On this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and I talk with Ed Stetzer. Ed is the Vice President of LifeWay Insights, a noted speaker, and the author of numerous books. Ed blogs at EdStetzer.com where his articles on church and culture, especially pertaining to current events, are widely read. He is particularly respected in church planting circles and appreciated for his iconic goatee. We talk family, pastoring, and ambition. It’s a lively chat, and you will enjoy it.

BEST QUOTES

“You can’t hate a people and reach a people at the same time.”

“Children are a bit of a funhouse mirror. They both reflect and exaggerate who you are, good and bad.”

“Our leadership creates a culture and that can be healthy or unhealthy.”

“Kids are born stupid, and it’s your job to get the stupid out of them.”

“What do I need to say ‘no’ to so I can focus on what God has called me to say yes to?”

“I’m trying to only do what only I can do.”

“The job of the typical pastor is to know the history of the people they see every week.”

“I think pastors and church leaders should spend more time with leaders and the lost, the two L’s.”

“I want my kids to care for the hurting.”

“Don’t work with jerks.”

“Don’t worry so much about what people think. Worry about the Lord, that He is honored.”

“Don’t ever be a leader who someone can’t say to you, ‘you’re being a jerk.’”

“One of the biggest problems we have in Christianity today is isolated leaders running rough shod and ruining people’s lives.”

“Ambition has to be tempered with a concern for others and a concern for holiness and righteousness.”

“Unrestrained ambition in a Christian leader is a disaster.”

“Don’t get so busy doing the work of the Lord that you don’t focus on the Lord of the work.”

“Writing a sermon is not the same as spending time with the Lord.”

“Note gathering is not devotional reading.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

EdStetzer.com

Breakpoint

Transformational Groups by Ed Stetzer & Eric Geiger

Subversive Kingdom by Ed Stetzer