure their hearts and desires are in the right place, and that God is opening doors in His timing.

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As we near the end of the year, we thought it’d be fun to take a look back at the preaching highlights of 2019. We hope the Lord uses it to encourage you!

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We know a Sabbath is vital to the health of a leader and their ministry, but how do we actually do it? What activities do we do on a Sabbath? How does it work? In this episode, Carter and special guest Rick Egbert conclude their discussion about the importance of Sabbath and offer some practical tips for success.

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Show Notes

Welcome to BLP. Today, Pastor Carter interviews Rick Egbert, a mental health counselor, and former pastor, on staff for fifteen years at The Chapel, a local multi-site church. Rick is a wise coach and encourager and was integral in Carter’s planting of his church.

In this episode, Carter and Rick finish their discussion about the importance of sabbath with some practical tips for success.

Be practical and make it happen. // Newsflash, your Sabbath will not happen on its own. The day must be identified, scheduled, and protected. Rest both your body and mind. Slow down and enjoy a long soak in the Lord’s goodness. Breathe and quiet your spirit. God will bring you whatever restoration you need so you can go out. Instead of working to rest, we take a day off, then we work out of what the rest brought us. This is God’s design.

Truly enjoy. // Your Sabbath to-do list: have fun with family, and friends you love, sleep in, read, nap, eat good food slowly, meditate, pray, watch a movie, go for a walk, the bottom line is to do what brings you enjoyment and pleasure. Do not rush or hurry. Sabbath activities don’t have to be spiritual to be sacred, rest and laughter are sacred. A good rule is that you shouldn’t do what you “should do”. The temptation will be to do the things you “should” be doing, instead, avoid them. This is a day of replenishment, not drain. Make your heart happy, be filled, you’re allowed to avoid toxic relationships, shield your Sabbath joy.
Be relentless to protect your Sabbath. // Not everyone will be happy with the boundaries around your Sabbath, and that’s okay. Yes, your work is “for God”, but so is the Sabbath, God wants you to be obedient to this command. A burned-out you cannot further God’s kingdom, ministry is a marathon. Learn how to abide in stillness and replenishment, in order to hear what God wants you to do. Remember that the choices you make in your position are by example instructing others how to live. Those you lead are looking to you to see how they should live and how they can succeed. Live a life worthy of emulation.

You’ll be more productive and a better leader. // If you’re under-rested, you’ll be less discerning of the needs of your congregation, staff, and others. There will always be more to do, the checklist is unending. The marrow of life is in the rest. Don’t wait to finish another task, there has to be a stopping point. God built rest into our schedule and wants to meet us there.
It’s worth it. // It may sound cliche, but Christian leaders carry a lot on their shoulders, advancing the kingdom of God. It’s noble to want to bear the weight, but this attitude misrepresents the spirit that God wants us to have. In front of a watching world, be faithful. Choose rest, choose joy.

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Ministry is exciting and busy, especially in the beginning! When we leaders get so wrapped up that we fail to observe the Sabbath, however, we are living by our own strength, which 100% of the time falls short. God wants to do more, and will when we obey and abide. In this episode, Carter and Rick Egbert discuss the hows and whys of working from rest, instead of the other way around.

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Show Notes

Welcome to BLP. Today, Pastor Carter interviews Rick Egbert, a mental health counselor, and former pastor, on staff for fifteen years at The Chapel, a local multi-site church. Rick is a wise coach and encourager and was integral in Carter’s planting of his church.

In this episode, Carter and Rick discuss what all Christian leaders should learn early on: to appreciate and observe the Sabbath.

The demands are great. // It’s a given that as a leader, you’ll feel both motivation and pressure to do and accomplish more. The truth is, you can only go full-force for so long. Some signs of having pushed too hard include: being short with others, grumpy, intolerant, and unfairly judging others’ effort levels compared to yours. Be proactive and don’t wait until your exhaustion is obvious. If the people in your life notice, you’ve already started to come apart at the seams.

Ministry is not about drive. // While you’re doing God’s work, good work (awesome work), this does not excuse operating at a nonstop pace. Going all out often leads to excellent results for a time, and the high of the adrenalin rush will feel super, but the bottom line is... it’s an addictive mindset. “The more, the better” is not what God wants for you or anyone else. Examine your motives. Even though your work is important Kingdom work, it is still work and will take a toll nonetheless.

Pace yourself. // Starting out is exciting and you’ll want to push yourself, of course! Like anyone, you can expect times of busy-ness and stress starting something new. However, keep centered on the truth that your value does not come from what you do, you need not ever prove your worth. You possess immeasurable inherent worth, you are a Child of God.

Heed wisdom. // There’s great value in the wisdom of people closest to you, more experienced leaders, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Trust when they say you’re pushing too hard. It’s easy to be hypnotized by the pace, but it will only lead to burnout. Busy is not a season when you’re always busy, in that case, it’s a lifestyle.

The Sabbath is a command. // Simple, obey God. The Sabbath is the fourth commandment, it is also the longest because God is making a clear point, it’s important. Do you disregard other commandments? Then why this one? Basking in the love of God is a command, let yourself experience this, regularly. You cannot give what you do not have, it may sound cliche, but listen to the Spirit, it’s true.

God will do more. // God will accomplish more through you in 6 days with Him than you can in 7 days on your own. The enemy will lie and keep you always going, keeping you from the rest of God. Identify the lies and replace them with truth. Ask yourself, how do I abide versus trying to get more done? The latter means you are relying on your own strength. The work you do comes from the rest, not the other way around. You’ll get more done and the fruit will come from abiding, not striving. John 15:5 (NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Be practical and make it happen. // ... [

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Is your confidence in yourself, or in God? Do you value the counsel of others? Are you aware of your blind spots? In this episode, Pastor Mark Carter and special guest Pastor Gary Ricci discuss how to remain humble as a leader, keeping the focus where it belongs: Jesus.

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Show Notes:

Welcome to BLP. Today, Pastor Carter interviews Gary Ricci, founding Pastor of New Hope Christian Community Church in Round Lake, Illinois.

In 2009, Gary was sent from his Associate Pastor position at NorthBridge church in Antioch to start New Hope. Coincidentally the same summer Carter planted his new church, about a block away.

In this episode, Carter and Gary discuss how to remain humble as a leader, keeping the focus where it belongs.

You need this.
Beware of blind spots. // With success, it’s all too easy to give yourself the glory. Everything may be going well and you’re getting even receiving compliments over other pastors, but don’t let the admiration of others go to your head. The draw to compete with, and ‘win one over on’, other pastors can lead a belief that your strengths are more important, inflating your ego. Pay attention and don’t give in to the desire to be better than another person.
Illusion of self-sufficiency. // You’ll no doubt be supported by a team of other leaders, staff and maybe other pastors, all with different strengths than yours. Because your weaknesses are balanced and filled by the strengths of others, it doesn’t mean you don’t have weaknesses. When you think your strengths are the most important strengths and your weaknesses are the least important; it’s all too easy to overlook the contribution of others and inflate your own worth to the organization/church. Don’t focus only on what you do, but appreciate others’ strengths and remember your strengths don’t make you better than anyone else.
Face your weaknesses. // There will be areas where you’re less competent and need help, we all have weaknesses. When things aren’t going well, and you’re hit with on-going challenges, take time to acknowledge and be honest about how your own weaknesses contributed. Examine whether your confidence is built on what you can do versus what the Lord can do. When you rely and try to build success only upon your own skills and strengths, you’ll find you fall short, we all do. Realize what you need is the supernatural, not natural. Unity and vision must be Holy-spirit led; Jesus needs to work through the church, it’s foundational. Further, scripture is your ultimate guide, spend time with the Lord, in the word, and pray and listen for wisdom.
Character matters. // Even if you have all the pre-requisites for your position, on paper, your character has to be there too. Failure is part of the humbling process. If you believe the successes you see are because of only you, alternatively you’ll believe the failures are also because of you. This thinking can bring you down very quickly. Or, you may blame others that your plan wasn’t carried out exactly according to your directions. Depend on Jesus and realize none of us are competent, success comes from the Lord. He grows us through our failures. Acknowledging and valuing the gifts the Lord has instilled in others, aids in your humility journey. Ask yourself if, “Am I here to support others, and make it about them, or make it about me?” As you come to the end of yourself, pray for the Lord to bring people to the church. Let the Lord write his name on it, give Him the glory. This is the Lord’s church, remember that He is planting it.
Allow othe

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You know God's calling on your life. You're on the path and boldly stepping forward toward the vision He has provided, but internally you're struggling with feelings of anxiety, frustration, and inadequacy. Sound familiar? It's easy to compare our start with someone else's middle or end, but God has a plan in all of the seasons of leadership. In today's episode, Carter discusses with Pastor Mark Albrecht of NorthBridge Church his personal experience persevering through the two key seasons of leadership.

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It seems like leaders are falling more and more these days. How does this happen? What leads to these tragedies? How is the Church dealing with the aftermath? In this episode, Carter wraps up his interview with Pastor Scott Chapman of The Chapel to discover what we can learn from leaders who have a public moral failure.

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It seems like leaders are falling more and more these days. How does this happen? What leads to these tragedies? How is the Church dealing with the aftermath? In this episode, Carter interviews Pastor Scott Chapman of The Chapel to discover what we can learn from leaders who have a public moral failure.

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So many of us have concerns about what other people think, which is a major detriment to leading strong for Jesus. In this episode, Carter continues his talk with Pastor Brian Davies as they discuss the question every leader should ask themselves regularly — Do I care too much what other people think?

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Why do leaders fall? What can we do to prevent moral failures from happening to us? In this episode, Carter interviews Pastor Brian Davies of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church to find out how we can sustain healthy ministry long-term.

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Whatever your role in ministry — whether a senior pastor, a ministry leader, or a volunteer — it can be easy to get discouraged when you are not seeing much external fruitfulness. In part two of this interview, Pastor Carter and Mike Bryant explore how leaders can help others maximize their role in fruitful ministry.

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Whatever your role in ministry — whether a senior pastor, a ministry leader, or a volunteer — it can be easy to get discouraged when you are not seeing much external fruitfulness. In this episode, Pastor Carter interviews special guest Mike Bryant, pastor and church planter, about not becoming discouraged and not taking too much responsibility for ministry.

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The job of second and third-chair leaders can be challenging and involves helping the people under them, while also representing the leader above them. In this episode, Pastor Mark Carter and special guest Melissa Labellarte continue their discussion about the role of second and third-chair leaders and explain how they can help protect the vision when people are having doubts and difficulties.

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The job of second and third-chair leaders can be challenging and involves helping the people under them, while also representing the leader above them. In this episode, Pastor Mark Carter and special guest Melissa Labellarte discuss the role of second and third-chair leaders and explain how they can lead well, while also representing their first-chair leader, the organization, and Jesus accurately and effectively.

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Marriage is meant to unite two people as one, but unexpected trials and difficult seasons can create distance between couples. In this episode, Mark and Mackenzie Carter reflect on 20 years of marriage and share three helpful commitments for building a strong, healthy marriage with God at the center.

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In this episode, Carter answers a question from one of our listeners about the conflict between Creationism and Evolution. If you have a question for the podcast, send it in by going to bibleleadership.life. It might be featured on the podcast!

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If you want the best creative input from people, you can’t exasperate them.

I feel like I hear about difficult church/work cultures where people feel shut down any time they have an idea. I think this ultimately comes down to leaders not looking for answers to come from the front lines where people are running into problems (and may have some creative solutions). With this episode, I wanted to stir people up about just creating an environment that is more open and optimistic.

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Most of us could use a little more confidence. In this episode, we talk about why confidence matters and four areas we need to repeatedly choose to be confident as leaders.

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Have you ever been concerned that you might PLAN yourself right out of God’s will? Or miss His will because you weren’t paying attention to some fuzzy clue?

In this episode, Pastor Mark and Brandon offer four keystone habits for getting God’s will right MORE of the time.

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Leaders aren’t promised that everyone will always like or support them. How do we move forward when the people on our teams aren’t necessarily getting behind our leadership? In this episode, you’ll learn how you can lead well EVEN when people aren’t following well.

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Leaders face pressure from all sides. Whether it is pressure from others, pressure to be appear awesome, or spiritual pressure, the stress of leadership can be a DRAIN on our relationships, our effectiveness, and our moral.

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies to improve your leadership in the face of INTENSE opposition and REAL spiritual pressure.

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Leaders face pressure from ALL sides. Whether it is pressure from others, pressure to appear awesome, or spiritual pressure, the stress of leadership can be a DRAIN on our relationships, our effectiveness, and our morale.

In this episode, Pastors Mark and Brandon share Bible strategies to improve your leadership when the heat is on.

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Leaders can get into all kinds of trouble if they don’t boldly deal with problems that are undermining their effectiveness. In this episode, you’ll learn three essential strategies for staying ahead of people and situations that could undermine your leadership success.

Listen Time ~ 13 Minutes

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When it comes to spiritual leadership, is there ever a danger of getting out AHEAD of God and not realizing it?

In this episode, Pastors Mark and Brandon continue the discussion on how Bible Leaders can spot the pitfall of presumption in themselves and their organizations.

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When it comes to spiritual leadership, is there ever a danger of getting out AHEAD of God and not realizing it?

In this episode, Pastors Mark and Brandon will offer tips on how Bible Leaders can spot the pitfall of presumption in themselves and their organizations.

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Rejection and unforgiveness are dangerous and often hidden enemies of a leader. How can Bible leaders maintain a soft and flowing heart over the long haul? In this episode, Pastor Mark and Brandon offer three questions that will help any leader think carefully about how they’re responding to bitterness of the heart.

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Have you ever felt passed up for promotion?

Bible leaders are reliable - they are marked by an internal and external constancy that is both seen and felt.

In this episode, Pastor Mark and Brandon contrast David and Saul and give 6 practical suggestions for how get our hearts right as we wait for God to reveal His way for us.

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Fierce Leadership Podcast (Previously Bible Leadership): Recent Episodes

Mark Carter