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Today’s episode will help us recognize the subtle dangers of pride in ministry, embrace humility, and refocus our efforts on pointing people to Jesus, not ourselves.

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Overcoming Pride in Ministry | Disciple Makers Podcast

In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, join hosts Jason and Josh as they tackle the insidious pitfalls of pride and ego in ministry. Sharing personal stories of struggles and revelations, they explore the dangers of becoming self-reliant and the importance of maintaining a humble spirit. With insights from scripture and their own experiences, they emphasize the necessity of lifting up Jesus rather than ourselves, making Him the focal point of our mission. This episode is a must-listen for anyone dedicated to being a true disciple of Christ, striving to avoid the traps of pride while faithfully serving God's kingdom.

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Clickbait Confession

00:19 Discussing Pitfalls in Ministry

01:31 The Dangers of Pride and Ego

04:02 Personal Stories of Humility

06:29 Lessons from Early Ministry Experiences

09:55 The Importance of Humility in Ministry

13:52 Balancing Ambition and Calling

19:45 Preaching Christ Despite Challenges

20:08 Economic Hardships and Church Reflections

21:10 Serving the Bride of Christ

23:01 The Importance of Humility in Ministry

25:13 Personal Struggles and Divine Realizations

30:28 The Call to Make Jesus the Big Deal

36:45 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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See Below for a longer description:

In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, Josh and Jason dive into one of the most dangerous traps in ministry—pride—and why humility is essential for every disciple of Jesus. It kicks off with a lighthearted bit about clickbait but quickly shifts into a deep, honest conversation about how pride creeps in and distorts our calling.

Josh jokingly suggests they confess their worst sins, which opens the door for a vulnerable talk about their personal struggles with pride. They both share how easy it is to be deceived by pride—especially in ministry—because it often shows up looking like confidence or competence, but slowly shifts us away from dependence on God.

They reflect on how pride convinces us we don’t need God. Josh quotes James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” and they agree that pride distorts reality, making us think we’re doing God’s work when we’re really just building our own platforms. Josh points to John the Baptist’s words—“He must increase, I must decrease”—as a powerful reminder of the posture God desires.

Josh shares a story from his early ministry days when success went to his head—until a disastrous sermon reminded him he needed God's presence, not just his own talent. Since then, he’s adopted a practice of taking off his shoes before preaching as a symbolic reminder of holy ground and humility.

Jason shares his own wake-up call—realizing that ambition disguised as vision had become about personal achievement. Pastoring a small church taught him that impact isn’t measured in numbers but in faithfulness.

Later in the episode, they talk about what true humility looks like in ministry. Josh says the goal isn’t to make followers of ourselves—it’s to point people to Jesus. Jason emphasizes that when Jesus is the center, the Gospel stays front and center too.

They also reflect on grace—not just as an idea, but as the active presence of God that flows through the humble. Jason notes that God works through those who get low, not those who chase applause.

To wrap things up, they offer practical ways to fight pride: stay rooted in Scripture, don’t chase originality for the sake of ego, and constantly boast in Christ, not self. It's not about being clever—it’s about being faithful.

Josh closes by reminding listeners that pride makes ministry about you, but real discipleship is about making much of Jesus. They encourage everyone to stay humble, stay centered on Christ, and check out more resources at discipleship.org.