The Scott Stedman Podcast

In this episode, Micah discusses a pastor who takes time to define the kind of church they are regarding the LGBTQ community and being a biblical church. Scott brings up the importance of defining terms so that visitors and congregants can understand and follow what a specific church believes and make an informed decision on whether this is the kind of church culture they would like to be a part o...

Scott and Micah discuss the issue of control in worship.  Has there been a moment where you were told, as a church leader, that the worship set, sermon, or other worship elements needed to be changed?  Scott and Micah discuss their and others' experiences when they had to change their "normal flow of worship" or even argued and defied the change being addressed. We also discuss that openness in ou...

Scott and Micah discuss what the best biblical translation is and how the answer to that question is much harder to answer.  We discuss the versions we use for reading, studying, etc., and even address people's attitudes when defending their version of being the "best."   Here is a link to video that does a quick, but through discussion on the complexities of biblical translations.  https://youtu....

In 2022, a new business concept appeared called "quiet quitting," where employees do only the minimum work required for a company until they quit or get fired.  Scott and Micah discuss this concept in ministry and what it looks like when pastors begin to quiet quit their ministries.  The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott w...

In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss restoring a person who had committed a sin, transgression, wrongdoing, etc.  We discuss the biblical implications of restoration from sin and why so many churches and church leaders do not practice it. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose support goes to this podcast's contin...

On July 11th, 2024, Religious News Service published an article about Professor Thomas Oord, a member of the Church of the Nazarene. Oord was put on trial for his openness to dialogue with the church about affirming the LGBTQ+ community. This not only led to a trial for charges against Oord, but ultimately led to his dismissal, revoked membership, and an open letter published in Newsweek. Scott an...

The Church of God has been going through a leadership transition in its search to find the next person to be the General Director of the movement.  Last, Week the COG ministry Council and Search team released a job description for an Interim Director.  On this episode, Scott and Micah discuss the role of the interim director, and what influence the director has, and share our questions and hopes w...

In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss the challenges pastors face when returning to ministry after taking some time away.  We discuss those challenges and some of the cultural messaging that make returning pastors hesitant to jump back into ministry.

In this episode, Micah interviews Scott as he completes his second work anniversary at Bexley United Methodist Church. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose support goes to this podcast's continual growth and maintenance. If you want to support the podcast, go to the link below. https://ko-fi.com/thescottstedmanpodca...

On this episode of the Scott Stedman podcast, Micah takes over the show, reads a quote, and comments about therapy being a substitute for repentance.  Scott and Micah weigh in on the topic of mental health and spirituality and why it is okay that therapists, who are Christians, are not overtly spiritual in the counseling room. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listener...

In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss some of the tensions that pastors' kids have with their parents.  We look at cases from the pressures to perform in ministry, to hypocrisy and even how some PKs no longer attend church.  Scott even talks about some of his concerns about raising his kids, as a pastor, on maintaining a good healthy relationship and healthy expectations. The Scott Stedman Podc...

In this episode, Micah interviews Scott as he preached a sermon last Sunday, the first in a long time.  Scott talks about his experience and feelings and advises anyone else who may have been a lead pastor but has not preached in a while and is returning to preparing a sermon. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose su...

In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss how church leaders interact with teens in their youth group.  We discuss whether youth leaders engage with students through social media, which apps to use, and some guidelines for protection for both student and leader. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose support goes to th...

In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss our reactions to the Trump Assassination in Butler, Pa. We also look at what other churches, pastors, and other Christians have responded to it, and the implications of how it shapes our faith development and witness. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose support goes to this...

In this episode, Scott and Micah interview Jordan West, a Worship leader at North Park Church in Meridian Mississippi.  Jordan shares his calling to ministry, the highs and lows of his ministry journey, and his experience of leading worship in various sizes of churches.  We also discuss the joys and challenges of leading worship in small, mid-size, or large churches and how one's heart will determ...

In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss if Full-Time Ministry is a variable option as a career. We discuss the changes within church culture that make it hard for new ministers to find full-time work, the pay structure for most mid-size to small churches, and how denominational support from the national and state levels can help or harm the growth of equipping churches to have full-time ministers...

Every Year a handful of summer camps from across the United States close down for good.  Scott and Micah discuss the value of summer camps in a digital, high-consumption world and their importance in shaping leadership values in children and teens. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners. We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose support goes to this podcast's...

Have you ever looked inside a church and realized there was a flaw in its architecture? As a church leader, have you tried to do a remodel or campaign and realized there are many more structural problems to deal with than first conceived? In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss from their experience some design flaws they have dealt with, and the various ways to meet those challenges.  The Scott...

As our society continues to capture our attention, it can be difficult for youth workers to have every youth participant be at every youth event.  Sometimes it can become annoying as the pressure to have a visible and vibrant youth group becomes a source of contention with the congregation and leadership.  Scott and Micah explore the pressures and how to make honest connections with the busy lives...

In this second episode on leadership transitions, Scott and Micah discuss when it is time for leaders to think about transitioning out of their ministry context. When most church leaders are ready to transition, it is usually too late and the after-effects can be divisive. We explore the intricate details and share our Stories Gone Wild! The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from o...

In this two-part episode, Scott and Micah discuss the topic of carelessness when it comes to leadership transitions.  Most people can identify some of the big reasons leadership transitions fail, but what about the small moments that can have major consequences?  We explore the minute details and share our Stories Gone Wild! The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners....

Have you ever participated in a service where the Pastor said the service is being "led by the Holy Spirit"?  As a church leader have you walked up to the pulpit on Sunday Morning and felt the Holy Spirit lead you in a different direction?  On this episode, Micah and Scott discuss the moments when the Holy Spirit took control of the services we were leaving and some practical steps that help deter...

Last week the UMC had their 2020 General Conference and made some big decisions from their stance on racism to church practices with the LGBTQIA community.  Scott and Micah will discuss some of those decisions and how the rest of the Christian world has responded. The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners.  We thank listeners like Patty and Scott whose support goes t...

If you had attended a church regularly, you would begin to notice that some things are out of place or that a specific area collects all of the "church junk." In this episode, Scott and Micah discuss the reasons why churches accumulate random junk, and how to be good stewards when trying to get rid of it.  The Scott Stedman Podcast is made possible by support from our listeners.  We thank listener...

Monday, April 15th, 2024.  Pastors in the Church of God movement were updated on the General Director search.  In 2023, the Ministries Council sent out a survey to Church leaders to help them figure out the pulse of the movement as the search committee looks for the next General Director.  The results from that letter give insight into the mindset, views, and objectives for this search moving forw...