The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Nathan Foster   This episode originally aired on April 14, 2022 as Episode 3 of Season 18   " The Jesus way is clear: hang out with 12 nobodies and then give them the keys. " –Nathan Foster   Nate Foster joins Steve Macchia for a conversation about our awareness of God and quiet reflection. In this REWIND episode, Nate invites us to consider how God often fills in the g...

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rowena Day   This episode originally aired on April 13, 2023 as Episode 1 of Season 26. " There are so many ways that our attention is pulled, and we are divorced from our own bodies which make it really hard to notice God. " – Rowena Day   In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Rowena Day shares with Steve how she notices the presence of God through t...

Host: Steve Macchia,  Guest: Trevor Hudson   This episode originally aired on October 6, 2022 as Episode 1 of Season 22.   Trevor Hudson joins Steve Macchia to discuss what it means to discern the voice of God and follow Jesus in family and vocational life as well as times of discontent and suffering. Drawing from the wisdom of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Dallas Willard, Trevor offers insights an...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " It's important to be surrounded by people who model what a Christ-like life looks like, invest in you regularly, offer spiritual friendship, ongoing guidance and encouragement. " — Steve Macchia   The final episode of Season 35 explores what it looks like to walk with the saints. You'll hear personal stories from Steve and Matt as they share some of the rel...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " Those who have an articulated communal rule of life stick together longer and more faithfully...and go deeper in their walk together with the Lord. " — Steve Macchia   Healthy churches and healthy spiritual communities are comprised of those who learn, live and grow together in Christ. These communities offer a safe place to share hurts and heartaches, pray...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " Leadership is about whether or not the people are doing better because of your decisions. " — Steve Macchia   We know all-too-well the destruction that comes when power, influence and authority are mishandled and misguided in selfish ambition. This conversation explores "power" and how we can healthily steward the influence and authority entrusted to us in...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " If we could practice listening first before speaking, how different our words would be and how different our relationships would be. " — Steve Macchia   Humbly receiving the preached Word of God is one means of speaking and hearing the Truth in love. But what does this look like within the context of our relationships? How do we humbly and gratefully accept...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " That's the hard reality...that I, too, irritate others. I need others to bear with me, also. " - Steve Macchia   How do we lovingly bear with one another and suffer alongside others in spiritual community? This episode tackles some of the hard realities we all face when we stay in one place long enough. What does it look like to move beyond tolerating and e...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " T his welcoming spirit of graced hospitality is to be shared and received continuously, one at a time and in community. " - Steve Macchia   Learning to offer soul hospitality to another only comes after first experiencing the hospitality of God. In this episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve and Matt define soul hospitality, how it shapes and build...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " Relational turmoil and conflict can indeed be resolved as we work toward mutual reconciliation. " - Steve Macchia   When we live in a spiritual community together, it's inevitable that we will encounter conflict. It can be a challenge to know what to do when someone has broken our trust, sinned against us or brought harm to our life. How do we repair that w...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " It's not only my neighbor's will but their honor that needs to be more important than mine. " — Steve Macchia     Spiritual communities are to be marked by humble and meek followers of Jesus. In this week's episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve and Matt explore questions like: What is the role of humility within a spiritual community? How do we ho...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " Listening and presence are the greatest exhibition of love. " —Steve Macchia   One of the ways we love and serve each other in our spiritual communities is by learning to listen well. This podcast episode invites you to consider how you can become a better listener as you receive, welcome, and accept another. Offering practical exercises and personal experi...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott " We are to be like the Trinity and model our lives accordingly. " —Steve Macchia   The perfect church is a misnomer. But what if there was such a thing as a perfect community? The relationship within the Triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is indeed, the perfect community. Beginning with a conversation around the life of the Trinity, Season 35 of The Discerni...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " God's love is the greatest healer, the golden filigree of restoration and redemption of every ounce of pain being carried by an overburdened life. " - Steve Macchia   Season 34 comes to a close as this episode reflects on some of the central themes of Steve's book "Broken and Whole." In this final conversation, Steve and Matt remind the listener that God de...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " Stop. Notice. Listen. Pray. Reorder. Live. Serve. Repeat. " - Steve Macchia   God is a redeeming God. He loves to redeem, and He can and will redeem anything as long as it's brought into the light. This podcast conversation explores how God brings about redemption and transformation in our souls as we learn to reorder our loves. Looking at people, possessio...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott " Courage is not found in the human strength required to vault but in the Spirit's power that comes alive in the decision to persevere. " - Steve Macchia   We've all experienced heartache and sorrow in our lives. And to resolve that our pain will not be wasted requires great courage, resilience, and trust. This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast explore...

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott "Hope in the heart breeds generosity unmeasured. " - Steve Macchia   How do we hold onto hope in times of despair? This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast explores how we can hold fast to hope by believing, trusting, and resting in a God who is unfailing in His power and promises. If you're needing a renewed sense of hope amidst the challenges of daily...