Leadership Lessons Podcast

Pastor Daniel talks with his dad, Joe Williams, pastor of Calvary Chapel, Tacoma, Washington, about prayer and the ministry. Pastor Joe shares his story of how God called him into the ministry, encouraging us that “God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). How has prayer affected and changed him throughout his 37 years as a pastor? This is one man’s journey of prayer and faith throughout his ministry, one step at time, one miracle at a time. “We’ve seen the faithfulness of God.”

QUOTES: 

“Be flexible, be open. God knows what He is doing.” -Joe Williams

“Your faith grows as you see God move.” -Joe Williams

“Just because God is silent does not mean He is not working. God works everything out in His own time.” -Joe Williams

“You get experience by doing it. You have to move forward if you’re going to see God move.” -Joe Williams

“You never really need faith when thing are going right. You need faith when things are going wrong.” -Joe Williams

“Be faithful where God has put you and you will see the hand of the Lord.” -Joe Williams

“Ministry is not easy. Ministry is work. You have to be a prayer warrior.” -Joe Williams

One Piece of Advice | Don’t Leave Your Family Behind

Rodney Wilkinson, Gospel Fellowship Church in Boynton Beach, FL, shares his one piece of advice: Don’t leave your family behind. From his own experience growing up the son of a preacher where the family was not a priority, Rodney knows this well. Make your family a priority. Remember that Jesus is the Shepherd of the church

“Create balance in your schedule. If you’re overworking, here’s what you’re probably not trusting, that Jesus is the Shepherd of the church anyway. He’s the one that does the work.” -Rodney Wilkinson

“Don’t honor people at the church and come home and dishonor your family. Take care of the home and let ministry flood out of your house.” -Rodney Wilkinson

“Take care of your home. Love your spouse. Do whatever it takes.” -Rodney Wilkinson

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Pastor Daniel talks with fellow church planter,Will Torres, Proclaim Church, Boynton Beach, FL about dealing with anxiety. Pastor Will shares his personal journey with anxiety and panic attacks and what that like as a Christian. “It took more faith for me to trust that God was going, through His common grace, lead me to the right doctor to help me.” This is a deeply personal story about an important subject that is often overlooked in ministry. Will’s wife, Kristan Torres, is a licensed Christian counselor at Hope Christian Counseling in Boca Raton, FL. www.hccounseling.com. Redemption Church Delray Beach has partnered with both Will & Kristan Torres to host events that deal with Anxiety and Depression. Check them out in the links section below. 

QUOTES:

“Sometimes we have anxiety and stress that are actually good for us because they bring us to God. But there is a physical side to anxiety and stress that involves mental health.” - Daniel Williams

“I would encourage you to find a good Christian counselor to help you deal with these deep-seated anxieties.” - Will Torres

“Often times ministers are afraid to talk about this. They are afraid of how people will perceive them. The reality is, this has opened up a door of ministry for me. Now people come to me with these issues and I’m able to talk from experience how God saw me through. He used doctors.”

“If pastors, people in ministry, could talk about this without a stigma attached to it, this would save lives.” - Will Torres

“When someone is going through anxiety or depression, it is important that you have people to go through it with you.” - Will Torres

“Christians have anxiety. Non-christians have anxiety. It is important to be able to help one another, Sometimes we just have to walk with people and be sensitive to the Spirit.” - Daniel Williams

“Create the space for people to talk about it. Practice empathy, The reality is, Jesus walked with His disciples.” - Will Torres

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

God & Anxiety: https://redemptiondb.com/blog-archive/god-amp-anxiety-event

God & Depression: https://redemptiondb.com/blog-archive/god-amp-depression-event

Ben Courson, founder of Hope Generation, talks about pastoral depression and how we deal with it in leadership positions. Ben speaks from his own experience as someone who suffered for a decade with chronic depression. In the Bible we see that Job, Elijah, Jonah, and David all suffered from depression. It is not uncommon. And it is not a sign of weakness. With compassion and wisdom, Ben explains how depression can be viewed biblically and what good can come from it. It’s a message of—what else?—hope.

“The greatest Bible characters were often depressed.” -Ben Courson

“Depression is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes it is a sign of strength.” -Ben Courson

“The One who invented the phrase broken heart knows how to heal your broken heart.” -Ben Courson

“What the enemy intends for evil, God intends for good. He can take your greatest disadvantages and turn them into advantages.” -Ben Courson

“Give everything but up.” -Ben Courson

One Piece of Advice | Slow Down

Pastor Dave Simiele, Campus Pastor at Christ Fellowship Church in West Palm Beach, FL, shares his advice to stop and take time to focus on spending time alone with Jesus. Slow down. Go to a deserted place to pray, as Jesus did in Mark 1:35. “It’s not about what I’m doing; it’s about who I’m becoming.”

“The Son of God had to stop and get away and be with His Father.” -Dave Simiele

“If we don’t pause in our life and commune with God and stop, then we are not going to hear the direction that He has for us.” Dave Simiele

“You can’t live a hurried life without warping your soul.” -Lance Witt

‘Reject the lies about production and producing and that busyness equals effectiveness because we know that is not true.” -Dave Simiele

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Recommended Book of the Month: Replenish by Lance Witt

Pastor John Panico, Delray Beach, FL, talks about how to serve when you’re struggling. Struggles come in every area of life—financial, physical, emotional, relational, work—you name it. There is nothing in life you can expect to be completely exempt from struggle. But God has promised to  carry us through these times of difficulty. Pastor John gives five key points to help you persevere in trials. You will be encouraged. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

QUOTES:

“Remember your relationship with the person of God. We have to stay at His feet.” -John Panico

“Respond to the struggle with the promises of God.” -John Panico

“The enemy never attacks you generally; he always attacks you specifically.” -John Panico

“Rely on the power of God.” -John Panico

‘So many things we start in the Spirit, but we try to finish in the flesh.” -John Panico

“Rely on the people of God. You are not the lone ranger.” -John Panico

“Remember to rest in the presence of God.” -John Panico

One Piece of Advice | Enjoy Jesus

Pastor Josiah Graves, The Exchange Church in Deerfield Beach, FL shares his one piece of advice to enjoy Jesus. What gets in the way of our pursuing this? It’s the enemy of comparison, fed by today’s social media. This is a great reminder of the one thing that is essential—knowing Jesus.

“I want to get back to the place where I can just enjoy Jesus. There’s always going to be a task list, there’s always going to be things to do.” -Josiah Graves

“Find your vision in Jesus. Find your contentment in Jesus.” -Josiah Graves

“Comparison steals joy. Turn off your phone. Stop looking at others and what they’re doing.” -Josiah Graves

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Pastor Daniel talks about the importance of hard work in the ministry, sharing what the word of God has to say about this vital subject. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) God wants us to be doing the good work He has prepared for us. Work is a response to God’s grace. What should be our attitude toward work? Is it a curse? How does the gospel redeem our work? This is a message of hope as we reset our perspective on the nature and purpose of work. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

QUOTES: 

“Work is a big deal. It’s a big deal to God.” -Daniel Williams

“Being a church leader is incredible, but it is also hard work.” -Daniel Williams

“We aren’t saved by works, but we are saved to work.” -Daniel Williams

“Man is made in the image of God and made to work, made to create.” -Daniel Williams

“God can use the gift of work to bring value to our lives, to bring Him glory, to be a witness to this world in how we work, as unto the Lord.” -Daniel Williams

One Piece of Advice | Working Hard for the Lord

Pastor Cameron Barber, Calvary South Sound, Lakewood, Washington, shares his advice from Proverbs 6:6-8—Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. These are a particular type of ants. When it is time to work, they work—and when it’s time to rest, they rest. That is a lesson we need to learn. 

“We make idols out of work.” -Cameron Barber

“God blesses in times of work and times of rest.” -Cameron Barber

“God is in control and we’re not.” -Cameron Barber

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Pastor Daniel talks about the importance of studying God’s word, following the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:1, who…received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. The practice of studying God’s word is essential in growing as a disciple of Jesus. Daniel shares a Bible study tool from Greg Laurie’s book, Start to Follow. It is the 3 Rs: Read: What does God’s word say?; Reflect: What does this teach me about God?;  Respond: What will I do with what I just learned? Teaching people to read the Bible is no small matter in a culture where the vast majority of people do not read a book after finishing high school or college. It needs to be taken seriously. If you don’t like to read, ask God to change your heart. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18. A practical message and a great encouragement!

QUOTES

“We are to be in God’s word, under God’s authority, men and women of the word.” -Daniel Williams

“People who want to know God need to learn how to study the Bible, to build their faith.” -Daniel Williams

‘We can go to God’s word and know who He is, and know God’s heart.” -Daniel Williams

“The discipline of reading has been lost, but it’s important for us as Christians to know that it’s part of our faith. It’s part of our education to learn what God has said.” -Daniel Williams

“The Bible is a supernatural book.” -Daniel Williams

“God’s word is the final authority.” -Daniel Williams

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

How To Read The Bible Series: 

Can we trust the Bible? Is it full of errors? Is the scripture we read today the same as what was written thousands of years ago?

—

This video is Part 2 of 3 of a video series on How To Read The Bible. This was part of a talk that Bryan & Katie Saylor shared at The Harbor, the young adult ministry of Calvary Chapel Melbourne. In this video, they share 3 reasons that the Bible is trustworthy. Reason #1 - External Evidence, Reason #2 - Internal Evidence, and Reason #3 - Fulfilled Prophecy.

LINKS:

How To Read The Bible Series with Bryan & Katie Saylor:

Part 1 - 3 Reasons Why People Don't Read Their Bible: https://youtu.be/7_JbvSPjEU4

Part 2 - Is The Bible Trustworthy?: https://youtu.be/jYQZs5rNc9A

Part 3 - 5 Steps Toward Bible Reading: https://youtu.be/Rl4lUEahnsY

Evidence For The Bible by Charlie Campbell:

https://www.alwaysbeready.com/bible-evidence

CanWe Trust The bible by Charlie Campbell: 

https://www.alwaysbeready.com/can-we-trust-the-bible

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Pastor Daniel talks with Jim Gallegher, pastor at Calvary Chapel, Vero Beach, FL, about the impact of studying and teaching scripture, both on himself and those who are receiving the message. Pastor Jim discusses the supernatural power of the word of God for salvation and also the transformation of individual lives. How has studying the Bible and teaching through it for many years benefited him personally? “Our own relationship with the Lord is what we want to focus on predominately. What we do for the Lord is secondary.” In preparing for a sermon, Pastor Jim explains three main objectives for sermon prep: 1)Accurately communicate what’s in the text; 2)Persuade people; 3)Develop biblically literate listeners. A great lesson from a great teacher of the Word. 

QUOTES:

“It comes down to the importance the scripture places on the Word of God to the conversion of the lost and the development of the believer.” -Jim Gallegher

“The more we can help people to understand God’s word, take away some of the fears that they have of it so that they’ll spend time in it of their own, the more they’re going to develop in their relationship with the Lord.” -Jim Gallegher

“God didn’t hire us, He adopted us. We’re a Christian before we’re a pastor.” -Jim Gallegher

“If we approach the scripture in an expository way…people are learning how to read their Bible.” -Jim Gallegher

“Be a student of scripture.” -Jim Gallegher

One Piece of Advice | Focus on Healthy Impact

Will Torres, Proclaim Church, Boynton Beach, FL shares his one piece of advice to focus on healthy impact rather than worldly success. Instead of measuring by worldly standards, such as numbers or social media stats, we should focus on changed lives. Changed lives change the world for God. That is healthy impact.

QUOTES: 

“We can get sidetracked by looking at outward measures…and we can lose sight of what is true success in ministry.” -Will Torres

“Paul’s example in 2 Timothy 2:2 is a 4-generation impact: …and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” -Will Torres

“If we can not lose sight of what healthy impact looks like in the church, then we can truly be successful, according to God’s measure and not the world’s measure.” -Will Torres

LINKS: 

Sermon Prep by Jim Gallegher: http://www.ccvb.net/sermonprep

Step By Step by Jim Gallegher: http://www.ccvb.net/teachings?sapurl=LytjY3ZiL2xiL2xpLytjZDAzNGIwP2JyYW5kaW5nPXRydWUmZW1iZWQ9dHJ1ZQ==

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Pastor Daniel talks with Alex Fuentes, missionary and church planter in Colombia, South America. Pastor Alex talks about how God called him and his wife, Inez, to come alongside an existing ministry in Colombia and what is happening in their life now as they have moved to another—and very different—mountain community there. As they are going specifically to sow the gospel in this community, how important is it to understand the local culture? God used both his Colombian background and his wife’s Cuban heritage to prepare them for their current ministry. The process of becoming familiar with a people and their culture can be challenging, but it is all about investing time in getting to know people personally. Because they know these people and what the particular issues are for them, they can address those from the word of God. From there it becomes about discipleship, which is rooted in love.

QUOTES: 

“It doesn’t matter who we are or what our context is. Ultimately just understanding them helped me to be able to come alongside them and do life wherever it is that the Lord has us.” -Alex Fuentes

“I don’t need to know all, see all, or have all. I just need the Lord to show me where, how long, and who.” -Alex Fuentes

“God really does equip the called.” -Alex Fuentes

“Don’t get discouraged—just be faithful to continue to build that relationship.” -Alex Fuentes

One Piece of Advice - Expectations

Pastor Esteban Valenzuela, church planter in Madrid, Spain, shares his advice about expectations. We all have expectations in ministry, we have a picture of how God’s going to do things, how it’s going to go. Not all expectations are bad, but we need to prepare ourselves for the reality of unmet expectations. Don’t be surprised when things don’t turn out like you planned. “Allow God to work in His time. Have a confidence in your calling, that Jesus has called you, that He is going to do things that you cannot do.” In watching his own son plant seeds and patiently wait for them to grow, even when there was no visible evidence of it, Pastor Esteban was encouraged by God. “No matter what he saw, he was going to keep watering, and he expected fruit to come.” So hang in there. Opposition may come. The Lord allows difficult times to shape you and mold you for His kingdom. Because it’s all about Jesus. We bring our own expectations to the table, but it is God who chooses whether to remove them. He wants to glorify Himself in you and through you. That, you can expect. 

LINKS:

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Pastor Daniel talks with Ben Courson, founder of Hope Generation, about the value of preaching to yourself. David preached to himself in Psalm 42:11, Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Ben shares his own painful experience with hopelessness and how God brought Him through it and gave him a message of hope in Him. He gives seven keys to defeat depression, which he discusses in his new book, Optimisfits. It’s a message we all need to hear.

‘You can’t go through life without having problems. In the world you will have tribulation.” -Ben Courson

“Hope is the antidote to anxiety.” -Ben Courson

“Sometimes as leaders we are waiting for other people to encourage us when, really, we need to encourage ourselves.” -Ben Courson

“When God healed my heart, when God gave me hope, that became the one theme that would become my message.” -Ben Courson

One Piece of Advice | Always be Willing to Grow

Kelly Nothnagle, Associate Pastor at Calvary Chapel Boynton Campus, shares his one piece of advice: Always be willing to grow. The sabbath principle of rest and focusing on the Lord is a key to growth. Being open to and listening for God to speak to you and tell you what He has for you.

“I have found when we take that time and establish that rhythm just to slow down our mind and connect with the Lord, it’s amazing how big you can see God is.” -Kelly Nothnagle

“To think that He has called us and allowed us to be a part of His plan, it encourages me to want to experience all that God has for me.” -Kelly Nothnagle

“Live in that space where you are looking and you are excited for what God would have for you, and that you want to grow.” -Kelly Nothnagle

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com

Ben Courson at Hope Generation: https://www.bencourson.com

Pastor Daniel talks with Josiah Graves, Calvary Chapel, Deerfield Beach, FL about the ways of the cross and how that relates to ministry. How do we share the paradox of the cross, that it is good? And why is it important for us as leaders to continually be looking at the ways of God’s kingdom as we do ministry? Part of it is to make it a daily practice to preach the cross to each other, in the way we live our lives, in our conversations, in the things we do. It is not something we attain, but we are constantly aligning ourselves with God,  What are some practical ways you can do this in your daily life? What are the blessings of the ways of the cross? “When you understand the cross, that Jesus saved me, that I’m the chief among sinners, I’m that fool…it changes how we speak.”

QUOTES: 

“The ways of the cross, the ways of the kingdom, are a paradox. They are different from the ways our flesh would say to go.” - Daniel Williams

“A lot of our job is just trying to keep the cross at the center of everything we do, keep it the focus, the foundation, the goal—everything.” - Josiah Graves

“Our hearts are prone to move from the cross.” - Josiah Graves

“We want to do ministry flowing from the Spirit, and the Spirit bringing us to back Jesus.” - Josiah Graves

“It starts with us. We want to lead out of a place of brokenness and also of power. That goes back to the paradox of the cross.” - Josiah Graves

“Be Spirit-dependent, look to the Word, and let God give the increase.” - Josiah Graves

One Piece of Advice | Don’t Give Up

Cody King, pastor at Redemption Calvary outside Denver, Colorado, shares his advice from Galatians 6:9, And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart. The whole point behind this is just don’t give up. There are seasons of planting and seasons of harvest, and they are not the same season. Lifelong faithfulness is what it’s all about. It’s going to get hard. Trust Jesus and just don’t quit.

“We tend to overestimate what we can do in the short-term and underestimate what we can do in the long-term.” -Cody King

“If you really want to see God use you in the ministry He’s called you to in the context He’s given you…then you need to think long-term, long view.” -Cody King

“There’s a real enemy who hates you. And he wants to get you to quit.” -Cody King

LINKS: 

Contact Daniel: [email protected]

Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com