The Reclaimed Leader Podcast

Do you sometimes wonder how to plan Sunday mornings or seasons of the church a few weeks or months out? It’s tough when you feel you’re trapped by the everyday grind. But, it may not be as complicated as you think. 3 ways to strengthen your planning - and your leadership

It’s summer time! And, it’s not the time to worry about the details of your Thanksgiving sermon. But, it’s the perfect time to think about the direction you want to go this Fall. The art of mid-range planning - and the 3 benefits of knowing what's next.

When was the last time you really evaluated the ministry programs you offer? Maybe this summer it’s time to ask: Is what we do matching what God is calling us to do? 7 practical questions for your ministry programs. (Adapted from Dan Reiland's blog post on danreiland.com)

Most mainline churches don’t have many 18-25 year-olds. Why have younger generations largely rejected the Church? Because to them, the Jesus of Church doesn’t match the Jesus of Scripture. In today's episode, we talk about ideas to cultivate gospel hope for our young adults. Check out https://reclaimedleader.com/shownotes for more

Today we welcome back Rick Lawrence to the podcast. In his new book, "Editing Jesus: Confronting the Distorted Faith of the American Church," he argues that the primary reason for church decline isn’t cultural – it’s spiritual. It's because we have edited the message of Jesus to fit our own religious and political agendas - and have failed to preach the gospel.

Have you been thinking about adding a contemporary service in a traditional church? Or just improving one? This episode is for you – how to optimize your traditional space for contemporary worship.

Research shows that 65% of people are visual learners, but I think it’s safe to say that nearly 100% are visual engagers. Rethinking preaching for a visually-engaged culture – and hopefully having a greater impact. Jason will dive in to his process for preaching visually.

Did you know that most Christians only have 10 or less spiritual conversations a year? Maybe it’s a healthy sensitivity for others or maybe we just don’t teach them how to share Jesus through authentic relationship. Today we talk about 3 ways we can help our churches share their faith.

So, are you into true crime? Then you’ve probably already seen our guest J. Warner Wallace – often seen on Dateline as a cold-case investigator. Today we’re talking with him about his latest book, the Truth in True Crime (and it may surprise you).

We’re finishing up our spiritual formation series with what is, perhaps, the most important one: the spiritual health of the leader. We’ll identify 3 important truths to move us forward in faith.

Today we welcome pastor, leader, and author Jim Singleton. We talk about his new book, Attentive Church Leadership, and why leading a healthy church has everything to do with the pastor's spiritual formation.

Following Jesus is more than attending a series of bible studies. It's an apprenticeship that has a particular goal in mind: Christlikeness. Join us as we talk about the 1-1-1 strategy to help your congregation understand the difference between believing and following.

There’s a problem with spiritual formation in most churches – many think it’s a combination of faithful attendance and volunteerism. But is that the same thing as following Jesus? Today, we’re starting a series on how to approach spiritual formation in your church.

It’s been said that the hardest person you’ll ever have to lead is yourself. But, it’s absolutely key if you want to keep growing as a follower of Jesus and a leader in the church. In this episode, we close our April leadership series with a final topic: the value of self-leadership in ministry.

Jesus was always trying to align people with the Father’s mission. Alignment is critically important for churches because it’s about faithfulness. It’s what closes the gap between the church you are and the church God is calling you to be.

If another contentious political cycle tells us anything, it’s that in our culture, we don’t really listen. In fact, we often talk past each other to decide what we’ll say next. But, re-discovering the art of listening is crucial for your leadership success.

Today we welcome Pastor Kaitlyn Wood back to the podcast (our last guest before the COVID lockdown). Now, 4 years later, she’s the Dir. of Church Health for ECO. We talk leadership, revitalization and what it takes to help churches flourish.

This month we’re starting a new series on leadership. What kind of leader do you need to be in order to lead change? Seminary doesn’t really teach it – it’s usually on-the-job-training. Jesse unpacks 3 leadership axioms hanging on his office wall - and why you should have them to.

Easter may not be as big an outreach as Christmas, yet it’s a much bigger in-reach. People on your roles (as well as guests) often come out for the big church holiday. Here’s a quick checklist to make sure you’re ready to engage them.

Welcoming first-time guests may have been an afterthought in your church. Are you looking to launch a guest services team or welcome ministry but don’t know where to start? Or are you trying to take what you have and make it better? Here’s 5 tips to make it happen (even if you have a small congregation).

Greg Atkinson is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, international keynote speaker, leadership and life coach, and business consultant. He has worked with churches and non-profits all over the country and is an expert on first impressions. His book, Secrets of a Secret Shopper: Reaching and Keeping Church Guests, is one of the best in the market. Join us for this incredibly practical interview on...

Have you ever been in conversation with a pastor looking past you to someone else? Or did you show up to church only to be ignored while people caught up with their friends? Today we welcome Stan Ott and Lee Zehmer from "Building One Another" as we talk about moving from greeting to engaging.

Are your people not coming to church because they’re too busy? What if the real reason is indifference? As disciples on the road to Emmaus, how do we help welcome them into a heart-transforming (heart-on-fire) experience with Jesus?

We believe the stories we tell ourselves. The problem is, they may not be true. Why does it matter? Because beliefs drive behavior. Show me what you do and I'll show you what you believe. What does this mean for churches or pastors that have the wrong story in their heads? How can I re-frame the story to re-claim our hope?

Small church expert, Karl Vaters, talks about what it means to have a healthy church of any size. ​Karl's heart is to help pastors of small churches (up to 90 percent of us) find the resources to lead well, and to capitalize on the unique advantages that come with pastoring a small church. Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry. Episodes feature in...