The Discerning Leader Podcast

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott

"To avoid truth is to embrace a false reality, which can lead us into the downward spiral of deception." - Steve Macchia

Many of us have a hard time accepting Jesus' claim 'The truth will set you free.' We feel that if people knew the deepest and most broken parts of us, we would be abandoned, discarded, rejected or exploited. This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast explores how the painful and discomforting act of truth-telling indeed liberates and sets us free. And as we do so, we are reconciled to God, to one another and to ourselves.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott

"Deep trust in God leads us out of an angry disposition into a Christ-centered redemption." - Steve Macchia

How do we engage the emotion of anger and its accompanying behaviors? Rather than suppress, avoid or dismiss our anger, this podcast conversation invites you to be curious about its root and source. As we approach our anger with empathy and compassion, we can feel it's power subside as we begin to embody the gentleness and grace of God toward others.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott

"The one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair." - Steve Macchia

How easy it is to become self-absorbed, self-focused, self-promoting, self-centered and self-gratifying. Too often, we get fixated on ourselves and totally miss others. And although we are made for community and designed to be in relationship with others, we often believe that if we don't care for ourselves, no one else will. This episode explores the relationship between solitude and fellowship, inviting you to experience the fullness of kingdom community.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott

"One thing that's pretty consistently true about every rude person is that they must set the agenda and be in control." - Steve Macchia

Rudeness is expressed through our efforts to manipulate, monitor, and manage people and circumstances surrounding us. It flows from our compulsions to set the agenda and maintain control. Is it maddening? Yes, indeed. And it can lead to great hurt and harm in our families, teams, and church relationships. This podcast conversation looks at how we can live out Paul's charge to the Corinthians: "love is not rude."

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott

"We're called to abandon our self-centered ways of living and invite God's Spirit to replace them with generous humility." - Steve Macchia

Looking at St. Benedict's 'Ladder of Humility', Steve Macchia and Matt Scott discuss ways that we can love one another without pride. Additionally, this episode explores how abandonment, contentment, and integration lead to lasting transformation that allows us to generously love and serve others.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

"Our independence and self-focus are destroying community and instead are building fences that keep us apart." - Steve Macchia

Competition exists in our churches and ministries because it exists in each of us. We've been taught in our culture to take care of, promote, watch out for and provide for the 'almighty' self. So, how do we combat the temptation to live a self-referenced and superlative life? This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast looks at the spiritual practice of attachment/detachment to help free you from a boastful and competitive spirit.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

"Envy is accompanied by her friend jealousy, and when combined, they make for ugly companionship in the soul." - Steve Macchia

In an age where we scroll through feeds of life's curated moments, we're all susceptible to envy and jealousy. We fear that we're missing out, that we're not reaching our fullest potential, that God might be withholding good things from us, and can even begin to resent others for their perceived success. How do we stand against the temptations of envy and jealousy? This episode offers practical suggestions for living a life that's marked by gratitude and contentment.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

"What would it look like for patience to reside within us and be embodied in us as we go through everyday life?"-Matt Scott

Leaders face endless circumstances and situations that test their patience. Challenging personalities, team conflict, economic downturns and relational dynamics are but a few realities that solicit impatience. This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast explores how we can embody patience and kindness amidst the stressful, difficult, and challenging circumstances we all face. In addition, Steve and Matt discusshow Sabbath combats our impatience and movesus towards becoming kind and loving followers of Jesus.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

"We must be honest and embrace our brokenness on the way to wholeness." — Steve Macchia

By embracing and befriending our own brokenness, we can find true wholeness in God's strength. Season 34 takes a chapter-by-chapter look at Stephen Macchia's Broken and Whole: A Leader's Path to Spiritual Transformation. In episode 01, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott offer a candid conversation about what it looks like to befriend the broken and blessed reality of our lives.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

"Once we begin to notice God, we can't help but give thanks to God for his good gifts. Gratitude begins to bubble up within."—Steve Macchia

This final episode of the year invites you to close out 2024 with a Year-End Examen. Practiced daily, the Examen is an ancient, spiritual practice that can help us see God's hand at work in our whole experience. In this reflective exercise, you're invited to take time to deliberately notice God through the internal thoughts and external events of the past year.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.