Leading Simple with Rusty George

This week, Matt Harvey draws from 1 Peter 1 to explore the call to live as distinct citizens of God's kingdom in a world that often promotes values contrary to our faith. Peter urges us to embrace holiness, reminding us that we are chosen, redeemed, and called to reflect the character of Christ in our daily lives. Listen in to hear how we can better embody Christ daily. Check out Rusty’s new book...

This week’s Monday Minute! Featuring Matt Harvey the Crossroads NextGen Pastor, he provides four ways we can pursue holiness and look more like Jesus. Tune in to hear these four simple steps of faith! Purchase Rusty’s new book “Friend of God” here! https://pastorrustygeorge.square.site/  

Drew Sherman, Lead Pastor of Compass Christian Church in Dallas, Texas, sits down with Rusty to discuss the dynamics of multi-site campuses and effective management strategies. With a strong passion for mentoring young preachers, Drew believes in the power of hands-on experience—“giving them as many reps as possible”—to prepare these leaders for future success in their own ministries. Listen in to...

Welcome to this week's Monday Minute! We just wrapped up a powerful teaching from 1 Peter chapter 1, focusing on how we handle life's difficulties and trials. Why not navigate those trials with Jesus by your side? As Peter reminds us, our faith is worth more than gold. Jesus assures us, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." So as you step into this week,...

This past Sunday we explored 1 Peter's powerful message about finding joy amid trials. how we respond to the ups and downs of life reflect our faith in Christ. Peter, who walked closely with Jesus, encourages us to see our challenges as a means of refining our faith, much like gold is purified by fire. This sermon will invite you to reconsider how embracing adversity with Christ can transform your...

In this special episode of Leading Simple , we honor the life and legacy of Tony Morgan—Founder of The Unstuck Group , Pastor, and Podcast Host. Tony went home to be with Jesus on September 4th, 2024. Recorded earlier this summer, this conversation highlights Tony’s infectious sense of humor, deep love for his family, and passion for helping churches and young pastors break free from barriers. Lis...

Welcome to the Monday Minute ! Today, we're diving into a key point from yesterday’s message. Proverbs says, "As a man thinks, so he is." Our thoughts shape our identity and how we live. In 1 Peter, he reminds believers—though they may feel scattered or persecuted—they are a royal nation, a holy priesthood. This identity isn’t just for others; it's for you too. So, what if this week you saw yourse...

We're excited to start a new series called Different , exploring how the word "different" can be both positive and negative. Sometimes different means better, exceeding expectations, while other times it feels isolating. In a world that’s increasingly chaotic and overwhelming, we all crave something different—something better. Through this series, we’ll dive into 1 Peter, a letter written to early...

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Schrage from Good News Productions International (GNPI), and we dive into a pretty sobering reality—6 billion people in the world don’t know Jesus. That’s right, 6 billion. Even more staggering, 3 billion of them have never even heard His name. Mike shares not only these shocking stats but also his own journey from being a directionless college student to beco...

John Burke shares extraordinary near-death experiences (NDEs) from people he has interviewed around the world. These individuals were clinically dead—no heartbeat, no brain activity—yet were revived through medical intervention or miraculous means. Upon their return, they describe being more alive than ever, often in the presence of a God of light and love they never wanted to leave. Starting as a...

In this episode, Rusty chats with Scott Pederson—owner of "Celebrate Positive," a business dedicated to spreading positivity. A proud graduate of the University of Nebraska (Go Big Red!), Scott has an impressive background in sports, including working with the late Rush Limbaugh at the Kansas City Royals, serving as the Recruiting Director for Oklahoma State University, and collaborating with form...

In this week’s Monday Minute , we reflect on the powerful message from our recent sermon: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? While we addressed many tough questions, there’s one verse we didn’t get to dive into — Hebrews 4:15. This verse reminds us that our High Priest, Jesus, understands our weaknesses and has faced the same trials we do. Unlike other religions that teach how to reach God,...

In this message from the series Is God Good? , Rusty George addresses the challenging question many people face: if God is good and great, why do bad things happen? He acknowledges that many of us grow up believing in certain versions of God that don’t hold up when we face real-life struggles, such as suffering or unanswered prayers. Rusty explores the false images of God, like the "Bodyguard God,...

In this episode, Rusty welcomes John Burke, the founding pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, as well as a speaker and author known for his works on heaven and near-death experiences. John shares a collection of incredible and often harrowing stories from around the world, shedding light on what he has learned through these experiences. This episode is truly one you need to hear—or see—to be...

In this Monday Minute, Rusty George reflects on the recent weekend message at Crossroads, where he discussed the different versions of God that people often believe in but shouldn't. He highlights the story of a man who asked Jesus to heal his daughter, saying, "I believe, but help my unbelief." Rusty encourages listeners to adopt this prayer in their own lives, especially when struggling with dou...

Rusty George engages his audience with humor and relatable stories, discussing his football allegiances and his family's experiences with prayer, while addressing the deep questions people often have about God's nature. Through a series of anecdotes, he challenges common misconceptions of God, such as the "on-demand" God, the "boyfriend" God, and the "guilt" God, which can lead to a distorted fait...

In this episode, Rusty sits down with Lee Coate, the co-founder of "Growmentum," author of the book "Being Peter," and Executive Pastor at The Crossing Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. They discuss the importance of aligning church vision, strategies for encouraging impulsive volunteers, and the unique challenges of working with the often unpredictable personalities in worship ministry, particularly m...

Damian Boyd opens with a powerful prayer, calling the congregation to surrender to God and listen for His voice. He intercedes specifically for those who are deeply wounded and wrestling with offense, asking God to bring healing and hope to their hearts. Damian highlights that being "unoffendable" is central to the Beatitudes, the culture of God's Kingdom, and the very essence of the cross. Approa...

In this episode, Rusty sits down with Jan, an author, professor, and spiritual director who currently chairs the Dallas Willard Ministries. Together, they explore the concept of "Kingdom Living," discuss the unique weather of Southern California, and delve into the writing process. Jan also shares insights on how to discern when God is speaking to us versus other influences. Join them for a though...

Monday Minute is here!   We just wrapped up a powerful discussion on church hurt—a topic that hits home for so many. If you missed the message, don't worry—you can catch it on Crossroads or through our podcast. This week’s episode dives deep into what happens when the hurt comes from within the church.  Here’s a thought-provoking quote from Stanley Hauerwas: "The most creative social strategy we h...

In today's sermon, we explore the topic of "Church Hurt," addressing the all-too-common experience of feeling offended or let down by the church. Drawing from Philippians 4:2-3, where Paul addresses a conflict between two members of the early church, we examine how unresolved personal issues can escalate into community-wide drama. The key takeaway is that true Christian community is not about avoi...

Kirk Freeman, a former country music writer, now serves as the preacher at CrossBridge Community Church in San Antonio, Texas. He’s also the author of "Threads," a book that explores how everyone can become a disciple. In this episode, Kirk shares a memorable story about discovering the essence of disciple-making during his daughter’s wedding. The conversation also dives into Kirk and Rusty's shar...

Did you miss this weekend's sermon?  Clay Scroggins, a familiar face at Crossroads, shares his excitement about returning after a few months away and dives into the theme of being "Unoffendable." He humorously recounts a personal story of inadvertently taking a long nap on his kids' first day of school, leading to an amusing but slightly embarrassing encounter with the school principal. Clay explo...

Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in! This segment is all about diving deeper into what we didn’t have time to cover in our weekend message. And here’s something crucial I didn’t get to mention: Why should we strive to live unoffendable? Well, one of the key reasons is because Jesus absorbed our offenses on the cross.  Let’s reflect on Romans 4:25: “Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses and...

We have all been OFFENDED by someone or something. This message uses common mousetraps and bug zappers as metaphors to illustrate how easy it is to fall into life’s various "traps," such as consumerism, sweets, gossip, and digital distractions. Pastor Rusty recounts personal experiences, leading to a deeper discussion about the ultimate trap laid by the enemy: offense. Rusty urges listeners not to...