Spiritual Life and Leadership

As ministry leaders, we often imagine that building trust is the ultimate goal—once we have it, the road to transformation should be clear. But what happens when trust alone isn’t enough? The truth is, trust is only the starting point. Moving beyond it requires us to invest our trust in ways that actually make change possible, even when it means taking risks and facing loss together. In this episo...

Learn how transformational leaders can unlock real change by listening deeply to their neighborhoods—before making big plans for the future. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Josh Hayden in Ep. 272, Beyond Church Revitalization . "Remissioning leaders have to do the steady work of exegeting the neighborhood, and doing the exegesis work of the church before they make big...

Why is it that so many ministry leaders—people called to reflect Christ’s love—so often end up burned out, disillusioned, or driven by power and platform instead of humility and service? It’s heartbreaking when church leadership doesn’t “smell like the gospel,” and instead resembles the very systems of profit and self-promotion it should prophetically resist. In this episode, Jason Jensen, Vice Pr...

Discover why real transformation happens when leaders have the courage to journey with people into their sorrow and bring the hope of Christ to the places of deepest pain. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Andrew Root in Ep. 270, Evangelism as Consolation : "What we really need, what people yearn for, is someone who will journey with them into their sorrow and to proclai...

The COVID-19 crisis pushed churches to reimagine everything from Sunday worship to committee meetings, often thrusting them onto unfamiliar digital ground. Navigating livestreams, Zoom calls, and online communion, ministry leaders have had to ask: What does it mean to truly be the body of Christ in a hybrid or even fully online world? In this episode, Michael Huerter, author of The Hybrid Congrega...

Discover how stepping into discomfort and crossing borders—literal and metaphorical—can transform you and your leadership in ways you never imagined. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Seth Clark in Ep. 268, Borderless Faith : “Somehow there is this thing happening at the border that I get to participate in, that is making a difference and reminding people of God's love a...

Ministry can stir up all kinds of feelings, especially when we’re dealing with conflict, with grief, with change. And the better we understand what’s happening beneath the surface, the better we can lead ourselves—and our people—more thoughtfully and more effectively. In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Audrey Davidheiser, a licensed psychologist and the author of Grieving Wholeheartedly . Audr...

Learn how keeping “the main thing the main thing” can transform your church’s mission, focus your decisions, and unite your community as one body in Christ. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Terry A. Smith in Ep. 266, The Church as Shalom Maker : "I work so hard to make sure that we keep the main thing the main thing, that we don't get caught up in things that keep...

Bias isn’t always about the big, obvious issues. Sometimes it shows up in the subtle, everyday moments—like who we compliment, who we listen to, and how we respond to change. It’s part of being human, but as leaders, it’s our calling to become aware of those biases so we can lead with greater humility and clarity. In this episode, Erin Devers, author of The Unbiased Self , shares the science behin...

Learn how small, daring experiments from the edges can spark meaningful change in your church—without sending everyone into panic mode. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Raymond Chang in Ep. 164, Building a Future-Focused Church . "We recommend that people consider additional, and smaller experiments from the edges that are likely to move the congregation in the directio...

What do you do when the tried-and-true ways of doing church just aren’t working anymore? When everything you once relied on—Sunday services, eye-catching signage, the best coffee in the foyer—still leaves your church feeling disconnected from your community? In this episode, Shannon Kiser, author of Opening Space: A Vision for Fresh Expressions of Church and Creative Mission , shares about what “f...

Learn how real transformation in leadership begins when we shift our focus from what’s happening to us to what’s happening within us. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Chuck DeGroat in Ep. 262, Fro Fired to Flourishing . “I had to turn my attention from what happened to me to what was happening within me." THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Change leaders cultivate...

More and more, we find ourselves living in what we might call a post-Christian society.  And more and more, preachers and ministry leaders are finding that the methods they were trained in don’t always resonate in a post-Christian context.  In this episode, Mark Glanville, the author of Preaching in a New Key, brings together his experience as a jazz musician, pastor, and a scholar of the Old Test...

Discover why true leadership means having the courage to make tough decisions—even when it means disappointing the people you care about most. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Rich Stearns in Ep. 105, Courageous Leadership . "Leaders have to make difficult decisions.  And difficult decisions require courage." THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Leaders cultivat...

In a world that celebrates rapid growth, platform-building, and constant success, it’s easy to take on leadership strategies that promise bigger, better, and faster results. But when these approaches clash with the invitation of Jesus to embrace the cross, where does true, lasting influence come from? In this episode, Nicole Massie Martin, author of Nailing It , unpacks the spiritual paradox at th...

In a post-pandemic world, what does it really mean to be a “small,” “mid-sized,” or even “very large” church? Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger explore Thom Rainer’s recommendations to recategorize church size, reflect on the unique strengths and challenges of congregations of all sizes, and examine why church health and faithfulness matter more than impressive attendance numbers. Whether you’re a p...

Work hurt is real, and ministry leaders aren’t exempt. Whether it’s being let go, navigating toxic work environments, or simply enduring deep disappointments, our vocational pain can shape us in ways we never expected—and often never wanted. In this episode, author of When Work Hurts , shares her own journey through work hurt, explores the different ways leaders experience vocational pain, and off...

Drawing on the challenges of feeling marginalized and the importance of resting in God’s love, this episode explores the vital role that self-compassion plays in leadership. Tod Bolsinger shares wisdom on facing anxiety and insecurity, especially when leaders are stepping into the unknown and leaving behind their expertise. Instead of "faking it till you make it," Tod encourages authenti...

Josh Hayden, the author of Remissioning Church: A Field guide for Bringing a Congregation Back to Life , shares wisdom from his own journey—moving from church planting to leading a 158-year-old congregation—and he helps us understand the difference between revitalization and remissioning.  He also talks about the power of what he calls “creative destruction” and reflects on the hope that churches...

Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger unpack the fascinating connection between the Latin roots of “prayer” and “precarious”—suggesting that it’s often in our most uncertain moments that we’re drawn into deeper dependence on God. Together, they explore how precarious situations not only shape our leadership but also form and mature our prayer lives. You’ll also hear practical wisdom on leading others in...

For a lot of us, evangelism has become kind of utilitarian—just another tool to stop our church’s decline and hopefully secure a future for our congregation. But what if, instead of simply trying to grow our numbers or help people go to heaven when they die, we reframed evangelism as an act of journeying alongside people in their deepest pain, bringing truly good news to those who are struggling t...

In this episode, Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger explore what it really means to lead with care—especially when consensus isn’t possible and someone might get hurt. Tod brings his insight on adaptive leadership, highlighting the tension between seeking unity and making tough, missional choices that can disappoint or cause pain. Together, Markus and Tod reflect on how Jesus modeled mission-centered...

What does ministry look like when your church gathers at the very place that’s meant to divide? In this episode, Seth Clark invites us into the powerful story of The Border Church, where the simple act of worship confronts separation with the radical unity of God’s love, and where he and his congregants—on both sides of the wall—have had to adapt to a reality in which the powers make it harder and...

This conversation reflects on the urgent need for genuine transformation in the church, rather than simply tweaking what isn’t working. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the signs that point to deeper issues—like plateauing membership, aging congregations, and stagnating giving—and why now is the time for a true “hero’s journey” of change, not just rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. Tod...

Shalom is a biblical concept that goes far beyond our usual understanding of “peace.” It’s about healing, fulfillment, and every part of life coming together as God intended. For ministry leaders, this vision of shalom changes everything about how we lead, serve, and even think about the mission of the church. In this episode, Terry A. Smith, author of The Lord Give You Peace, explores what shalom...