Matt Brown Show

Have you ever wanted God to speak to you? 

My guest today has spent his life listening to God. He is Billy Graham's brother in law Leighton Ford, and it was such an honor to speak to him. He worked closely with Billy for many decades, and then spent the second half of his life mentoring young leaders. He shares about how you can learn to hear God's voice in your own life.

You can pick up Leighton's book "A Life of Listening" here: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Listening-Discerning-Voice-Discovering-ebook/dp/B07VNH6MPS/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Have you ever watched the TV show American Ninja Warrior? 

My family and I love it, so I have some special surprise hosts on today's conversation - my two sons, Caden and Jordan. :)

Today my guest is Akbar Gbajabiamila, who is the host of NBC's Emmy nominated, heart-racing obstacle course competition series American Ninja Warrior. He also hosts Universal Kids's spin off show, American Ninja Warrior Junior as well as NFL Networks' highest rated show NFL Fantasy Live. Akbar shares his personal journey of overcoming the odds, about his new book, and it was just an absolutely fun conversation today! 

Pick up Akbar's book "Everyone Can Be a Ninja" here: amazon.com/dp/B07MD6JSTN/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

One of the greatest things we can live for is the glory of God. Have you ever heard anyone talk about this before?

My guest this week is Louie Giglio, Pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and the founder of Passion Conferences. His mantra for decades has been from Isaiah 26:8, "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." He is calling for a 268 generation. There is something about this heart that yearns for the glory of God. I believe it was we were all created for -- to know God and to make Him known. To live for His glory, and to enjoy Him forever. All other pursuits miss their ultimate purpose without this. I still remember hearing about one of the old Passion gatherings in a field twenty years ago when I was a student in my college dorm. It impacted me profoundly back then, and Louie shares some of those personal stories about that meeting. So buckle up, because God showed up in our conversation today!

Pick up Louie's book "Not Forsaken" here: amazon.com/dp/B07RDY3CVH/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Are you a more negative person or positive person? 

Becoming a more positive person is a choice all of us can make, that can greatly benefit our lives.

I am so honored today to sit down with bestselling author, and positivity advocate Jon Gordon. I was amazed to hear Jon's story of faith, and also that he has struggled with negativity his whole life. In his thirties it had caused major problems in his marriage and his wife was going to leave him unless he changed. This is such a powerful conversation, and also so needed in our world right now with everything that has been going on.

Pick up Jon's book "The Energy Bus" here: amazon.com/Energy-Bus-Rules-Fuel-Positive/dp/0470100281/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Did you know that God can use the greatest pain in your life to bring about His greatest purpose? 

Speaker, author, and abolitionist Christine Caine shares her powerful story, and how God has worked in and through her to change the world. She is the founder of A21 an anti-trafficking organization, and a powerful preacher of God's Word. You will be absolutely encouraged hearing from her today.

Pick up Christine's book "Undaunted" here: amazon.com/dp/B07HPWVDXY/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Have you ever had questions or doubts about your faith? 

Lee Strobel was once an award winning journalist for The Chicago Tribune, and an atheist when his wife came home one day to tell him she had become a Christian. Over the next several years he began a journey of trying to disprove Christianity using his investigative journalism skills. But ultimately he came to the consolation that there was an avalanche of evidence supporting the claims of Christianity and it would take more faith to maintain his atheism than to become a Christian. His powerful story will encourage your faith, and probably answer some of your questions about your faith, if you've had any. 

Pick up Lee's book "The Case for Christ" here: amazon.com/dp/B01863JLK2/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

How can we care about, and work towards justice in today's world? 

Earlier this week, many posted and encouraged everyone to listen and learn better from our black brothers and sisters on their experiences with injustice and what they continue to go through. I knew I had to get some time with my dear friend Sam Collier, who is a national speaker, author, and TV and radio show host of "A Greater Story with Sam Collier". Sam has a unique perspective and timely wisdom to help us as we listen and learn. I learned so much from what Sam shared with me in this conversation. This is a real and raw conversation that is so needed right now.

Pick up Sam's book "A Greater Story" here: amazon.com/dp/1540901076/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Are you living out your God-given calling?

Too often we buy into the lie that our worth is our work, our value is our vocation, and our calling is our career. Confusing what we do with who we are wreaks havoc on our bodies, our souls, and our relationships. I'm so honored to have Paula Faris join me on today's conversation. Paula left two dream careers in pursuit of her calling, and she shares how you can pursue your calling over your career. You probably know her as a television correspondent for ABC News, the co-anchor of Good Morning America Weekend, and co-host of The View. This was such a fun conversation. 

Pick up Paula's book "Called Out" here: amazon.com/Called-Out-Traded-Dream-Calling/dp/0764235435/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Who was your favorite athlete growing up? 

For me it was Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey Jr. and Darryl Strawberry. I remember Darryl Strawberry could throw the ball from the fences all the way to the catcher, there was no one like him. What I didn't know was the amazing way God worked in Darryl Strawberry's story. From enduring an abusive father as a young child, to catapulted fame, and success as a Major League Baseball player, Darryl soon began to pursue the wrong things and spent much of his life addicted to drugs and pleasure. But even while he was chasing the wrong things, God was chasing him the whole time, and now not only is Darryl sober, but he is a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ! We talk about a lot of his journey, and share so much encouragement and hope that you will walk away changed forever. 

Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org

Do you want to be a happier person?

My guest this week, popular pastor and author Max Lucado, shares the unexpected path to a lasting happiness, one that produces reliable joy amidst any life circumstance.  

Pick up Max's book "How Happiness Happens" here: amazon.com/How-Happiness-Happens-Disappointment-Expectations/dp/0718096134/. Pick up Matt's book "Truth Plus Love" here: amazon.com/Truth-Plus-Love-Jesus-Influence/dp/0310355249/

For more from Matt Brown, and to receive our free gift “5 Spiritual Keys to Find Fulfillment in God” which will help you get started into the life of fulfillment God has for you, go to: Thinke.org