Simple Faith with Rusty George

There are so many lessons about leadership that you can pull from the football field and apply no matter what kind of team you’re leading. Maybe you’re figuring out how to build and get your team right from the get-go. Or you’re figuring out how to lead through a transition. You may be working out how to build a team culture that leads to success. Mark Weigt and Brian Dodd sit down with Rusty to talk about all of these lessons and more on this special bonus episode of Leading Simple.

On today’s episode of Leading Simple, we’re joined by Andy Wood. Andy has been the lead pastor of Echo Church in Northern California for the past 13 years, and has learned a lot of lessons along the way. You’ll get to hear him talk about what he'd do differently during COVID, leading a multi-site church through the pandemic, and finding a sense of work-life balance.

If you're a parent who's sent a kid off to collage, you may have asked yourself these questions before: Are my kids safe? Did I teach them enough? Will they be connected to their faith? If you can relate, you’ll love this episode of Leading Simple with Brian Marshall. He is the campus pastor at the University of Kentucky. You'll get to hear him share about what campus ministry is actually like. He also discusses the assumptions parents might make about their college-aged kids and how to help your college students find and keep their faith.

This week's guest isKay Warren, an advocate & author. After the tragic loss of her son and leading a church alongside her husband Rick in the middle of a global pandemic, Kay knows a thing or two about navigating difficult seasons while holding tightly to her faith. But it hasn’t always been easy. If you find yourself wondering how she’s done it, you’ll get to hear her share on this episode of Leading Simple. Kay also shares her insight on what it’s like to find yourself in someone else’s shadow, dealing with mental health and abuse issues, and what life has for her and Rick after Saddleback. If you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health or suicidal ideation, know that you don’t have to go through this alone. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak to someone immediately and confidentially.

In this bonus episode of Leading Simple, Richmond Wandera shares his story of growing up in Uganda. At only eight years old, he and his family encountered devastating loss and poverty. Despite that, it paved the way for him to experience the incredible love of Jesus through one 15 year old girl's babysitting money. Special thanks to our sponsor, Compassion International. If you want more information about how to sponsor a child, go to compassion.org/rusty.

What's in a name? For Dr. Michael Youssef, a name is the very thing that can help us connect with God. On this episode of Leading Simple, Rusty and Dr. Youssef sit down as he shares his incredible insight into understanding the names of God and how that impacts how we relate to Him. They also discuss the rich history of the Christian church in Egypt and Dr. Youssef's incredible work with Leading the Way.

We all have had a moment where we've looked at a celebrity or leader and thought to ourselves, "if I had that kind of platform, here's how I'd help the world." Well, what if you could leverage your voice to influence the influencers? Over the last few years, Pastor Mark Weigt has had the chance to do just that for one of the most influential people at one of the most successful sports organizations. In this episode of Leading Simple, Mark and Rusty sit down to talk about all things influence. We also discuss how he founded The Ridge Community Church and how one simple step can lead to a more significant impact where you least expect it.

If you’ve ever heard of Compassion International, then you know of the incredible work they do to support children through sponsorships. But have you wondered what the impact of those sponsorships actually is? On today’s bonus episode of Leading Simple, we get a glimpse into how people's generosity can positively influence a child's life, thanks to Keewani Vallejo-Cook. Keewani and I sit down as she shares her story of growing up in the Philippines, connecting with a sponsor through Compassion International, and experiencing the love of Jesus in a real way. If you'd like more information about how to sponsor a child, visit compassion.com/rusty

Rusty and Brad talk all things NBA for the 2021-2022 season. Who's the best in the league? Best Coach? Exciting Rookie? How the Lakers stack up against the competition. Plus, what the NBA can teach us about leadership.

170: Rewriting the Soundtracks in Your Head with Jon Acuff by Rusty George

In today's episode, Jenni Catron joins Rusty and shares her lessons on her path from the Christian music industry to ministry leadership. She also shares great insight on how to thrive in this post-pandemic season and what it means to lead with your whole self. As a writer, speaker, and leadership coach, Jenni Catron is in the business of inspiring others to lead well. As Founder and CEO of The 4Sight Group, she consults with individuals and teams on leadership and organizational health. In every role, Jenni is a leader who loves "putting feet to vision."

On Leading Simple this week, Joseph Barkley, lead and founding pastor of Radius Church, joins Rusty on the podcast to chat about church planting, pastoring through COVID, making the jump from the entertainment industry, and raising a child actor. Often, when people think of church planters, we may think of someone who grew up in the church, went to seminary, or started working as a youth pastor. But Joseph's story is a little different. Take a listen as Joseph shares his experience over the last few years.

Glen Keane, a 38-year animator and Academy Award winner who created many beloved characters such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Beast, and more, joins Rusty on Leading Simple. They talk about everything from his family, time at Disney, animation, including working with Kobe Bryant on Dear Basketball, and how he weaves the gospel through his art.

Dave Dummit, the Senior Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church and a longtime friend, joins Rusty on the podcast and talks about church planting, how he decided to leave 2|42, following a legend, and the bumps of moving beyond scandal and creating healthy environments.

On this episode of Leading Simple, Rusty talks with Douglas Cob and asks a question that seems to be prevalent with all the chaos going on today, are we living in the end times? Douglas has written an incredible new book titled, And Then the End Will Come. If you're discouraged about the craziness, you see in the world today, And Then the End Will Come will offer you hope for better things soon to come -- things so great that the Bible says no one can imagine how awesome they will be.

Rusty and co-host Brad Williams discuss how to lead when your boss is not a leader. What do you do when you feel like your boss is phoning it in? How do we respond as Christians lovingly and biblically?

Former NFL player and Hall of Famer, Bruce Matthews, joins Rusty on the podcast to talk faith, family and sports.

162: Practical Steps for Protecting Your Kids Against Human Trafficking with Alan Smyth by Rusty George

As cultural and societal norms continue to shift, change, and adapt in our world today, the Christian leaders are often found asking the question: "What should we do about _____?" ... What should we do about masks, Covid, and ongoing restrictions? ... What should we do about the LGBTQ+ community? ... What should we do about conflicting political opinions? The list goes on. I'm joined today by Caleb Kaltenbach, the Research Pastor at Shepherd Church, to delve into the messy truth of Christianity in our world today. We dive deep into the content of his new book: Messy Truth: How to Foster Community Without Sacrificing Conviction, which releases on August 10th, 2021. We're all looking for truth that pertains to the shifting world around us, and my prayer is that this conversation with Caleb is a guiding light to illuminate Jesus' answers for the questions we're facing in our world today.

Schools back, can you believe it? The summer of 2021 has absolutely flown by, and we're met yet again with the beginnings of fall, the school year, and another season of half-normalcy. But with Covid restrictions continuing on and the Delta variant on the rise, going back to school can bring a lot of different emotions with it... Loneliness, anxiety, fear, depression, confusion, isolation, and so much more. Dr. Paul Alexander joins me in this episode to share simple and applicable steps for how we can have good mental health going into this new school year, from both a psychology perspective as well as a Biblical perspective. So whether you're a student, a teacher, a parent, a sibling, or a leader... I know that Paul's steps for achieving better mental health will be foundational for us all in this new season of 2021.

“I didn’t sign up for this!” “I can’t do this anymore!” “That’s it - I’m done!” Have you ever said or thought these things? Are you feeling disconnected in your marriage, not knowing what the next step holds? Toni Nieuwhof is an author, speaker and law mediator, whose powerful voice in Christian leadership is shaping influencers and leaders around the world. She joins me in this episode to discuss the steps for finding what you really want to save the future of your marriage, based on her new book "Before You Split".

158: Faith-Driven Entrepreneur Jeff Henderson on Ministry & Business Secrets from Chik Fil A by Rusty George

Greg Atkinson is a powerhouse leader and influential voice in better the modern church. His well-known books "Secrets of a Church Shopper" and "Church Leadership Essentials" have transformed churches and their pastoral leadership nation-wide. Today, Greg and I are discussing the secrets of his experience going undercover as a "church-shopper". We discuss hospitality, first-impressions, worship teams, and so much more. If you're a church leader, this episode is a must-hear. Greg's advice is poignant for this unique time in history, and I know what he has to share will transform your church and ministry.

The church is meant to be a place where you can find healing and wholeness. But, unfortunately, sometimes the church can be the very place where brokenness happens. Covid was a dark time for many of us in terms of mental health. For many of us who already struggled with mental health issues, the stress and anxiety and fear that Covid brought on only made those issues greater. I'm honored to join you all today by having an honest conversation about my own mental health journey, and about the ways that I believe that church across the world can do a better job in supporting those struggling with mental health issues.

There are a lot of keys to being a great communicator - but Danielle Strickland has a few tips that are about to change the game for speakers and leaders around the world. Best-selling author of, Danielle Strickland is a powerhouse voice for. In this episode, we discuss ways to be a positive disrupter - someone who changes the world with optimism and positivity, like Jesus did.

Churches are finally open, mask rules are waning, and the season of Covid is slowly but surely coming to an end. Praise the Lord! But even though this pandemic season is getting better by the day, churches, pastors, and church go-ers have been forever changed by the impact that the last year and a half has had. In today's episode, my friend Rich Birch from unSeminary joins me to discuss the one thing that every pastor needs to be thinking about post-Covid -- and trust me, it's a game changer. You don't want to miss hearing it. Rich also shares great insight on the importance of volunteering at a church, the best ways to serve online, and more helpful advice for how church members can make a helpful difference now that churches are faced with this new normal.

We all want to be more like Jesus, right? But sometimes it can be hard to know where to start in that journey... Fourth-generation pastor and my friend Zach Zehnder is on a mission to challenge Christians to become greater followers of Jesus. Zach and his wife Allison are the best-selling authors of the "Red Letter Challenge", a 40-day workbook that makes faith and discipleship simple, practical, and doable. Additionally, Zach shares his new resource, "Reopening Christianity" in this episode, and I can't wait for you to hear all about it. We're all on a mission to make and be better disciples every day, so I can't wait for you to be encouraged by this conversation and to hear Zach's heart for ministry.

What does the Bible tell us to do when we have faith in God, but we're still struggling with anxiety and panic attacks? Are you looking for peace and purpose? Are you fed up with stress and anxiety? Best-selling author of Rhythms of Renewal, Rebekah Lyons is a contemporary, honest voice who's works focus on mental health, and more specifically, anxiety. Her testimony of supernatural healing and peace in her own journey with panic attacks is not only inspiring, but a reminder of God's ability to do a mighty healing work that only He can do. Are you searching for answers for your struggle with anxiety today? Then I know that Rebekah's story in this episode will be life-changing for you. Listen with an open heart and mind, allowing God to do a powerful work through Rebekah's testimony of faith.

A Part 2 Q&A episode special! Pastor John Burke returns in this episode to answer the questions that our listeners submitted about the afterlife.

Ken Costa has an impressive background. He is a master of financial knowhow, as well as a spiritual leader and minister of the gospel. Ken's ministries operate at the intersection of the sacred and the secular: work and worship. His mission is to share the lesson that "if you know your why, you know your way". His unique standpoint on marketplace knowledge and Holy Spirit guidance makes him a must-hear voice for our time, and this conversation we have together is no exception. In this episode, Ken and I discuss some hot-topics: the GameStop stock debacle, how millennials feel excluded from the financial goings on in the world, how Christian leaders can make informed business decisions during such uncertain times, and much more.Ken also shares his vision and passion for "Alpha", a fantastic church resource that he's been a part of. I can't wait for you to hear the unforgettable life and work lessons that Ken has to share in this episode (and not to mention, for you to hear his cool accent).

Lead pastor of one of the most influential churches in America (Community Christian Church in Chicago) and award-winning author, Dave Ferguson and his brother Jon are on a mission to share how you can change the world one neighbor at a time. Author of "BLESS: 5 Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World", Dave's insights into church planting and spreading the gospel to all parts of the world are both inspiring and effective. I know that, when you listen to this episode, you'll feel fired up to go love your neighbor like you never have before. Are you fired up to share the gospel with those around you? Are you looking for a resource to help you plant a church? If the answer is "yes", this episode will be a game-changer for you. If you're interested in church planting in the California area, reach out to me and my team at [email protected].

We've all faced unanswered prayers... Is God ignoring us? Does he not care? Did we pray the prayer wrong? Did our sin block us from having God hear us? The Bible has a lot to say about this topic, and today, I I want to share the real reason that God may feel silent in your life. Join me as we read an excerpt together from my most recent book, "After Amen: What to do When You're Waiting on God". If you're interested, you can check out After Amen at www.afteramenbook.com

Have you experienced tension and frustration in your marriage during Covid and lockdown? Mental health doesn't just affect the individual, but it affects your marriage too. For those who are wanting to work on the mental health of their marriage this year, I can't wait for you to listen to this episode with my friend Dave Willis. Dave Willis, the co-founder of XO Marriage and the "Naked Marriage" Podcast along with his wife Ashley, joins me in this episode to discuss practical ways that we can work on better, healthier mental health in our marriages. Dave shares their personal marriage journey, struggles him and Ashley have overcome, how their podcast was envisioned and started, and he speaks on the major pain points many people have experienced in their marriages, specifically during Covid season. This conversation with Dave is a breath of fresh air in a culture of shame and brokenness. Listen to this episode with your spouse this week, and allow God to do a great work in the mental health of your marriage and family.

Author, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneurial coach Jo Saxton is on a mission to inspire leaders to own their voice, lead confidently, and to make a difference; and this unforgettable conversation is no exception. In this episode, Jo shares her personal journey of discovering her gifts, the process and vision that took place in writing her books, and even her love for Target. We discuss women empowerment in the church and workplace, a powerful and necessary topic. If you're looking for jolt of inspiration, a leader worth following, and even a good laugh, I know that you'll love this episode.

The Covid season has forced church leaders to make some of the most difficult and controversial decisions of their ministry career. But specifically, the question has been: "When do we move church back inside?" ... Do we wait until it's legal? Do we stay outside for the betterment of our community? Do we move indoors for the betterment of our community? What does the Bible say about this problem? My co-host Brad Williams and I have an honest discussion in this episode about how we ultimately decided to move Real Life Church and all of its campuses back indoors.

We all have questions about the afterlife... Will I be myself? Will I see friends and loved ones? What will Heaven look like? What is God like? What will we do forever? What about children and pets? John Burke is the New York Times best-selling author of "Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future that Awaits You". As the lead pastor of Gateway Church and the founder of Gateway Leadership Initiative, John is a powerful leader and minister of the gospel, who's insights into life after death will leave you with awe and excitement of the life to come. John answers the most pondered questions with confidence and grace, steering us to the Bible and sharing unforgettable near-death experiences where people have seen glimpses of heaven. I know this episode will leave you stronger in your faith, and more confident than ever in the eternity to come spent with our savior. Do you have questions about the afterlife that you would like John Burke to answer in Part Two of this episode? DM me your questions on my Instagram account (@rustylgeorge), and your question might just be featured!

We want to take some time this year to discuss an important topic: mental health. But, more specifically, practical and doable ways that we can all build better, stronger mental health in 2021. This last year took quite a toll on all of us... Statistics of depression, anxiety, and suicide are through the roof as the world attempts to recover from the stress and difficulty we all experienced. So how can we recover, heal, and reclaim our mental health? Jim Beebe, LMFT has been a practicing licensed counselor for 34 years. Jim is passionate about helping his clients seek wholeness spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. And in today's episode, he guides us through just that. I believe this episode will bring healing to you today, and I pray that our conversation on establishing better mental health will guide you towards healing and wholeness.

Did Jesus Christ really raise from the dead after three days? And if yes, how can we really know for sure? This Holy Week, I'm joined in this rerun episode by best-selling author and former investigative journalist, Lee Strobel. An atheist-turned-Christian, Lee has sought answers to all of the questions that come with the Christian faith. His best-selling novel "The Case for Christ" details his conversion to Christianity. For the last twenty-five years, his life’s work has been to share the evidence that supports the truth and claims of Christianity, and to equip believers to share their faith with the people they know and love. Lee and I honestly and openly discuss the facts and the evidence on Christ's resurrection, the entire crucifixion account, and much more. I believe our conversation will illuminate your path of faith, and will help you grow in both understanding and a deeper faith in God.

Tuvya Zaretsky, a leader at "Jews for Jesus", joins me to discusses the importance & significance of The Passover for Christians today. A rerun episode from last year, we discuss Tuvya's background in Judaism, his faith transformation to becoming a Christian, and what we can learn from Jesus' growing up as a Jew. I know that Tuvya's message will illuminate your path of faith this Holy Week.

Tim Celek from Stadia Church Planting Group joins me in this episode today to discuss everything that church planters need to know in 2021. Tim has pioneered and planted churches that have reached thousands for the gospel, with a keen understanding on how to make the modern church refreshing and new for young believers. Tim is a personal hero of mine, and I'm so glad that you're getting to meet and hear from him today. We discuss everything from a practical breakdown of a church plant timeline, to Tim's hardest and greatest moments in his church planting ministry. If you're at all interested in planting a church in California, please reach out to me and my team at [email protected]

Nona Jones is a global thought leader, author, executive, and pastor taking the social media world by storm. But what's her mission? To share the kingdom impact that social media can have... As well as to shed light on the darker side. Author of "From Social Media to Social Ministry: A Guide to Digital Discipleship", Nona quite literally wrote the book on digital ministry. Our conversation today is honest and deep, opening the door to the impact that social media is really having on you, your kids, and those around you. But it's not all bad news - Nona is quick to share the impact we can have as Christians in the social media world, and how we as believers can best use these platforms for Kingdom-minded impact.

ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jimmy Dykes joins podcast host Michael Hinton and myself to discuss filling out our NCAA March Madness brackets this season. Jimmy, former basketball player and coach, gives us the expert advice that we're all looking for. We're answering all of the questions you can think of during March Madness, and I can't wait for you to listen. Jimmy is a follower of Jesus and the author of the book "The Film Doesn't Lie: Evaluating Your Life One Play at a Time"

Hearing from God... Is it possible? Is it an audible voice? Writing on the wall? How do you really *know* when God has spoken to you? My friend and co-host Brad Williams joins me in this episode to discuss our personal experiences in hearing God and what we believe the Bible teaches us about listening to His voice. A special welcome to our friends at Charisma Podcast Network! I'm honored to have joined your platform and team.

How is your mental health really doing? Anxiety, stress, suicide, and prescription medication statistics are on the rise at an alarming rate. And since the beginning of Covid-19, things have only gotten much, much worse. So, how do we get our mental health back on track? Dan Broyles(LMFT, Social Worker, and Care Pastor)joins me today to share how we can all have strong mental health in ourselves and in our families in 2021. In this important conversation, we talk about comfort addiction, anxiety, avoiding conflict, understanding different conflict styles, acknowledging our new fears Covid-19 has brought on, and much more. We're in this together, friends. I believe that today's conversation will be a light in the darkness that many are experiencing in their mental health journey today.

Stress less. Accomplish more. Win the day. Who doesn't want more of all of that? Well-known author of "The Circle Maker" & lead pastor of National Community Church, Mark Batterson joins me in this episode to discuss the life-changing lessons and habits he's learned on winning the day in writing, fatherhood, leadership, and pastoral ministry. We discuss his best "Jedi mind tricks" for writing and publishing books, his secrets to hitting points home in sermons, his (very unexpected) favorite book, and the shelf he runs to when he first walks into Barnes & Noble. Mark is a wealth of knowledge for habits and structures you can implement into your life and leadership to "win the day" every day. This conversation was so unforgettable for me and has truly transformed my daily habits -- I know it will be just as life-changing for you too.

Sean Morgan, KC-10 Air Force pilot and Executive Pastor, joins me in this episode to discuss crisis leadership lessons he's learning in flight, as well as learning to embrace discomfort and unpredictability in life, work, and ministry. Sean has spent the last few years inspiring leaders and pastors as he merges his ministry background with his vocational leadership as the podcast host to "Leaders in Living Rooms", where he meets with top-notch leaders from all over the world. You don't want to miss hearing Sean's story and what he has to say about "decision fatigue" and constant stress in 2020/2021. I know this episode will be life-changing for anyone feeling burnt-out and looking for ways to lead with vision clarity.

Brad Williams and I tackle one of the most difficult questions in Spirit-led leadership: How do I discover God's timing for all of my leadership decisions? It's been a difficult year, and many of us are desperately seeking ways to make the best leadership decisions possible for better outcomes than 2020 brought us. We want a better year, and we want it now. But are we operating and making decisions out of our own timelines, or in God's timeline? Why is it so hard to trust God? Tune into this episode and join our honest conversation as we tackle these difficult questions.

Every leader knows that good leadership doesn’t come without experiencing pain… But are we equipped to handle that pain with the right kind of thinking? Dr. Sam Chand (a personal hero of mine and the President Emeritus at Beulah Heights University) knows the ins and outs of leadership success and struggles. His manyHis powerful life-journey and his many books and resources has helped leaders all over the world learn to release dreams, build a healthy team, and strong leadership development. He joins us in this episode to ask the real questions: “What does church growth have to do with leadership?” “How can I differentiate between good growth pains and my own stupidity causing pain?” “As a leader, what questions should I be asking my team in meetings?” “How can I handle change to the best of my ability?” Dr. Chand says it best: “There is no growth without change, no change without loss, and no loss without pain.” I can’t wait for you to listen.

Andy Stanley, founding pastor of North Point Community Church, joins the podcast to talk leadership and his new book Better Decisions Fewer Regrets

132: Praying in the New Year after a Year of God Seeming Silent by Rusty George