Embracing Gratitude Amidst Anxiety In Episode 347 of Transforming Mission’s podcast, we’re continuing to explore the theme of gratitude, particularly from the perspective of trusting in God during times of anxiety and need. We recorded this episode during the week of the 2024 Presidential Election and addresses the uncertainty and strong emotions t…

Embracing Gratitude: Lessons from Luke 17 In Episode 346, discover how gratitude is not just a polite habit, but a vital aspect of faith and leadership. Dive into the Biblical story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17, and explore how only one healed returned to thank Jesus, reflecting a deeper understanding of grace. Understand how recognizing and express…

In Episode 345, Everyday Transformation: The Sweet Spot of Hope, listen to explore Hebrews 12:1-6 and 'The Sweet Spot of Hope.' Reflect on the shaping influences of your faith while you learn about the 'great cloud of witnesses' and the importance of overcoming life's obstacles. Through personal stories and testimonies, gain insight into perseveran…

Episode 344 looks at hope and transformation through the lens of Revelation 21:1-7. Journey through the vision of a new heaven and a new earth, understanding God's promise of making all things new amidst the uncertainties of present challenges. Reflect on the intimate relationship depicted between God and God’s people, and your role in this ongoing…

Episode 343, The Power of Hope, explores the themes of hope and God's presence in John 14:1-9. The episode navigates the comforting words of Jesus to his disciples, promising a place for them even in times of uncertainty. Through personal stories and reflections, Tim and Sara illustrate how God's presence can bring peace and hope in life's anxious …

Everyday Transformation: Empowered by the Spirit This week, look at how the Spirit empowers you to share God's love as we focus on Luke 4:16-20. You'll explore how Jesus proclaimed his mission and how the Spirit enables us to live and lead with God's love. Topics include overcoming barriers, the power of encouragement, and living out the gospel mes…

Everyday Transformation: Responding to God's Call Mark 1:16-20 invites listeners to explore God’s call and claim on their lives. Under the larger theme of everyday transformation, join us to examine the calling of the first disciples as well as your call. You'll hear insights on the practical call to follow Jesus, the significance of discipleship i…

Authority of Jesus in Confronting Evil and Suffering In episode 340, we dive into the theme of everyday transformation by exploring Mark 1:21-28. Discussing the authority of Jesus and his role in countering evil, Tim and Sara offer insights on opposition to suffering and the importance of love in confronting modern-day issues. Through this episode,…

Experiencing Jesus Through Reflection and Relationships You are invited to join a new series focused on intentional discipleship and transformation through Jesus. The episode explores the importance of reflecting on daily experiences to encounter Jesus and foster spiritual growth. Sara shares insights from her research, revealing that transformatio…

Rise Above: Crucial Conversations Welcome to episode 338 of the Transforming Mission Podcast! In this episode, we explore what it means to have crucial conversations—those delicate discussions where different opinions and significant relational investments are at play. We ask key questions like, 'Am I ready to sit next to you rather than across fro…

Explore how your relationship with Jesus can guide you to rise above cultural divisiveness, focusing on nurturing righteous relationships within the church and community. Understand the importance of spiritual disciplines, scripture interpretation, and the greatest commandment to love God and neighbors. The conversation addresses the misuse of scri…

“RIse Above With Your Words” explores how Christ-centered leaders can influence their communities through the integrity and alignment of their words and actions. Join us as we discuss the spiritual and cultural importance of cohesive speech and behavior, referencing Biblical teachings from Ephesians and the example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Health is…

Episode 335: The Sweet Spot of Hope In episode 335, The Sweet Spot of Hope, discover how the intersection of future aspirations and present actions creates a 'sweet spot of hope.' Learn how to balance your ability to shape the future with the understanding of your limits. Engage in a reflective experiment on recent accomplishments and future possib…

In episode 334, Is it Optimism or Hope?, the hosts discuss the critical differences between optimism and hope, emphasizing how Christian leaders can facilitate and empower hope among their followers. They highlight the distinct role of agency in hope, sharing personal anecdotes and the story of Admiral Stockdale to illustrate the concept. The conve…

In this episode, dive into why hope is a fundamental driver of life's most desired behaviors and outcomes. You'll learn how hope influences simple actions and outcomes like showing up, boosting productivity, enhancing well-being, and even improving health. Explore the fascinating correlation between hope and mortality, and envision how the church c…

What is nexting? No that’s not a typo. The concept of 'nexting' is a practice of hope that involves anticipating and planning for the future. Explore how hopeful vision and emotional intelligence can guide church leaders in navigating their leadership. Whether you’re working on a new sermon series, seeking to engage your community, and/or creating …

Welcome to a new series focused on hope. Join us as we discus how our beliefs shape our hope and introduce the traits of hopeful people. We’ll look at the difference between hope and wishful thinking, emphasizing hope as a confluence of reason, passion, and resilience. We’ll introduce you to the hope cycle (or remind you if you’ve been around a whi…

Living Our Mission: The Role and Impact of the Church Today Gain insights into the unique aspects of the church, the importance of staying connected to the mission, and how to function as the body of Christ in today's world. Learn about essential church functions, the impact of church size on living into the mission, and practical ways to engage an…

In episode 329, the conversation continues from episode 328, transitioning from discussing worship to the art and significance of preaching. Tim shares about the use of the lectionary in preaching, the importance of cultivating relationships with Jesus and people, and effective sermon preparation techniques. He includes his thoughts on various aspe…

This week our discussion centers around worship, exploring the purpose of worship, key elements of worship planning, and the impact of preferences on worship services. As a reminder, worship is centered on connecting with God and living out God's love in everyday situations. Important aspects like music, liturgy, and the need for a collaborative ap…

As we continue the Ministry Masterclass series, this week we’re focusing on leadership. We’ll look at an exploration of leadership influences and how their teachings have shaped our leadership. We’ll look at the habits and experiences that fuel effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, generosity, and daily reflection. Then …

Creating and Implementing a Discipleship Pathway: Insights and Practical Tips In Episode 326, we dive deep into the crucial subject of discipleship. This week's episode focused on faith formation. You might call it discipleship or disciple-making. Whatever language you use, we’re focusing on what it means to help people become and deepen their rela…

Welcome to a new series, entitled 'Ministry Masterclass.' This month we’re celebrating Tim’s 50+ years of leadership as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. Sara’s inviting Tim to share his wisdom about five key topics for ministry: mission, discipleship, leadership, worship and preaching and the church. We’ll cover each topic in a separate epi…

Weeds and Seeds of Ministry: Breaking Free from Status Quo Episode 324 shares the seventh weed and seed of ministry. You’re invited to get beyond the weeds - the hurdles like overwhelm, fear, and isolation, we’ve termed as 'weeds.' Instead, let’s focus on solutions called 'seeds.' The seeds promote growth and effective leadership. This week’s 'weed…

The 'weeds' and 'seeds' in leadership and ministry. Weeds symbolize the obstacles that hinder effective leadership, while seeds represent the positive approaches and practices that promote growth and effective leadership. The episode focuses on the weed 'Know It All Narcissus' which represents individuals with a fixed mindset, unwilling to learn or…

Anything Goes Anemone and Pathway of Palms We’re on the fifth episode of examining the challenges (weeds) and positive practices (seeds) in ministry leadership. You can find previous episodes on the show notes page. 'Weeds' are obstacles like fear, time constraints, and isolation. These are things that can hamper growth and effectiveness in leaders…

The 'Center of Attention Snapdragon' and 'Mission Myrtle' are the weeds and seeds we explore in this episode. The episode discusses the concept of 'weeds' in ministry, which are obstacles like overwhelm, fear, isolation, and becoming too self-focused, that hinder leaders from fulfilling their divine purpose. These weeds can choke out effectiveness …

In episode 320, 'The Weeds and Seeds of Ministry: Micromanaging Millet and Trusting Thyme,' hosts Sara and Tim explore the concept of 'weeds' that hinder leadership effectiveness, such as micromanagement, and 'seeds' that promote growth, like building trust. They discuss how micromanaging, often rooted in insecurity or a lack of self-awareness, can…

In Episode 319 of the Transforming Mission podcast titled 'Weeds and Seeds of Ministry, Part Two,' the hosts dive into the concept of 'weeds' that can hinder ministry effectiveness, such as overwhelm, fear, and isolation, and how 'seeds' can serve as solutions to these issues. The episode emphasizes the importance of identifying and managing these …

Episode 318 starts a new series on the podcast, 'The Weeds and Seeds of Ministry.' Join us to look at things that get in the way of ministry effectiveness and things that fuel missional impact. This episode draws from biblical parables regarding seeds. Using the analogy of weeds and seeds, let’s explore the challenges (weeds) and solutions/response…

Episode 317, 'Resurrection Choices', explores the theme of resurrection as a metaphor for leadership and personal growth. In this Easter season episode, the hosts discuss how the concept of resurrection symbolizes the possibility of new life and hope emerging from failure and setbacks. They introduce a three-step process inspired by Brene Brown's w…

Episode 316 of Transforming Mission’s podcast, titled 'A Week of Choices,' guides listeners through a scriptural journey for each day of Holy Week. Starting with Monday before Easter and culminating on Easter Sunday, the episode features daily scripture readings from the Gospel of John, accompanied by thoughtful prayers. These readings and prayers …

In episode 315 of the Transforming Mission podcast, we look at Mark 11, focusing on the anticipation of Palm Sunday, the nuances of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and the journey through Lent toward Holy Week. Unlike the other gospels, Mark's account omits certain details, such as the triumphal nature of the entry and the presence of palm branches, o…

We’re looking at John 12 and the broader narrative of John's Gospel to explore the theme of discipleship and the invitation to follow Jesus. The initial invitation 'come and see' was extended to the first Jewish disciples in John 1. Now, in John 12 the same invitation is extended to Greek-speaking would-be disciples. As the disciples examine Jesus'…

Episode 313, 'Perceptions that Shape your Choices,' explores the critical role of choice in Christ-centered leadership, especially during the Lenten season. The hosts, Sara and Tim, discuss how leadership is more than a position of power; it's a series of deliberate choices that reflect one’s character and influence. When you examine John 3:14-21 t…

In this episode, Sara and Tim discuss John 12:13-22 where Jesus overturns tables in the temple. They interpret it as a call for transformation, highlighting the choice presented: either adhering to the institutional trappings of religion or opening oneself to the movement of God. The hosts invite listeners to reflect on the influence of the church,…

During Lent, we're looking at the choices presented to us as leaders. The choice this week comes in the form of love. Look at 'cost of discipleship' and the choice to embrace the cost of love. Tim and Sara discuss a passage from Mark's Gospel, which conveys Jesus anticipating His death and resurrection. They focus on the concept of 'cost,' which is…

In episode 310 of the Transforming Missions podcast, Tim and Sara explore the journey of Lent, beginning with the Gospel passage for Sunday, Mark 1:9-15. The discussion focuses on the theme of choices that Jesus makes in the wilderness and the relevance for today's Christian leaders. The temptation to go for expediency and quick solutions versus ta…

Do you know what makes you amazing? Join us to focus on your strengths and unique abilities as we explore the idea of embracing one's uniqueness and living out our purpose, using examples and scripture references along the way. Do you know your CliftonStrengths and how they empower and animate your ministry? We'd love to partner with you and your l…

Explore the concept of integrity and integration in the church and its impact on the world. How does living out one's faith in everyday life point to integrity? What does loving God and neighbors have to do with leading with integrity? Join us for this conversation and reflect on the importance of integrity in transforming lives and communities. Li…

In this episode, we look at 3 ways to stay focused on our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world. The mission serves as the guideline for making decisions and spurring people to action. On examining Matthew 28:16-20, we see a refocus on our primary task, that is, to create disciples who will further make disciples. We disc…

Can you use ChatGPT in ministry? Yes, you can. You'll hear a variety of ways in which you can effectively utilize ChatGPT, including generating sermon topics, formulating questions, testing the clarity of your communication, drafting social media posts, planning, summarizing sermons, generating sermon titles, creating templates, and getting a start…

We're kicking off the new year with the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of ministry. Explore what AI is and how it's already integrated into our everyday lives. Look at the implications for the future, especially in ministry. Finally, reflect on a discussion about potential ethical concerns, the impact on personal privacy, and …

In this final episode of the year, contemplate the birth of Jesus from a new perspective. Join us to reflect on the basic message of the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2, focusing on the involvement of shepherds and women to underscore God's message of inclusivity. The main theme of the episode is 'seeing', an act marked by awareness and recognition rather…

In episode 303 of the podcast, Tim and Sara discuss rethinking the birth of Jesus, using Marcus Borg's phrase 'seeing Jesus again for the first time' as a jumping-off point. They explore the story of the annunciation to Mary, the power of the Incarnation, and Mary's reaction to the news she received from the angel Gabriel as a testament to encounte…

In Episode 302 of the podcast, hosts Sara and Tim explore the theme 'Rethinking Your Focus', in the context of Advent. During this conversation, you’ll be encouraged to shift your focus from your personal experiences and desires to the teachings and actions of Jesus. Scriptural references, particularly to the self-giving life of John the Baptist, u…

In episode 301 of the Transforming Missions podcast, Tim and Sara dive into the second episode of their series, Rethinking Advent. They explore the concept of Advent as a time of conscious preparation and invitation into a deeper, spiritual experience of Christmas. Using the metaphor of a journey across a bridge, they emphasize the necessity of slo…

The 300th episode of Transforming Mission's podcast offers an in-depth exploration of the Advent season, focusing on the original intent of Advent as a time of waiting and preparing for not just the birth of Jesus, but also the second coming of Jesus. Tim and Sara, discuss the concept of hope and hurt, and how both realities intermingle during the …

Four Marks of A Missional Church emphasizes the transformation from traditional views of the church to a dynamic, relational, and missional understanding. It challenges leaders to rethink church as an active, loving community, deeply embedded in everyday life and relationships, partnering with Jesus in a mission of love and hope. Read more & listen…

In this episode of the Transforming Missions podcast, we invite leaders to shift their focus from mere church attendance to fostering deeper engagement within their congregation. We discuss fostering an environment that nurtures meaningful participation beyond mere attendance. We also discuss what engagement aids in faith communities, exploring the…