The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

"Practicing biblical hospitality is first and foremost toward the lost, the least, the lonely, and the left behind." – Steve Macchia

Chapter five of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. In this conversation we explore the meaning of biblical hospitality, and how Jesus invites us to become receivable to all who cross our path. We acknowledge that our preparation is one of the greatest signs of love, not only in the external ways we are hospitable, but more importantly, in our gracious hearts. Imagine if our churches were known for being an hospitable place, where grace was our primary offering. As Jesus welcomed all, so shall we.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

"The discerning life is relational and based primarily in a listening presence." –Steve Macchia

Chapter four of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. A discerning life is best fulfilled in the presence of one another, as we offer grace upon grace to each of our relationships. It's important to recognize the power of listening and learn to love and honor one another in spite of our quirks and idiosyncrasies, our gifts and abilities, our backgrounds and ethnicities. When we are fully present, we are expressing our desire to be both with and for one another, as was embodied perfectly in 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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "Unless I learn how to live a contemplative life, I will continue to live a manipulative life." – Steve Macchia

Chapter three of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. Here we unpack the importance of listening to God prayerfully, expectantly, and faithfully. We discover a life of obedient surrender to God by first and foremost listening to his still small voice, in the Scriptures, in our prayer closets, and in our spiritual practices. Listening is the essence of the discerning life, and unless we practice this all-important attribute our spiritual sensibilities will be dulled in the daily pursuits 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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "Pay attention to God who takes great delight in you, rejoices over you with a song, and has an extravagant affection for you." –Steve Macchia The Scriptures are replete with examples of how God made himself known to his beloved children. Sometimes through a burning bush, or a dream, or an angel, or even a donkey. When he wants to make himself known he does so in creative, life-giving ways. So, what's our response and how will we offer him our full attention in return? In today's episode Steve and Matt explore the importance of our attentiveness, so that we listen, receive, and follow after God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the road to the abundant life in Christ.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

"Look what social media has done to our 'notice me' inclinations today and how that self-centeredness keeps us from preferring God instead." – Steve Macchia

Welcome to all who are joining us as members of the Reading Retreat for The Discerning Life. (If you still want to join the online, author-guided, self-paced retreat, go to www.stevemacchia.com for all the details). Spiritual discernment is "practicing a preference for God" and one that we can learn how to live on a daily basis. How do we posture ourselves to prefer God and guide others to do likewise? That's what we need to learn and it only happens by a practiced discipline and choice of the heart. Perceiving and noticing God in the daily, routine places of our lives prepares us for times when we need to discern his particular will.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

"Discernment is a lifestyle of noticing God in everything, practicing a preference for God in all aspects of our life and service to others." –Steve Macchia

We are excited to launch the 17th season of The Discerning Leader Podcast with a focus on Steve Macchia's newest book, The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything (Zondervan Reflective, 2022). Steve and his conversation partner, Matt Scott, commence this new season talking about the importance of spiritual discernment as a lifestyle for all leaders and learners. Today Steve and Matt lay the groundwork for this new series. All who pre-order the book are invited to join the online, author-guided, self-paced Reading Retreat. Pre-order your copy of the book, find all the details at www.stevemacchia.com - and sign up today!

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Dave Currie and Susan Currie

"Epiphany was our main missions conference in the local church, when we invited the children to bring offerings to Jesus as we sought to share the light of Jesus to the far corners of the earth." –Dave Currie

Epiphany is both a day and a season in the church calendar. Occurring on January 6, it concludes the 12 days of Christmas and signifies the wise men following the bright star to find Jesus. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbolic of the fulfillment of God's promises in Jesus as prophet, priest, and king. Dave and Sue Currie follow the church calendar as a couple and as a family and guide us into the experience with the richness and fullness that Epiphany is intended to provide. As we follow Jesus let's joyfully reveal his light to the world.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Susan Currie, Rick Anderson, Jeremy Stefano, and Matt Scott

"Four words have been my focus this past year: silence, slowing, simplicity, and Sabbath." –Matt Scott

It's always good for the soul to look back and around us before looking ahead. Turning the page from one calendar year to the next gives us opportunity to do so prayerfully, reflectively, and gratefully. The LTI Lead Team talks about the various ways they do so on today's episode. Collectively representing more than 60 years of service to LTI, each team member offers great wisdom and practiced ideas of how to anticipate a new year. These include spiritual practices such as Examen, journaling, restful noticing, updating rule of life, and creatively decluttering. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." –Psalm 90

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Anna Friedrich

"I love Christmas because, with the resurrection in view, its obscure beginning and its incredible beauty strengthens my trust in God." –Anna Friedrich

Shifting from Advent into Christmas is seamless when considered in the light of the full Christian story. For four weeks our hearts have been inclined toward waiting, watching, and wondering once more. In Christmas, our yearnings and longings are fulfilled in the joyful coming of the long-awaited Messiah Jesus. From the perspective of a wife, mom, artist, and poet, Anna Friedrich refreshes us with her musings about our stirred-up emotions, our anxious longings, and the joy of being welcomed again into the depth and beauty of the glorious Incarnation.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE

"Learning the value of waiting has largely been removed from our vocabulary. Advent gives us the gift of waiting." –Curtis Almquist, SSJE

Advent is a season of anticipation. A time of preparation for the Christian community. The promised Messiah is coming in Jesus and the Church remembers once more. With a penitential quality to the season, Advent is a solemn time to pay attention to what is standing in the way of our walking in the way. It's a time for personal reflection in our prayer closet where stillness and silence are our teacher. It's a season of noticing those around us who are lost and lonely, reaching out to those who fear being forgotten. It's a time to practice presence and gratitude.

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