The Leader’s Notebook with Dr. Mark Rutland

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 306), I open John 11 and Luke 24 to explore what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” The resurrection is not only an event we celebrate—it is a living power we receive. Jesus did not come merely to improve us, but to place His own life within us through the Holy Spirit. I walk through the conversation with Martha, the raising of Lazarus, and the empty tomb to show the difference between physical death and true life in Christ. This message brings hope, clarity, and urgency: resurrection is not just something Jesus does — it is who He is. The question is not only what you believe about the resurrection, but what life is at work in you right now.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Mary and the Resurrection of Lazarus(00:03:50) - The Four Variables of Communication(00:09:12) - The Communication Problem of God(00:15:16) - God's Heaven and Hell(00:16:36) - Easter and the Resurrection(00:23:26) - The Life and Death of Christ

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 305), I open Luke 19 and the Palm Sunday story to explore a simple but life-changing phrase: “The Lord has need of it.” Jesus’ triumphal entry was set in motion by an unexpected act of release and trust, and it reveals how grace is meant not only to come to us—but flow through us. Grace received but not given becomes stagnant. I talk about how grace works in real life — in our homes, marriages, churches, and even how we see ourselves. From generosity to forgiveness to everyday kindness, this message calls us to become conduits of unfettered grace. When we stop clinging and start releasing, we discover the joy and freedom of Spirit-filled living and leadership.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - The Message of Communication(00:05:24) - Mark 8: Spontaneous Grace(00:11:56) - God's Love for Tithing(00:14:22) - One More Word of Grace(00:18:11) - A message on disgraceful churches(00:25:16) - The Funniest Church Story

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 304), I walk through the extraordinary and complicated life of King David, beginning in Ruth 4 and 1 Samuel 16. David was not an ordinary man—shepherd, musician, warrior, king, poet, and prophet—yet Scripture still calls him a man after God’s own heart. We explore his calling, his courage, his failures, and his fierce pursuit of God’s purpose through every season of change. From the anointing at Bethlehem to the cave of Adullam, from kingship to repentance in Psalm 51, David teaches us how to keep our eyes on God’s destiny even when we fall. His sin does not excuse us—but his repentance instructs us. His Psalms still speak, still heal, still point us to Christ. There is deep encouragement here for anyone who refuses to quit and keeps falling forward toward grace.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:31) - The extraordinary life of King David(00:09:23) - David the Book of Life(00:14:13) - David the King of Israel(00:20:56) - David the Conqueror(00:24:47) - The Story of David and the Capital(00:26:01) - The Story of David and Bathsheba(00:30:56) - David's Sin (Psalm 51)(00:33:10) - Why is David Called a Man After God's Own Heart?(00:34:40) - The Psalms

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 303), I walk through Joshua chapters 3 and 5 and what happens when God brings His people to a decisive moment. Israel stands at the Jordan after years of delay, and the Lord calls them to sanctify themselves, step forward in faith, and follow His presence into the unknown. Before the waters part, the priests must first step into the river. That is how obedience and miracles often work. This message is about the moment of God, when His voice cuts through confusion and calls us to clean out what hinders us, expect His supernatural power, and move when the Holy Spirit leads. The ground becomes holy wherever God is present, and when He speaks, it is never too late to respond. Leaders and believers alike must decide whose side they are on and move forward in faith. - Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Joshua 3: Communication in the Bible(00:02:43) - Joshua and the Ark of the Covenant(00:06:08) - Joshua vs Jericho(00:07:42) - The Moment of God(00:12:54) - The Holy Spirit Wants to Clean Up Your Life(00:18:55) - God's Wonders in the World(00:24:18) - The Moment of God(00:29:16) - Joshua the Lord of Hosts

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 302), I preach from Luke chapter 5 and the call of Christ to Simon Peter, “Launch out into the deep.” Serving God is not meant to be safe, shallow, or merely comfortable. Biblical Christianity is an adventure of obedience and faith. When Jesus steps into your boat, He will always call you beyond routine, beyond fear, and beyond what you can manage on your own. The deep water is where faith is tested, where surrender becomes real, and where the power of God is revealed. I share how obedience opens the door to Spirit-filled living, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and a life that is led, not by comfort, but by calling. From the baptism of the Holy Spirit to moments of risk, provision, and divine guidance, this message is a call to courageous faith. Leaders especially must learn to obey God step by step, right where they are, and trust Him with the outcome. The greatest catch is always in the deep.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Adventures of Serving God in Faith(00:07:14) - The Adventure of Walking With Jesus(00:15:25) - The Adventure of Preaching in the Desert(00:20:30) - A Mexican Mission in the Desert(00:26:54) - God's call to come to Ghana(00:31:58) - How I was robbed at the airport(00:37:16) - An American Mission in Africa(00:42:39) - The Power of Ruth(00:47:45) - The Adventure of Serving God

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 301), I walk through Judges 17 and the tragic picture of spiritual confusion. Micah’s story shows how easily people build a self-made religion, mixing truth with error and assuming God must bless whatever they assemble. From false idols to hired priests, it is possible to look religious while being completely disconnected from God’s revealed truth. I contrast the self-made man, the man-made power system, and the unmade man who is broken before God, and I show how grace still reaches the humbled heart. This message is a clear call to reject spiritual “scrap-heap” faith and stand on the unchanging Word of God, the blood of Jesus Christ, and true repentance. Leaders especially must inspect their label and be sure they are God-made, not culture-made.- Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Judges(00:03:56) - How Were You Made?(00:09:26) - Scrapple(00:18:07) - Manasseh the Unmade King(00:21:38) - Preaching the Right Message(00:27:48) - Manasseh(00:33:13) - The Leader's Notebook

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 300), I walk through the sweeping biblical story of the Holy Spirit, from Genesis to Pentecost and beyond. We look at the Spirit who brooded over creation, empowered prophets and kings, and was promised in Joel, revealed by Jesus, and poured out in Acts. This is not a new doctrine or a modern movement, but the living Spirit of God at work across all Scripture. From Joel 2, John 20, and Acts 2, we trace the Spirit’s person and power through the Word of God. I also challenge every believer to understand that life in the Spirit is not optional equipment for a few, but essential for the whole Church. The same Holy Spirit who filled the upper room still fills and empowers believers today. When He moves, our calling is simple: receive. Leaders especially must live and serve in the strength only the Spirit provides. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - A Biblical Concept of the Holy Spirit(00:02:59) - John's Gospel, The Holy Spirit(00:12:44) - When Messiah comes, the Holy Spirit will pour out on all flesh(00:19:59) - Prophecies of the Jews(00:22:37) - The Feast of Pentecost(00:26:49) - Receive the Holy Spirit(00:36:37) - The Crucified Peter and the(00:42:58) - Receiving the Holy Spirit(00:49:27) - Receive the Holy Spirit in Water Baptism(00:56:31) - Mark Rutland on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 299), I invite you to listen as two of the greatest devotional passages in all of Scripture come together—the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 and the 23rd Psalm. What happens when Jesus’ prayer becomes more than words we recite and David’s psalm becomes more than comfort we quote? In my own darkest season, these Scriptures became medicine to my soul, steady handholds when I felt trapped in a well I could not climb out of. I discovered that the Lord’s Prayer is not dead liturgy, but a living gift from God, meant to be prayed, lived, and trusted. As we reflect on these passages, you’ll hear how God restores the soul, reshapes the mind, and brings peace into places of fear, weariness, and struggle. This message is an invitation to let Scripture wash over you, to pray what Jesus taught, and to trust the Shepherd who is with you—now and forever. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - The Lord's Prayer in the 23rd Psalm(00:02:27) - Our Prayer for Matthew 6(00:02:58) - Psalm 23(00:04:49) - How to Write a Book About Depression(00:13:07) - The Lord's Prayer: A Help for People in Depression(00:21:14) - The 23rd Psalm and the Lord's Prayer(00:28:15) - The Lord's Prayer and The Ten Commandments(00:33:56) - Psalm 23: Medicine to My Soul(00:35:53) - Amino: The 23rd Psalm

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 298), I open one small word that carries enormous spiritual weight—the word nevertheless. From 2 Timothy 2:15–19, we are reminded that error, deception, and cultural pressure can never weaken the foundation of God. False teaching may spread like gangrene, but truth remains untouched. The Word of God stands sure, regardless of who argues against it, mocks it, or misunderstands it. Tracing this word through Scripture—from Elisha’s bold faith in 2 Kings 2, to God’s mercy in Psalm 106, and finally to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane—we discover that nevertheless is the fulcrum of faith. It is how believers stand firm, pray hard prayers, trust God for miracles, and rest their hope fully on the cross. When everything shakes, this word anchors us: God is faithful, Christ has died for us, and His truth will never fail. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - Leaders Notebook(00:04:10) - A Word of Life(00:05:37) - 2 Timothy 1: Nevertheless(00:07:31) - The Attack on the Fundamental Truths of the Bible(00:15:12) - The Nevertheless of Faith in a Hard Thing(00:20:16) - A teenage boy in the desert(00:22:31) - Third Psalm(00:25:47) - Crucified Jesus(00:29:03) - The Leader's Notebook

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 297), I take us to Ephesians 4 and 5 to confront the gap between theoretical Christianity and real life in the Spirit. Too many believers are content to talk about faith without ever stepping into the canoe. Paul reminds us that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an abstract idea—it shows up in how we speak, forgive, submit, give, and love one another. Spirit-filled living is intensely practical. This message calls us beyond gifts, experiences, and religious language into holiness expressed in community. Walking in love means allowing the Holy Spirit to probe our lives, heal our relationships, and shape the way we live with family, church, and the people God places around us. Real Christianity is not learned in theory—it is lived in love. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Paul's Letter to the Church(00:07:35) - Paul lists the negative aspects of human relationships in Ephesians 5(00:12:50) - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit(00:17:40) - Have You Received the Holy Spirit?(00:21:50) - Paul on Submission in Ephesians 5(00:27:39) - Paul's On Submission and Love(00:30:58) - The Contradiction of Submission and Authority(00:36:09) - Gossip in the Family(00:43:08) - How to Live in Community(00:47:24) - The Leader's Notebook

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 296), I invite you into one of the most powerful yet often overlooked truths in Scripture—what God is really like. From John 1:16–18, we see that Jesus is the full revelation of the Father, and what He reveals is not distance, anger, or reluctance, but grace upon grace. Moses brought the law, but Jesus came to show us the generous, giving, sacrificial heart of God. The Word became flesh so we could see clearly that God’s nature is grace multiplied by grace. This message calls us beyond theoretical faith into a life shaped by generosity, forgiveness, and joyful surrender. Grace is not merely something we receive; it is the very life of God expressed through us. When we understand how completely we are forgiven, loved, and welcomed, we are freed to live boldly, give freely, and follow Christ wherever obedience leads. That is the adventure of real Christianity—and it begins with knowing the Father as He truly is. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:28) - John 1:8-9(00:04:38) - What is at the Heart of Christianity?(00:12:03) - Living a Life of Grace(00:17:02) - The Joy of Generosity(00:20:31) - Tithing(00:23:47) - God's Grace and Truth(00:28:54) - Adventures in the Life of Grace(00:32:29) - The Real Adventure of Love and Mercy(00:35:18) - The Leader's Notebook

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 295) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, and the final message in this series, I turn our attention to Paul the Apostle and the decisive turning points God used to shape the most influential voice of the early church. We begin with his commissioning in Acts 13 and look back to his dramatic conversion, his unmistakable calling, and the costly obedience that followed. Saul of Tarsus emerges as a Roman citizen, an elite rabbinical scholar, and a relentless Pharisee who encountered the risen Christ and was forever changed. From that encounter, Paul became the great theologian of salvation by faith alone, clarifying what it means for Gentiles to be grafted into the body of Christ. His life reminds us that to touch the church is to touch Christ Himself, and that true Kingdom leadership is not formed by ease, reputation, or advantage, but by answering God’s call wherever it leads. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Paul the Apostle(00:04:02) - Paul the Apostle(00:12:10) - Saul of Tarsus(00:20:22) - Paul the Apostle's life(00:21:30) - Why Do Certain People Change Their Names?(00:27:40) - Paul the Apostle: Suffering and Joy(00:35:58) - Simon Peter on the Book of Hebrews(00:43:17) - Gentiles and the Law

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 294) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, I examine the life, faith, and formation of Simon Peter—introduced in John 1 as a fisherman who meets Jesus and is immediately renamed, redefined, and relentlessly shaped by grace. Peter is bold, impulsive, strong, outspoken, and deeply human: quick to confess Jesus as the Christ, equally quick to resist the cross; first to step out of the boat, first to deny with a curse; yet also first to preach at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit transforms failure into authority. We trace Peter’s journey from natural leadership to spiritual power, from Jewish boundaries to Gentile inclusion, and from rough-edged disciple to apostolic voice whose letters reveal profound theological depth. In the end, Peter himself tells us what mattered most—not miracles, not Pentecost, not even leadership—but seeing Christ in His glory, a vision that steadied his life and clarified his witness. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:53) - Simon Peter(00:09:38) - Simon Peter(00:13:23) - Simon Peter(00:16:58) - Simon Peter Confirmed as the Messiah by Jesus(00:22:28) - Simon Peter at Pentecost(00:28:48) - Simon Peter the Disciples(00:35:43) - St. Paul the Gentile encounter(00:39:02) - 1 Peter and 2 Peter(00:40:22) - The Greatest Moment of Peter's Life(00:46:24) - Leader's Notebook

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 293) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, I walk through the astonishing life and ministry of John the Baptist. He stands as the last Old Testament prophet and the first man to publicly identify Jesus as Messiah. His voice rises out of four centuries of prophetic silence, set against the political brutality of Rome and the corruption of Herod. John does not emerge as a stylist or strategist, but as a singular, God-anointed voice preparing the way. He calls a nation to repentance and redefines the Messianic mission as sacrificial redemption. Standing in the Jordan, he declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. His courage, clarity, and refusal to measure success by comfort or applause confront our modern assumptions about leadership and faithfulness. John’s life reminds us that true success is obedience to God’s call, even when it costs everything, and that the highest aim of any leader is to see Jesus clearly and point others to Him. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:26) - John the Baptist and the Taxation(00:01:26) - The Story of the Birth of Jesus(00:07:38) - The Life of Zechariah and the Angel Gabriel(00:15:17) - John 3: Behold the Lamb of God that taketh(00:15:56) - John the Baptist(00:20:25) - John the Baptist's Baptism(00:27:25) - Joel the prophet(00:35:21) - The Personal End of John the Baptist(00:41:06) - John Baptist: A Success or a Failure?