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How do you lead when five generations share the same mission—but not always the same mindset?

In this timely episode of Behind the Seal, David Robbins, Global President of Cru, joins host Michael Martin to explore the challenges and opportunities of Cross-Generational Leadership.

From Gen Z’s boldness to Boomers’ steadfastness, David shares how understanding, repentance, and relational trust can transform generational tension into unity. Drawing from his global leadership experience and years leading FamilyLife, David offers real-life lessons on building trust, cultivating humility, and leading at the Lord’s pace.

If you’re navigating a multi-generational team, board, or ministry, this episode will help you build bridges that strengthen your mission—and your people.

 
About David Robbins:

David Robbins serves as the Global President of Cru, a worldwide Christian ministry helping to fulfill the Great Commission through evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.

Over the past 25 years with Cru, David and his wife, Meg, have served in a variety of ministry contexts—from discipling college students and young professionals in New York City to leading FamilyLife, a global ministry focused on strengthening marriages and families.

David and Meg live in Orlando, Florida, with their four children. Their family embodies his leadership message: serving together, learning together, and following Jesus faithfully across generations.

Additional Resources:

• ECFA.org/LeaderCare
• Learn more about Cru
• Learn more about FamilyLife
• The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero       

As CEO of the world’s most-downloaded Bible App, Bobby Gruenewald knows what it takes to innovate. In this episode, he shares how an abundance mindset, leading through constraints, and quick pivots can turn your best ideas into course-altering growth.

Watch the video and download the leader guide: https://www.life.church/leadershippodcast/turning-constraints-into-creativity-bible-app-founder-bobby-gruenewald.

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ABOUT CRAIG

Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church and one of today’s most trusted voices in leadership. Since 2016, he’s shared practical, empowering leadership insights to help you grow through the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast.

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This Christmas, you can shine the light of Christ into places of darkness and pain with a purchase from the Joni and Friends Christmas catalog. You are sending hope and practical care to people with disabilities, all in the name of Jesus!

Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

We speak of a short life, but compared to eternity, who has a long one? A person’s days on earth may seem like a thimbleful. But compared to the Pacific of eternity, even the years of Methuselah filled no more than a glass. James was not speaking just to the young when he said, “Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away” (James 4:14 NCV).

In God’s plan, every life is long enough and every death is timely. And though you and I might wish for a longer life, God knows better. And this is important: though you and I may wish a longer life for our loved ones who have gone on before us, they don’t. Ironically, the first to accept God’s decision of death is the one who dies. You see, while we’re mourning at a grave, they’re marveling in heaven. While we’re questioning God, they’re praising God!

Read more The Lucado Inspirational Reader

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Thomas de Mahy was one of many aristocrats executed by rioting mobs during the French Revolution of the late eighteenth century. According to one legendary account, upon reading his death warrant, de Mahy responded, “I see that you have made three spelling mistakes.” If true, de Mahy pointedly disregarded a drastically more significant matter—his imminent death.

Today we’re in danger of unintentionally missing a crucial point, one that concerns the body of Christ (the church). There are those who would distort its purpose. Maybe we see the church as a political action committee or as a place to be served. Perhaps we see it as a mere religious institution. The church’s priority, however, has always been the good news of Jesus.

Paul told the believers at Corinth, “What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). While other things may have an appropriate time and place, the gospel is of first importance.

How can we be agents of God’s good news to a world so saturated with bad news? By asking God to empower us to share this good news whenever possible.

Sign up for our e-newsletter today!

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This Christmas, you can shine the light of Christ into places of darkness and pain with a purchase from the Joni and Friends Christmas catalog. You are sending hope and practical care to people with disabilities, all in the name of Jesus!

Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Remember when you sought a night’s rest and got a colicky baby? Remember when you sought to catch up at the office and got even further behind? You can add to the list of interruptions sorrow, excitement, and bedlam. Sound familiar? Take comfort—it happened to Jesus too.

You may have trouble believing that. You probably believe Jesus knows what it means to endure heavy-duty tragedies. You’re no doubt convinced Jesus is acquainted with sorrow and has wrestled with fear. Most people accept that. But can God relate to the hassles and headaches of my life? Of your life? For some reason this is harder to believe. Jesus knows how you feel. His eyes have grown weary. His heart has grown heavy. He has had to climb out of bed with a sore throat. He has been kept awake late and gotten up early. Jesus knows how you feel.

Read more The Lucado Inspirational Reader

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

On January 14, 1973, when Super Bowl VII was played, perfection was on the line. Up to that point in the American football season, the Miami Dolphins had a perfect record—sixteen games without a loss. And when the Super Bowl was over, the victorious Dolphins would go down in sports history as the only team in professional football with a perfect record.

Victorious. That’s also a designation that fits Jesus. A close look at His ministry reveals one victory after another. Matthew’s record of Christ’s ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-9:38) includes summary statements on the front and back ends. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (4:23; 9:35). Christ was victorious over demons, disease, and death (see Mark 5:1-43). And what looked like a crushing defeat—His death on the cross—turned out to be the final victory. He defeated the ultimate enemy—death—by His own resurrection (see Acts 2:24).

Victors—whether in sports or other fields of endeavor—are showered with awards and gifts. What’s the appropriate response to Jesus whose life, death, and resurrection have secured forgiveness and a right relationship with God for all who embrace Him? Nothing less than worshipful allegiance!

Pastor and author Mark Batterson joins me to talk about his new book Gradually, Then Suddenly, a powerful invitation to dream God-sized dreams, start small, and stay faithful long enough to see legacy take root. We explore what it means to move from imagination to action, how to live with long vision and long obedience, and why true success often looks like quiet persistence over time. Mark shares stories of transformation from Washington, D.C., turning a crack house into a coffeehouse, a dream into a citywide ministry, and faith into a generational story. This conversation reminds us that what looks like slow progress may actually be sacred preparation. Join us for an inspiring look at how to live, lead, and love with purpose over the long haul.

Mark Batterson is the New York Times bestselling author of two dozen adult and children’s books including Win the Day, Chase the Lion and A Million Little Miracles. His newest book is Gradually Then Suddenly, How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy (Multnomah; on sale 11/4/25).  He’s also the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. One church with multiple campuses, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the DC Dream Center and the Capital Turnaround—a 100,000-square-foot city block that includes an event venue and child development center. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University. He and his wife, Lora, reside on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit markbatterson.com and https://twitter.com/markbatterson & Instagram.com/markbatterson 

Mark's Book:

Gradually, Then Suddenly

Mark's Recommendation:

The River of Doubt

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