The Leader Lounge

Send us Fan Mail I was skipping down the hallway dressed like a hamster. I'm 53 years old — and I love getting to do this 'cause it keeps me young. Camp season is here. In this special episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily  kick off a three-part series for leaders getting ready to take kids to camp. This first installment is the big-picture conversation; your walk with Jesus, thi...

Send us Fan Mail Anything that draws attention to you and your table, we probably just shouldn't do. Camp doesn't start when you get there — it starts the second you walk into the parking lot to get on the bus. In Part 2 of The Leader Lounge's three-part camp series, Chris and Emily Storms get specific, walking through camp trip location by location: the bus ride, welcome, leader lo...

Send us Fan Mail I'll eat every sardine in camp before I would get on the swing. The final installment of The Leader Lounge's three-part camp series brings it home. Chris and Emily walk through the rest of camp — the club room, the cabins, cabin time, all-camp events, rides, and free time — with the same practical, leader-tested thoughts. Chris talks pranks, lights-out, and respecting th...

Send us Fan Mail The people chose to stay in the desolate place with Jesus rather than somewhere else without him. What happens when an exhausted, grieving Jesus is interrupted by a crowd of thousands? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily read the feeding of the 5,000 across all four Gospels (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6) — the only miracle besides the resurrection that show...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus bends down, writes in the dirt, and gives a shamed woman her dignity back — then does the same for her accusers. What do you do with a story that doesn't even appear in the earliest manuscripts? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms walk through the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53–8:11) — starting with why your Bible has tha...

Send us Fan Mail The outsider becomes the host to more outsiders — what Matthew's calling teaches us about reaching kids far from Jesus. What happens when Jesus walks up to the most hated guy in town and says, "Follow me"? In this episode of The Leader Lounge,  Chris and Emily Storms return to their original format — reading the calling of Matthew across all three Synoptic Gospels (...

Send us Fan Mail Two lost sons, one running father, and a party you might be missing. What if the parable of the Prodigal Son isn't really about one lost son — but two? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily Storms dig into Luke 15:11-32 and unpack the story Jesus told the Pharisees about a reckless younger brother, a self-righteous older brother, and a father who ran to them b...

Send us Fan Mail The hated tax collector thought he was hunting Jesus down. Turns out Jesus was the one doing the seeking. Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing through Jericho — but when Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name, everything changed. In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms walk through Luke 19:1-10...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk about Jesus standing on the beach when the disciples had fished all night. Similar to the story of Jesus first time calling Peter, Jesus fills their nets with fish! Then, he cooks them some breakfast and has a conversation with Peter, restoring him and telling him to follow him again! Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk about the two disciples on the road to a town called Emmaus and the encounter they had with the resurrected Jesus. The walk with him while he unpacks the whole Old Testament and explains how everything that happened to him was to fulfill the law and the prophets. But, the whole time they were walking they didn't realize it was Jesus. It wasn't unt...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore the story of the Resurrection of Jesus from John's account. RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED The Resurrection Story - 4 Guys Telling The Story "The Face of God" Michael & The Shroud of Turin | Dr. Jeremiah Johnston - Michael Knowles YouTube Channel Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we complete a 3-part discussion about Jesus and the cross. All 4 Gospels give details about Jesus betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. For this one, we focus all the details laid out in John's account. RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED Pontius Pilate: An Archaeological Biography Chart of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Note: We provide links to speci...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue a 3-part discussion about Jesus and the cross. All 4 Gospels give details about Jesus betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. For this one, we focus all the details laid out in Matthew and Luke. Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our&...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we begin to have a 3-part discussion about Jesus heading toward the cross. All 4 Gospels give details about Jesus betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. For this one, we focus all the details laid out in Chapter 14 and 15 of Mark's account. RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED I Am Barabbas by Josiah Queen Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we read John 11:1-50 and discuss the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus got word that Lazarus was sick, but he stayed where he was long enough for Lazarus to die. His disciples couldn't believe when he wanted to go back to Judea because the Jewish leaders had already tried to kill him there. When they arrived, Lazarus' sisters,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we use a few different parts of scripture to talk about sin, then we finish up with the story of Jesus talking with a rich young man. The man asks Jesus what must be done to inherit eternal life. Jesus invites to man give up all his stuff and come follow him, but instead of following, the man turns around and walks away.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR Some of the scriptures...

Send us Fan Mail A tired Jesus, a noon well, and the first person he openly tells "I am he." Why does Jesus "have to" pass through Samaria when most Jews walked miles out of the way to avoid it? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily  walk through John 4:1-42 in three sections — the thirsty conversation, the five-husbands moment, and the town that believes becaus...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus gets in a boat with his disciples and says, "Let's go to the other side of the lake." Then, he finds a cozy spot in the back of the boat and falls asleep. Without warning, a fierce storm comes upon the lake. The wind and the waves appear to be too much for the small boat. It starts taking on water and the disciples, including several seasoned fishermen, are te...

Send us Fan Mail Four friends, a torn-open roof, and a Jesus who forgives before he heals. Who are the four friends who would carry you to Jesus when you can't walk yourself? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms read the healing of the paralytic across all three Synoptic Gospels — Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, and Luke 5:17-26 — and compare the eyewitn...

Send us Fan Mail Six stone jars, 180 gallons of wine, and a family that should have been shamed — but got the best party instead. What does Jesus choose for his very first sign? A wedding running out of wine. In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms walk through John 2:1-12 and the wedding at Cana, unpacking the cultural weight of a week-long Jewish wedding,...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus asks a few fishermen to follow him and they do! It might have had something to do with what they already knew about him, or what John the Baptist said about him. And, what probably sealed the deal was all the fish he miraculously filled their nets and boats with. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR Chris & Emily's backgrounds in ministry and education. The synoptic gospels - Matthew...

Send us Fan Mail We talk about Phillip's conversation with Nathaniel regarding Jesus. Nathaniel is skeptical at first, but Phillip invites him to "come and see" for himself. Nathaniel quickly comes to believe that Jesus is Lord.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR Emily is handwriting the Bible. Background of John the Baptist and Jesus John 1:43-51 John says "The next day." So, what happe...

Send us Fan Mail This is our first episode. We spend a few minutes talking about why we are doing this and what we hope it will be for you. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR A story about Bible stories Is the Bible a reference book or something we know and memorize? Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Who this podcast is for: youth leaders, parents, people who love the Bible. These podcasts will be under 20 minutes. RESOURCES/LIN...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Leader Lounge Podcast, where youth ministry leaders and parents come together to dive into Bible stories with a curiosity that will bring the stories to life and plant them in our hearts. First episode is January 6, 2026! WHAT TO LISTEN FOR Host Introductions Podcast Mission Format Preview RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED Young Life Seminole County Note: We provide links t...