What season is your life with God currently in? Discover more how God moves in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter of our lives with this episode’s guest, Matt Erickson, senior pastor of Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee. He and Dave discuss a renewed vision for pastoral ministry drawn from Matt’s upcoming book, “The Pastor as Gardener”. Erickson shares about how “God must increase, I must decrease” and that fruitful ministry best comes from an overflow of life with God—describing decreasing as cooperating with God through prayer, listening, and releasing control. He discusses Eastbrook’s multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational community and current emphasis on discipleship and formation amid post-pandemic engagement challenges and increased curiosity from spiritual seekers, including through Alpha groups. Erickson reflects on the church’s “winter” season of decline and disorientation as an invitation to return to first things. Through scripture and the influence of other theologians like Eugene Peterson, he shares more on Jesus’ “gardener” imagery in John as a new creation. As always, the episode closes with a led prayer for rootedness and fruitfulness.

Takeaways:

• Fruitful Ministry Flows from Life with God - Matt emphasizes that the most meaningful work for God flows out of a deep life with God. Echoing John the Baptist’s words, “He must increase, I must decrease,” true fruitfulness comes not from striving but from surrender and dependence.
  • Action: Identify one area where you may be striving in your own strength. Practice “decreasing” by bringing it to God in prayer and asking Him to lead instead.
• Discern the Season You’re In - Drawing from the rhythms of creation, Matt Erickson reminds us that our lives with God move through seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Each season has its own purpose, whether growth, fruitfulness, pruning, or rest.
  • Action: Take time this week to reflect on which spiritual season you may be in right now. Ask God, “What are You inviting me to receive or learn in this season?”
• Cultivate the Soil of Your Soul - Drawing on the image of the pastor as gardener, Matt reminds us that growth takes place when we cultivate the conditions for life with God—through listening, prayer, and openness to the Spirit’s work.
  • Action: Choose one way to “tend the soil” of your spiritual life this week: spend time in silence, journal about where God is at work, or take a reflective walk outdoors while praying.
• God is the Ultimate Gardener - We see throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, a recurring theme of the garden. Matt touches on some of those examples, reminding us of the slow, organic work that God does first that we can join in.
  • Action: Reflect this week on what the image of God as a Gardener says to you? Where do you need God to plant, tend, harvest or prune in the garden of your life right now?
• Trust God’s Subterranean Work in Winter - Matt describes winter as a season when the ground lies fallow. It may look barren, but unseen work is happening beneath the surface. In the same way, seasons of decline or uncertainty—both in our lives and in the North American church—may be times when God is quietly preparing the ground for renewal.
  • Action: If you’re in a winter season, resist the urge to force growth. Instead, ask God what unseen work He may be doing beneath the surface of your life or community.

Quote of the Show:

• “ Don't spend so much time trying to force fruit. Send your roots down deep into God and let the fruit come. It is a natural thing. ” - Matt Erickson

Links:

• Website: https://mwerickson.com/ 
• Book Link: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884145/the-pastor-as-gardener/ 
• Podcast: https://mwerickson.com/podcast/ 

In this conversation, host Dave Ripper welcomes Dr. J.R. Briggs to explore how asking better questions can transform our lives, leadership, and walk with God. Drawing from J.R.'s book The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadership, and Deeper Faith, they discuss the power of questions to connect, discern, heal, and draw out what God is already doing in us and others. The episode weaves personal stories, biblical insights (including Jesus as the ultimate question-asker), the concept of kairos moments, mentorship influences like Eugene Peterson and Gordon MacDonald, and practical ways to ask life-giving questions of God, ourselves, and others. Includes a guided reflective practice using the "inner compass" to notice God's presence and invitations.

Guest Bio

Dr. J.R. Briggs is the founder of Kairos Partnerships, an organization dedicated to serving hungry kingdom leaders through coaching, consulting, speaking, and teaching. He serves as Director of Leadership and Congregational Formation for the Ecclesia Network and teaches on leadership and spiritual formation at institutions including Friends University and Taylor University. J.R. is a prolific author of books such as Fail, The Sacred Overlap, and The Art of Asking Better Questions. He hosts the Resilient Leaders Podcast and lives in the greater Philadelphia area with his wife and sons.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Kairos Moments: Understanding kairos (opportune, God-invaded time) vs. chronos (sequential time). How leaders steward unexpected invitations—whether joyful or painful—and why faithful response benefits everyone.
• The Power of Questions: Questions hijack the brain, foster connection, build trust, spark creativity, and reveal worldview. The quality of our lives and relationships often depends on the quality of our questions.
• Personal Influences: J.R. shares his father's modeling of question-asking, studying Jesus' questions in the Gospels, and a 12-year mentorship with Eugene Peterson (sparked by bold questions at a thank-you event).
• Mentorship & Formation: Stories of Eugene Peterson's key question ("What is God doing in your congregation right now?") and Gordon MacDonald's decade-based questions (e.g., "What kind of old man/woman do I want to be?").
• Growing Fruit on Others' Trees: Shifting from self-focus to educe (draw out) what the Holy Spirit is doing in others through curious, motive-checked questions.
• Questions to God: Guests share honest questions they'd ask if God guaranteed an answer (e.g., Why is grace so hard to receive? Why mosquitoes? How to make sense of trauma?). Dave reflects on questions like "Lord, what is this time for?" and "What's Your unexpected invitation in my unwanted suffering?"
• Questions We Ask Ourselves & God: Moving from statement-heavy prayers to question-filled ones (as in the Psalms); reminders that God not only loves us but likes us.

Reflective Practice: The Inner Compass

J.R. leads a guided prayer using a compass rose for noticing God's presence:

• North (North Star / Faith deepening): Where does my trust in Christ need to grow? Who/where is Jesus guiding me deeper?
• South (Southern Light / Longings): What do I long to become or do? Where do I need joy and delight in this season?
• West (Setting Sun / Release): What must I let go of (fear, resentment, despair, false certainty)?
• East (Rising Sun / Welcome): What new opportunity, relationship, or kairos moment do I need to embrace?

Listeners are invited to sit with these questions prayerfully, even while multitasking.

Resources Mentioned

• The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadership, and Deeper Faith by J.R. Briggs
• Kairos Partnerships: kairospartnerships.org
• J.R.'s website: jrbriggs.com
• Resilient Leaders Podcast
• Books by Eugene Peterson (e.g., pastoral theology works beyond The Message)
• Gordon MacDonald’s A Resilient Life (chapter on decade-specific questions)

Connect & Next Steps

Subscribe to Deeper Experiences with God and share this episode with someone who might benefit from asking better questions in their faith journey.
Find more episodes and show notes at podcast.daveripper.com.
Follow Dave on social media or at Crossway Church (Nashua, NH) for updates.

Grace and peace to you as you pursue deeper life with God through the simple, powerful practice of better questions.

Is Jesus enough? This week’s guest challenges us to ask this simple but powerful question. In this special live episode of 'Deeper Experiences with God,' recorded at Denver Seminary's Spiritual Formation in the Local Church event, host Dave Ripper interviews Dr. Howard Baker– renowned spiritual director and Professor Emeritas of Christian Spiritual Formation. They discuss Dr. Baker’s invaluable influence, the profound stages of spiritual growth, and the journey from a “without God” life to a “with God' life. Through rich storytelling, practical wisdom, and guided spiritual exercises, this dialogue offers deep insights into living a more fully integrated life with God.

Takeaways:

• Stages of Growth Are Normal—and Necessary: Dr. Baker reminds us that spiritual growth unfolds in stages, each with its own gifts and challenges. Confusion, dryness, or disorientation are not failures; they are often signs of deeper formation at work.
  • Action: Ask yourself: “What season of growth might I be in right now?” and resist the urge to rush past it.
• The Core Question of Spiritual Formation: Is Jesus Enough? Dr. Baker continually returns to the foundational question beneath all spiritual growth: Is Jesus enough for us? Many of our struggles arise when we seek fulfillment, security, or identity apart from Him.
  • Action: Spend time this week asking God honestly where you may be looking for “enough” outside of Christ.
• Growth Is a Journey from “Without God” to “With God”: Spiritual formation is not about becoming more religious, but about learning to live all of life with God. Dr. Baker describes this as a gradual process from the “without God” life, to the “about God” life, to the “for God” life, to the “with God” life.
  • Action: Which of these stages do you feel most accurately describes where you are at with God right now?
•  Move Formation from Ideas to Practices: Transformation happens when truth is practiced consistently, not merely understood. Small, repeated actions shape us over time.
  • Action: Commit to one simple practice (silence, examen, breath prayer) for five minutes a day over the next week to start your new year 

Quote of the Show:

• “ The journey hardly begins until we are experiencing our own belovedness ” - Howard Baker

Links:

• Website: https://denverseminary.edu/directory/baker-dmin-howard/ 
• Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Howard-Baker/author/B001K8I9FY?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c3a9b1e4-7b75-4f6b-8ff5-650ed7d0079b 

What names for Jesus come to mind for you this Christmas season? In this special Christmas episode of 'Deeper Experiences with God,' Dave reflects on the names given the coming Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 as invitations to encounter God’s presence more deeply. Drawing on A.W. Tozer’s insight that “what comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” Dave explores how these names—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Emmanuel—shape our understanding of who God truly is. Together, they can heal our distorted images of God and deepen our relationship with Him.

Takeaways:

• Wonderful Counselor: God is not merely a good therapist offering helpful advice—He is a wonderful, supernatural Counselor who knows the paths of our lives and the purposes of the universe. His guidance often unfolds through patience, prayer, and trust.
  • Reflection Question: How has God been a wonderful counselor to you throughout your life?  Do you believe that a wonderful Counselor really is leading and guiding you? How might we slow down and wait to see God’s guidance unfold?
• Mighty God:  The child born in Bethlehem is also the Mighty God—fully capable of accomplishing far more than we can imagine, in us and the world. God’s power is often revealed not through our strength, but through our weakness and dependence.
  • Reflection Question:  Think back over this last year, when have you experienced the power of God at work in your life, in your church, in your family, in your community?  If God's power is unleashed in weakness, where do you feel weak right now in your life?
• Everlasting Father: While our culture prizes independence, spiritual maturity leads us toward deeper, never-ending dependence on God.
  • Reflection Question: Imagine God looking at you, loving you, and pursuing you. How might you be resisting his love? How might you be trying to earn his love?
• Prince of Peace: Biblical peace—Shalom—is more than the absence of conflict. It is wholeness, restoration, and true human flourishing that only God can bring.
  • Action:  Where do you need God to be bringing peace or wholeness into your life this Christmas? 
• Emmanuel:  From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells the story of a God who desires to dwell with His people. Emmanuel reminds us that God is not distant—He is present with us as we open His Word and actively seek Him.
  • Action:  How do you recognize and respond to God's presence with you today? Or, if God has felt distant, take space to slow down and ask for more of His felt presence this Christmas. 

Quote of the Show:

• “  Give Our Lord the benefit of believing His hand is leading you.” -  Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Links:

• Website: https://www.daveripper.com/ 
• Book Link: https://www.ivpress.com/experiencing-scripture-as-a-disciple-of-jesus?srsltid=AfmBOorGCRD5reF5529_nTukHm78ayzsZ5nkS8enkKEazPOCp2pfdRJ_ 

What does it mean to recover the heart of Advent in a noisy and hurried world? In this episode of 'Deeper Experiences with God,' host Dave welcomes Pastor AJ Sherrill, lead pastor of St. Peter's Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and author of several books including 'Rediscovering Christmas.' Together they unpack the significance of Advent as a season of longing, waiting, and awakening to God’s presence. AJ reflects on the ways hurry, distraction, and digital overload blunt our spiritual sensitivity—and offers practical ways to slow down, pay attention, and receive Christ’s coming in fresh ways. Through the sharing of personal stories and insights, AJ invites listeners to make Advent less about consuming and self-importance, and more about cultivating desire for God in practical life ways. 

Takeaways:

• Advent Reawakens Our Longing for God: AJ explains that Advent begins not with celebration but with longing—the honest acknowledgment that the world is not as it should be. We grow spiritually when we allow ourselves to feel this ache. 
  • Action: This week, name one longing you often avoid and offer it honestly to God.
• Break Free from Over-Familiarity with Christmas:  AJ warns that we often settle for a sentimental, surface-level version of Christmas. Over-familiarity lulls us into thinking we already know the story—when in reality, God may have something new to reveal. Resetting our expectations opens us to wonder again.
  • Action: Ask God and sit with the question: “What fresh insight or hidden gem might You want to show me in this story?”
• Begin Your Day by Centering on God: AJ describes how a simple morning rhythm—silence, Scripture, prayer, or stillness—sets the tone for the entire day. Starting with God recalibrates your inner world, helping you respond rather than react as the day unfolds
  • Action: Choose one morning practice this week that helps you begin from a place of groundedness in God. If this is challenging, bring that to God, and maybe another trusted friend, in prayer. 
• Waiting Is a Gift, Not an Obstacle: AJ reminds us that waiting isn’t wasted time—in Scripture, it’s often the space where God forms us the most. Like the months of pregnancy for Mary and Zechariah, waiting cultivates hunger, hope, and readiness for what God is bringing to birth.
  • Action: Consider one area of life where you feel “in between,” and ask God how He might be forming you in the waiting
• Silence Helps the Soul Settle: AJ uses the image of a jar of water filled with shaken sediment: clarity comes only when the jar is still long enough for everything to settle. Silence works the same way in our spiritual lives. When we stop filling every gap with noise, God brings clarity, calm, and a renewed sense of His presence.
  • Action: Take a few minutes each day to sit in silence and let the “sediment” of your heart settle before God. If this is hard, ask yourself if there is any “self-importance” you can turn from?

Quote of the Show:

• “ There is something about cultivating a hunger, something about cultivating a thirst for that which we long for, rather than constantly allowing ourselves to be satiated with lesser loves.” -  AJ Sherrill
• “The  kingdom is different than you think, but it's better than you know.” - AJ Sherrill 

Links:

• Website: https://www.ajsherrill.org/ 
• Bio: https://saintpeters.me/bioaj 

What do our emotions have to do with our relationship with God and others? Host Dave invites Dr. Todd Hall, a psychology professor at Rosemead School of Psychology and a faculty affiliate at Harvard's Human Flourishing Program, to discuss relational spirituality. They explore Dr. Hall’s journey of overcoming childhood disconnection, developing the theory of relational spirituality, and integrating psychology with theology through his life and work. They talk extensively about how emotional and relational disconnection impacts one's spiritual life and the importance of healthy attachment and vulnerability. Dr. Hall emphasizes the significance of experiential knowledge of God through scripture, emotional awareness, and meaningful relationships. As always, the episode concludes with a contemplative prayer exercise from Ephesians 3, aiming to help listeners visualize and contemplate the height, breadth and depth of God’s profound love.

Takeaways:

• Your Emotional Story Shapes Your Spiritual Story: Our earliest relational experiences form the template for how we relate to God. Emotional disconnection can make God feel distant, while secure attachment helps us trust His presence.
  • Action: Reflect on how your relational history might shape the way you approach God today.
• Attachment Is Central to Spiritual Formation: Todd explains that spiritual maturity grows through secure attachment—experiencing God as emotionally safe, responsive, and consistently present. Healing often begins by allowing God and trusted people into the places we tend to hide.
  • Action: Notice where you pull away or are overly dependent in relationships, and gently invite God into that pattern. 
• Vulnerability Opens Us to Deeper Relationships: Todd talks about how not addressing our past wounds can shut down relationships with others out of a fear of vulnerability. Doing the personal work to identify those wounds and let God heal them opens us up to share, receive, and empathize more deeply with others.
  • Action: Take space this week to reflect on what kinds of emotions make you the most uncomfortable ( mad, glad, sad, afraid, ashamed), and ask God to reveal where that may be coming from.
• Scripture Is Meant to Be Experienced, Not Just Studied: Todd encourages engaging Scripture in a way that shapes our inner world—through contemplation, emotional awareness, and relational connection with God.
  • Action: Spend time with one passage today, noticing what rises in you as you read.
•  Measure Growth by Integration, Not Performance: Toward the end of the conversation, Todd emphasizes that spiritual growth isn’t measured by more activity—it’s measured by increasing integration: becoming more connected, more aware, and more able to love. Real maturity looks like a softer heart, not a busier schedule.
  • Action: Take time to reflect and honestly ask yourself: “Am I becoming more open, more present, and more loving?”

Quote of the Show:

• “When we disconnect from emotional pain, we also have to disconnect from part of ourselves, essentially. And then those parts of ourselves are no longer able to be brought into relationship with God and others.” - Todd Hall

Links:

• Website: relationalspirituality.co 
• Book Link: https://www.connectedlifebook.com/ 

How does looking back at the past help us understand our present and future relationship with God? In this episode of "Deeper Experiences with God" host Dave delves into the history of the Great Awakening in New England with fellow pastor, Chris Goeppner of Riverbank Church in White River Junctions, VT. Their discussion explores the importance of spiritual practices, sharing faith, and “wearing out, not rusting out”. Chris shares his journey from South Florida to New England, his experiences in church planting, and the profound impact of studying Puritan leader, George Whitefield's life and ministry. They discuss Whitefield's evangelistic fervor, his ability to unite different denominations, and his personal flaws, emphasizing that God can use imperfect people for His purposes. The episode encourages spiritual pilgrimages to historic sites and emphasizes the importance of personal and corporate renewal. It concludes with a special prayer inspired by Whitefield for the listeners.

Takeaways:

• Remembering Fuels Revival
  Chris reminds us that looking back—at both Scripture and church history—grounds our faith today. The stories of past awakenings remind us that renewal is always possible.
  • Action: This week, reflect on how God has moved in your life or community before, and ask Him to do it again.
• Imperfect People, Perfect Purpose
  From George Whitefield to our own lives, God works through flawed people to accomplish His mission. Our weaknesses don’t disqualify us—they make space for grace.
  • Action: Ask God how He might use your imperfections as part of His redemptive story.
• Wear Out, Don’t Burn Out
  Chris shares the difference between serving faithfully and striving endlessly. True ministry is sustainable when rooted in rest, prayer, and purpose—not performance.
  • Action: Schedule intentional time this week to recharge spiritually before your next act of service. Consider what might hinder you from doing so if this is challenging.
• The Power of Personal Pilgrimage
  Visiting historic places of faith can rekindle awe and connection. Chris encourages believers to make “spiritual pilgrimages” that remind us we’re part of a much larger story.
  • Action: Take a walk through a meaningful place in your community and ask God to meet you there.
• 5. Unity Fuels the Mission
  Whitefield’s ministry transcended denominational walls—his focus was on the Gospel, not labels. Chris challenges us to build bridges that outlast theological divides.
  • Action: Reach out to someone from a different church tradition and consider ways you can celebrate what you share in Christ.
• 6. Renewal Begins with Prayer
  The episode closes with a prayer inspired by Whitefield—a call for God to renew hearts, churches, and communities again today.
  • Action: Pray this week for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in your region, starting with you.

Quote of the Show:

• “I'd rather wear out than rust out.” - George Whitefield
• “God used this flawed, broken man from the UK… and to see where He used him, to stand there– it just comes to life for me. It makes me think, why not me? Why not us? Why not now?”  - Chris Goeppner

Links:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoeppner/?hl=en 
• Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Walking-George-Whitefield-Devotional-Journey/dp/B0FDPNBVGW 

What stories are we each born into and how do they shape our experience of God in ways we may not even realize? In this week’s episode of Deeper Experiences with God, host Dave is joined by Jenn Suen Chen, spiritual director, co-director of Summit Clear, and author of the new book 'Dim Sum and Faith'. The discussion revolves around the intertwining journey of knowing God and oneself, especially within the scope of our families and cultures of origin. Jenn elaborates on how personal stories shape our souls, using dim sum as a metaphor for collective spiritual growth. The conversation touches on the themes of shaping, undoing, awakening, and remaking in one's spiritual journey. Reflecting on Psalm 139, Jenn underscores the importance of being known by God and the inward and outward transformative power of God's love. The episode concludes with Jenn leading a thoughtful prayer, encouraging listeners to embrace God's presence in every season of life.

Takeaways:

• Know God by Knowing Yourself: Jenn reminds us that spiritual growth begins with honest self-reflection. As John Calvin once said, knowledge of God and knowledge of self are inseparable.
  • Action: Spend time this week asking God to show you where your personal story intersects with His story.
• Faith Is a Shared Table: Using dim sum as a metaphor, Jenn describes faith as a communal feast—intergenerational, messy, and filled with unexpected gifts. 
  • Action: Invite someone new into your spiritual life—share a meal, pray together, or simply listen to each other’s stories.
• Be Known and Loved by God: Psalm 139 reveals a God who fully knows and loves us. Our worth isn’t earned but spoken over us from the beginning.
  • Action: Read Psalm 139 slowly and let God’s words of love settle into the places where you feel unseen or unworthy.
• Dive into the Four Movements of Formation: Our spiritual lives move through seasons of Shaping, Undoing, Awakening, and Remaking. Growth isn’t linear—it’s cyclical and grace-filled.
  • Action: Reflect on which movement you might be in right now and what God might be forming in you there. 
•  The Wall Is Not the End: Periods of dryness, doubt, or disorientation—“the wall”—are sacred spaces where God meets us beyond performance or striving.
  • Action: Instead of rushing past pain or confusion, ask: “Lord, what invitation are You offering me here?”
• Let Yourself Be Loved: The final summit of spiritual life is learning to receive the love of God more deeply. True transformation flows from that love.
  • Action: Each day this week, take five minutes of stillness simply to let God love you—no words, no agenda.

Quote of the Show:

• “ When we feel fear around something, it just means that there's still places in our hearts that God's love has yet to reach.” - Jenn Suen Chen

Links:

• Website: https://www.jennsuenchen.com/ 
• Book Link: https://www.ivpress.com/dim-sum-and-faith 

Have you considered why Jesus shared so many teachings through stories, or parables? In this episode of Deeper Experiences with God, host Dave Ripper speaks with Dr. Steve Macchia, president of Leadership Transformations and author of Praying the Parables of Jesus. Together they explore how Jesus’ parables awaken spiritual readiness, creativity, and deeper intimacy with God. Born from Steve’s work guiding students in spiritual formation, the book—created with artist Sue Skinner—invites readers to approach Scripture through artful, prayerful reflection. Throughout their conversation, Dave and Steve reflect on themes of readiness, healing, humility, and dependence on God, discussing how true transformation requires acknowledging our brokenness and cultivating spaciousness for God’s voice. Steve also emphasizes that spiritual maturity is not about knowledge or success but about faithfulness, relational engagement with Jesus, and living from a restful, receptive heart attuned to the kingdom of heaven here and now.

Takeaways:

• Praying the Parables: Steve Macchia invites listeners to engage with Jesus’ parables not just as stories to study, but as prayers to experience.
  • Takeaway: Choose one parable this week (like the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son) and slowly read it as a prayer—asking God what He wants to awaken in your heart through it.
• Cultivating Readiness: Spiritual maturity begins with being open and responsive to God’s presence rather than striving for achievement.
  • Takeaway: Begin your day by simply praying, “Lord, I’m ready for You.” Notice how that posture shifts your awareness throughout the day.
• Creating Space for God’s Voice: Steve emphasizes that transformation happens when we slow down enough to listen and make room for God’s Spirit.
  • Takeaway: Set aside 10 minutes today for quiet stillness. No agenda, no list—just listen for God’s gentle voice.
• Healing Through Dependence: True wholeness often comes through acknowledging our weakness and need for God’s healing grace.
  • Takeaway: Reflect on an area of struggle or limitation in your life. How might God be inviting you to surrender and trust Him more deeply there?
• Living from Rest, Not Striving: Steve reminds us that the Christian life is about relational faithfulness, not constant productivity.
  • Takeaway: Set aside a few hours this week for intentional Sabbath rest. Step away from productivity and spend that time delighting in God’s presence through prayer, beauty, or unhurried joy.

Quote of the Show:

• “ That word success – I don't see it in the Bible at all. It's faithfulness, that is what God cares about, not success.” - Steve Macchia 

Links:

• Website:https://www.leadershiptransformations.org/ 
• Book Link: https://www.stevemacchia.com/books 

Have you ever thought that one of the best ways to connect with God might be through play? Join Dave for this week’s episode where he speaks with John Carroll, Executive Director of Dallas Willard Ministries’ School for Kingdom Living, about the surprising spiritual discipline of play and its role in experiencing life with God. Together, they explore themes of work, rest, burnout, and practicing Jesus’ teachings in everyday life. John shares how he’s encountered God through moments of joy, creativity, and even personal challenges—drawing deeply from the wisdom of Dallas Willard. As always, the conversation closes with a time of meditative prayer, grounding listeners in their identity in Christ.

Takeaways:

• The Discipline of Play as Spiritual Practice: John Carroll shares how play—often overlooked in spiritual life—can be a powerful way to experience God’s joy and presence.
  • Takeaway: This week, choose one playful activity (hiking, sports, music, games, etc.) and invite God into it. Notice moments of joy and gratitude as you play.
• Focal Practices for Burnout Prevention: Research shows activities that make us lose track of time can help prevent burnout and nurture spiritual health.
  • Takeaway: Identify one hobby or creative outlet that brings you fully into the present moment and schedule time for it this week.
• Community and Spiritual Formation: The School of Kingdom Living creates space for people to journey together in learning and practicing the way of Jesus.
  • Takeaway: Look for a spiritual community—a small group, class, or retreat—where you can share your faith journey with others and grow together.
• Experiencing God Through Creation: Both John and Dave shared moments of encountering God through nature, whether on mountain hikes, at the ocean, or while surfing.
  • Takeaway: Spend time outdoors this week—at a park, on a trail, or by the water—and intentionally pause to notice God’s beauty and presence around you.
• Living in Your True Identity: John invites listeners to embrace the prayer, “I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights, and I live in the strong and unshakable kingdom of God.”
  • Takeaway: Write this prayer on a note card and return to it throughout your day—while driving, brushing your teeth, or before bed—to stay grounded in God’s love.

Quote of the Show:

• “ The truth is that the kingdom is not in jeopardy and neither are we.” - John Carroll

Links:

• Website: https://dwillard.org/ 
• Book Link: https://dwillard.org/school-of-kingdom-living/description