January often brings both hope and pressure for pastors and church leaders. The start of a new year can feel like an unspoken performance review, filled with expectations around growth, attendance, giving, and vision. But pressure is not the same thing as purpose — and it’s a terrible substitute for clarity.

In this episode of Leading Your Church, Rich Cochran invites pastors to enter the new year with discernment, alignment, and spiritual steadiness — not anxiety-driven urgency. Instead of reacting to pressure, we talk about how to lead thoughtfully, prayerfully, and intentionally in the season your church is truly in.

If you’re stepping into this year feeling tired, uncertain, hopeful, or quietly discouraged, this conversation is designed to remind you: God is not behind schedule. Clarity comes from trust, alignment, and obedience — not control.

Key Themes We Discuss

The Quiet Pressure of January

Many pastors feel unseen weight as the new year begins. Staff expectations, board expectations, and internal expectations often rise — but pressure does not produce wisdom. Clarity does.

What Scripture Really Says About the Future

Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us that God calls us to trust and walk with Him, not predict outcomes. Clarity is not certainty. Clarity is alignment.

Why Health Is the Best Goal for the Year Ahead

Healthy leaders build healthy churches. Health is not the absence of problems — it’s the presence of alignment between vision, systems, pace, and culture.

Three Anchoring Questions for 2026

1. What season are we actually in?
2. What must be true for our church to be healthy this year?
3. What must we not neglect, no matter what happens?

These questions create pastoral and strategic clarity.

A Word for Weary Pastors

Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that God’s mercies are new — not pressure. You are not being asked to outrun last year. You are being invited to walk faithfully into this one.

Lead This Year — Don’t Just Survive It

The church does not need louder leadership. It needs steadier shepherds. Faithfulness > hurry.

Key Quotes

“Pressure is not the same thing as purpose.”

“Healthy churches don’t rush into a new year. They discern their way into it.”

“Clarity is not about certainty. Clarity is about alignment.”

“Health is not the absence of problems — it’s the presence of alignment.”

“God is not behind schedule.”

Proverbs 3:5–6
Lamentations 3:22–23

Resources

You can find leadership tools, reflections, and resources to strengthen your church at:
richcochran.com

Title: How to Hear God’s Voice as You Lead
Host: Rich Cochran
Duration: ~20 Minutes

In this episode of Leading Your Church, Rich Cochran explores one of the most essential practices of leadership—hearing God’s voice.

Ministry leaders often feel overwhelmed by noise, pressure, and competing demands. The result? We stop listening for God’s direction and start leading reactively instead of responsively.

Rich unpacks why hearing God’s voice can be so challenging, shares three powerful pathways to reconnect with God’s leading, and introduces a simple weekly rhythm to help pastors and leaders stay spiritually aligned.

If you’ve been wondering what God is saying in this season—or struggling to hear Him in the middle of your leadership responsibilities—this conversation is for you.

1. Why We Struggle to Hear 

• Leadership is noisy—meetings, sermons, strategy, and pressure crowd out space for God’s whisper.
• We move from revelation to imitation when we stop listening to the Spirit.
• You don’t lose your calling overnight—you lose it when you stop hearing His voice.

2. Three Pathways to Hearing God’s Voice 

1. Scripture Before Strategy – Let God’s Word shape your inner compass before your calendar does.
2. Solitude Before Solutions – Even Jesus withdrew to pray; leaders need silence to stay clear.
3. Obedience Unlocks Clarity – Clarity comes as you walk out the last word God gave you.

3. How to Put It Into Practice – The S.O.S. Rhythm 

• S – Scripture: Begin each day in God’s Word before the world.
• O – One Question: Sit still and ask, “Father, what do You want me to hear today?”
• S – Step of Obedience: End with one act of faithfulness—big or small.

Warning for Leaders: Don’t confuse “new direction” with avoiding obedience. God doesn’t contradict Himself.

Key Quote

Scripture References

• John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice…”
• Luke 5:16 – “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
• John 7:17 – “If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand…”

Takeaway Questions

• Where in my leadership have I stopped listening for God’s voice?
• Am I obeying what He already told me—or just waiting for something new?
• What step of obedience can I take this week?

Are you tired of starting the year with endless goals only to feel overwhelmed by the end of January?

As ministry leaders, juggling preaching, pastoral care, team building, and more can feel like too much. In this episode, we explore a game-changing approach: choosing One Word to guide your year.

The idea taken from Jon Gordon’s book One Word, we discuss how selecting a single word or phrase can clarify your purpose, align your focus with God’s calling, and energize your leadership in 2025. From identifying your word to integrating it into your personal and ministry life, we’ll show you how to make this simple practice a transformative tool.

You’ll learn:

• How to prayerfully reflect on the past year to choose your word.
• Practical steps to ensure your word resonates deeply with your spiritual journey.
• Ways to align your goals and leadership decisions with your chosen word.

We’ll also dive into listener questions about staying motivated and adapting when God shifts your focus.

Join us as we discover how one word can simplify your leadership, amplify your mission, and help you press on toward the goals God has for you.

Key Verse: Proverbs 4:25 – “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”

Closing Thought: “One word can change the course of your year. It’s not about doing more, but about doing what matters most.” — Jon Gordon

Subscribe for more insights to lead your church with purpose!

Description:
The holiday season is one of the busiest times for ministry leaders, filled with church services, outreach events, and personal family commitments. In this episode of Leading Your Church, Rich shares practical strategies for staying spiritually healthy while managing ministry responsibilities.

Here’s what we cover:

Segment 1: Guarding Your Spiritual Health

The holidays are a season of giving—but you can’t pour into others if your spiritual cup is empty. We explore how to stay connected to God in the midst of ministry demands.

Practical Tips:

• Maintain a Personal Devotional Time: Even 10 minutes a day of Scripture reading, prayer, and reflection can refresh your soul.
• Set Boundaries: Block out at least one full day in December to unplug from ministry and rest in God’s presence.
• Lean on Accountability: Connect with a mentor or trusted friend who can check in on how you’re really doing.

Segment 2: Managing Holiday Stress

With so much on your plate, holiday stress can seem unavoidable—but it doesn’t have to take over. We share proven strategies for reducing holiday pressure while still leading well.

Stress-Management Tips:

• Plan Ahead: Use a detailed calendar for church events, deadlines, and personal commitments.
• Delegate Tasks: Empower volunteers and staff to handle specific responsibilities—you don’t have to do everything yourself.
• Limit Commitments: Be realistic about what your team can accomplish without sacrificing personal well-being.

Segment 3: Leading with Intentionality

Amidst the busyness, remember why we celebrate in the first place: Jesus’ birth. Refocus your leadership and church services on the true meaning of Christmas.

Leadership Reminders:

• Center Your Team on Jesus: Start each team meeting with a Scripture and prayer reflecting on Jesus’ birth.
• Create Meaningful Services: Ensure your church’s Christmas events clearly communicate Jesus’ love and the Gospel message.
• Stay Present with Family: Leadership starts at home. Protect family time and be fully present with your loved ones.

Listener Q&A

Q1: “How can we avoid holiday burnout?”

Q2: “How do I balance family time with ministry demands?”

Closing:
This Christmas season, remember that your presence matters—to your church, your family, and to God. Lead well by staying spiritually connected to the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you for listening! Be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with others. Have a joyful and peaceful Christmas season! 🎄✨

In this episode, Rich explores three key steps to finish the year strong: reflecting on God’s work, evaluating ministry systems, and preparing for a purposeful year ahead.

Segment 1: Reflection and Celebration
Discover actionable ways to celebrate ministry wins, express gratitude through personal thank-you notes, and create a powerful year-end recap to inspire your church family.

Segment 2: Evaluating Ministry Systems
Learn how to assess programs, support volunteers, and streamline communication. Find out what system you can improve now to set your church up for success in 2025.

Segment 3: Preparing for Next Year
Get practical tips for setting key objectives, planning a leadership retreat, and launching a new initiative that aligns with your church’s mission and vision.

Q&A:
Rich answers questions about maintaining ministry momentum during the holiday season and creative ways to show volunteer appreciation.

Closing Thought:
As December brings both celebration and busyness, pause to reflect on God’s faithfulness, celebrate what He has done, and look forward to all He will do in the coming year.

In this episode Rich continues the teaching series on Breaking Up with Insanity. Part 2 leads us to explore that changes we need to consider to become the leader we want to be, the leader we are called to be, and the leader your church needs you to be.

Rich talks about the need to explore changes spiritually, emotionally, physically, and in leadership capacity.

Welcome to Episode 018 of "Leading Your Church with Rich Cochran." In this episode, Rich kicks off a miniseries titled "Breaking Up with Insanity: Start Strong in 2024." We've all heard the saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same things the same way over and over and over expecting different results." And guess what? It's time to break that cycle, especially when it comes to our leadership and our churches.

Join Rich as he shares practical steps and encouraging perspectives needed to lead differently in the upcoming year. Discover actionable ideas to shake up the routine, foster innovation, and cultivate a vibrant community within your church. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, Rich Cochran provides clear guidance on how to navigate change, inspire your team, and make 2024 a year of true transformation.

Don't miss part one of this compelling miniseries that promises to set the stage for a powerful year ahead. Tune in, take notes, and let's break up with insanity together on "Leading Your Church with Rich Cochran."

Leading Your Church Podcast
Episode 017: Defining Reality

• Introduction:
  • Welcome to Leading Your Church! In this episode, Rich Cochran joins us to explore the critical aspects of "Defining Reality" within your church. Get ready to delve into historical stats, community demographics, SWOT Analysis, the art of asking impactful questions, and the challenges of neglecting to define reality in your church.
• Church Historical Stats & Community Demographics:
  • Rich Cochran stresses the significance of understanding historical church statistics and the demographics of the community. Key insights include:
    • Analyzing past trends and growth to inform future strategies.
    • Aligning ministry efforts with the needs and diversity of the local community.
• SWOT Analysis for Churches:
  • Exploring the application of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis in the church context. Rich Cochran highlights:
    • Identifying internal strengths and weaknesses to leverage or address.
    • Seizing external opportunities and mitigating potential threats within the church environment.
• Art of Asking Good Questions:
  • Rich Cochran shares the art of posing impactful questions to grasp and shape church reality. Strategies covered:
    • Crafting probing questions to unearth insights from congregants and leaders.
    • Using questioning as a tool for reflection and refining the church's vision.
• Challenges of Neglecting Reality Definition:
  • Rich presents compelling challenges arising from neglecting to define reality in a church setting, emphasizing:
    • Missed opportunities for growth and adaptation.
    • Potential disconnection between the church's vision and the community's needs.
• Conclusion:
  • Summarizing the episode's key learnings, urging leaders to utilize historical data, demographics, analysis tools, and effective questioning to shape a robust church reality aligned with the vision.

In this episode of the Leading Your Church Podcast with Rich Cochran, titled "Gain Momentum by Launching the Fall Season of Ministry," Rich shares practical steps for church leaders to kickstart their fall ministry season. 

Rich emphasizes the importance of clear planning, setting goals, and efficient resource allocation. Effective communication within the church community is key, and Rich offers insights into fostering strong relationships and community spirit.

At the end of the episode Rich offers 10 dangers for ignoring this season of your church year. Leading change in your church means you will maximize this prime season in your church.