5 Leadership Questions Podcast on Church Leadership with Todd Adkins and Dan Iten

John Perkins has been an advocate for racial justice and the gospel of Jesus Christ for decades. He is one of the most revered leaders in the country among all races and his message of the gospel binding us together has connected with tens of thousands. Perkins has pushed the church toward unity in a way few others in America’s history have. In this episode Barnabas Piper and Todd Adkins ask 5 leadership questions and hear his fervent plea for the raising up of new leaders.

Best Quotes

“This is the first time in my eighty plus years that we’re planting multi-cultural churches.”

“We took the gospel of reconciliation out of the gospel so we could exploit people, now we’re trying to put it back in but it’s becoming an event.”

“Reconciliation is to reconcile us to God to show us what the power of God can do.”

“The church is at a crossroads right now, and I think it’s a good crossroads.”

“The gratitude of our redemption, that Jesus came down from heaven, forgave us of our sin, and then enlisted us to become workers together with Him – that thrills me!”

“It thrills me that the God of heaven would save a third grade dropout like me.”

“You can share resources in a way that motivates.”

“You don’t give to receive gratitude, but if they’re not grateful it won’t help them.”

“You have to have a vision and turn that vision into some passion, and that vision has to be beyond yourself.”

“You have to be committed to collectiveness. Individualism creates extreme greed.”

“People are too time table addicted.”

“You have to live out a deep sense of principles and vision.”

“Leadership is key to any development.”

Recommended Resources

Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins

With Justice for All by John Perkins

Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert

Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels

For thirty three years John Piper pastored Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. He has written over forty books and spoken to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Easter Sunday of 2013 was Dr. Piper’s last Sunday as a pastor, and in the two years since then he has transitioned to a new role as chancellor of The Bethlehem College and Seminary as well as writing and speaking as part of his ministry at Desiring God. In this episode Barnabas Piper (John’s son) and Todd Adkins ask him 5 questions about his current role and the transition he’s experienced.

Best Quotes

“I like to be around people who are totally committed to what they do and do it with all their might.”

“99.999% of the world does not know who John Piper is and is not the least impressed.”

“John Piper is my biggest obstacle in ministry and in everything. John Piper creates most of the problems for John Piper.”

“My sin causes my biggest problems – my fear, my vanity, my distraction.”

“We don’t keep ourselves humble. God keeps us humble. Humility is a reflex not a pursuit.”

“Sacred book, sovereign God, serious joy – for me that’s a continuum.”

“If you step into leadership that you didn’t shape there are obstacles everywhere.”

“We’ll always be parenting and I hope we can learn how to do it well eventually.”

“What does leadership look like in a family? It’s whoever says ‘let’s’ most often. Let’s go to church. Let’s eat out. Let’s pay our bills on time.”

“Leadership at home is mainly tending your own soul and keeping yourself in love with God.”

“Every time you see an evidence of grace in someone it’s good to call it out. Praise them for God’s sake.”

“God is going to say ‘well done’ to half-baked people like us if we live by faith.”

“Keep the room clean where you are. God will open the next door.”

Recommended Resources

Desiring God.org

Ask Pastor John

Look at the BookBethlehem College and Seminary

The Recent World History of Christianity – Mark Noll lectures

The Missionary Movement in Christian History by Andrew Walls

Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree

The 5 Leadership Questions podcast is new from LifeWay’s leadership development team. Each episode co-hosts Barnabas Piper and Todd Adkins will ask five questions of different guests or about different leadership topics. The aim of the podcast is to inform and encourage Christian leaders whether they serve in the pastorate, the business world, non-profits, or on a volunteer basis.

Our aim is to encourage leaders, share insights, and learn from other great leaders. We want to help leader grow in character, knowledge, and skills and do so in an enjoyable way. Some conversations will be more serious while others will be light-hearted. Our hope is that these conversations will build up leaders no matter their position.

This week we will release episodes from John Perkins and John Piper as well as a conversation about how to use social media well. Going forward we will release at least one episode per week. You can listen to this short intro episode to hear more about what we’ll be doing and what you can expect as a listener. Enjoy!

The 5 Leadership Questions podcast is new from LifeWay’s leadership development team. Each episode co-hosts Barnabas Piper and Todd Adkins will ask five questions of different guests or about different leadership topics. The aim of the podcast is to inform and encourage Christian leaders whether they serve in the pastorate, the business world, non-profits, or on a volunteer basis.

Our aim is to encourage leaders, share insights, and learn from other great leaders. We want to help leader grow in character, knowledge, and skills and do so in an enjoyable way. Some conversations will be more serious while others will be light-hearted. Our hope is that these conversations will build up leaders no matter their position.

This week we will release episodes from John Perkins and John Piper as well as a conversation about how to use social media well. Going forward we will release at least one episode per week. You can listen to this short intro episode to hear more about what we’ll be doing and what you can expect as a listener. Enjoy!