This episode covers the freedom found only in Christ. The gospel is not Jesus plus our works—it’s Jesus alone. When we add to it, we carry burdens we were never meant to carry. When we abuse it, we trade freedom for slavery. This conversation looks at how God’s nature is freedom, why grace is not a license to sin, and why standing firm in the gospel keeps us from drifting back into old patterns.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the challenge of scaling leadership and why starting, staying, and sustaining growth each demand different skills. From the early days of casting vision with words, to embedding values into culture through repetition, Jason and Dave unpack how communication shifts as an organization grows. They explore the difference between leading with vision and leading with values, the process of crafting language that sticks, and the conviction required to guard against compromise when outside pressures promise money or influence. This conversation is both a practical guide to scaling leadership and a reminder to protect the convictions that gave birth to the work in the first place.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers why Jesus spoke so often about money and generosity, what 2 Corinthians 9 teaches about the laws of giving, and how generosity is tied to the gospel, freedom, and joy.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the real struggles of ministry life—the scrutiny leaders face, the temptation to strive, and how vulnerability can become a pathway to strength. Special guest Jeff Vanderstelt shares wisdom on abiding in Christ, breaking free from the subtle addiction to ministry, and living out God’s design for healthy leadership. Whether you’re in full-time ministry or simply navigating the weight of expectations, this conversation offers practical hope and freedom. This is for anyone in church leadership who feels the weight of expectations and wants a healthier way forward.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the call to bring our “first and best” to God through the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The conversation unpacks how giving is more than a financial act—it’s worship, it’s protection against greed, and it’s a pathway to joy. Listeners will learn why generosity keeps our hearts soft, how idolatry can creep in when we withhold, and practical steps for starting a lifestyle of giving that honors God first.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the unseen side of leadership—the toll it takes, the rhythms that sustain it, and the deep responsibility that comes with leading a local church. Jason unpacks how to build rest into your life without losing momentum, why seasons of ministry require different approaches, and the expectations every leader should place on themselves. Whether you’re a church planter, a ministry leader, or someone carrying influence in any arena, this conversation will help you think long-term about your calling and how to steward it well.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the vital role of the local church in God’s plan, reminding us that while the world prepares us to live against Jesus, we are called to prepare one another to live for Him. From 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10, we see that though full redemption will not come this side of heaven, God has chosen the local church as His primary instrument for gospel work until Christ returns. We are called to gratitude, endurance, and Spirit-filled conviction so that the message of Jesus rings out from our community to the world.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers what happens when pastors get honest about their shortcomings, their struggles with comparison, and the temptation to trade conviction for comfort. Jason sits down with Peter Mutabazi — foster dad, leader, and advocate — to talk about why so many churches feel like corporations, why some leaders feel stuck on stage, and how authenticity can rebuild trust in a lonely calling. 

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the journey from rescue to redemption through the lens of Peter Mutabazi’s remarkable story. In this episode of Rethink and Return, Jason and Dave reflect on Peter’s transformation—from a nameless orphan in a gutter to a man fathering dozens through foster care—and how his life vividly illustrates the gospel. They challenge us to move beyond healing into purpose, from survival to sacrifice, and into the kind of selfless living that reflects Jesus. Because true wholeness isn’t the finish line—it’s the launch point. It takes a church. It takes us all.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the weight of pastoring and how easily ministry can distort your identity. From comparison and discouragement to decentralization and leadership clarity, this conversation challenges pastors to stay rooted in who God created them to be. Faithfulness requires grit, but also a willingness to say “no,” stay small, and remember why you started.

Website: jasonshepperd.com

Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com

Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com

Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com

Good City: goodcity.org

“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV