The One Thing

By Reach AustraliaReligion & Spirituality Christianity

The One Thing episodes

January 20, 2025386 The Seven Day Cycle: What It Is and How To Avoid It
At the start of the year, many of us may realise we spent the previous year caught in a cycle of constant activity—just doing, without much reflection or planning, and barely surviving. How can we break free from this endless seven-day grind?
What's the cycle of survival from Sunday to Sunday and why is it so dangerous?

Why is it rooted in selfishness and being unloving?

Who is responsible when a team is stuck in a seven day cycle?

How does long term thinking and delegation help not just break but force us out of the cycle?

Some of the obstacles we need to address in developing leaders to get us out of the seven day cycle
TOOL BOX:
Reach Australia National Conference
Leadership Pipeline ebook
Team Development Program
Covey's Quadrant

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Virtual Church Assist
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
21 min
January 13, 2025385 Does Your Calendar Reflect Your Convictions?
Your calendar is not just the place where you put tasks to do and meetings to be had. It's about aligning your time with your values and integrity.
Scott Sanders and Peter Blanch explore how to do this effectively:
The importance of reflection and how to do it

Your calendar will reflect your convictions, but you may not be aware you are living them out

Where to put the harder things you do in your calendar and where to put the things you enjoy

Where the Reach Australia framework fits in here: Especially the ideas of clarify the big thing and then break it down

This is not merely an individual thing but a team thing. How is your team working on the calendar?
TOOLBOX:
The Reach Australia Framework ebook
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
What's Best Next by Mat Perman

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by the Ministry Training Strategy
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
22 min
January 06, 2025 384 Why Christian Life Is Full of Tensions (And That’s Okay)
Gary Millar dives into holding tension in the Christian life, embracing differences, and leaning into Christlike living. It’s about being missionally effective and reflecting Jesus in our character. It's challenging, yes, but necessary—because calling each other to godliness is the truest form of leadership.
Gary's new book Both And And is out now — a book that’s part wake-up call, part guide for Christian leaders to walk the talk. Your personality? Important. But it doesn't exempt you from living under God’s rules. Leadership? It's about godliness first, not charisma or loopholes.

TOOLBOX:
Both And Ministry By Gary Millar

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
30 min
December 30, 2024383 'You're Better At This Than Me' and Other Phrases Build Teams
There are some key phrases that leaders can use that create great gospel culture in your team. While they aren't always easy to say, they are an essential part of leadership.
Why are they important:
Leaders don't know everything

Leaders aren't better at everything, it's important to be able to learn from others

Leaders don't have all the answers, collaboration in a team is important

Leaders sometimes get it wrong
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:31 The Importance of Team Building
01:05 Personal Team Experiences
02:19 Four Powerful Phrases Overview
05:08 Phrase 1: I Don't Know
09:45 Phrase 2: You're Better at This Than I Am
12:56 Phrase 3: Do You Think?
15:55 Phrase 4: I'm Sorry
18:01 Applying the Four Phrases
21:07 Conclusion and Homework
21:57 Toolbox and Resources

TOOL BOX:
Wisdom in Leadership by Craig Hamilton (Chapter 37)
357 Inheriting and Building Teams (Ray Galea)
316 How do I Create a Culture of Trust in my Team
CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by the Leadership Development Program
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
23 min
December 23, 2024 382 The Gospel at Work in Fractured Families at Christmas (Stephen McApline)
Think Charles Dickens, but real life. For Steve McAlpine’s mother, Christmas wasn’t always merry: abandoned in foster care, kidnapped by her birth mother, left by her husband—then reconciled. Over 80 years, her extraordinary journey, shaped by the gospel, turned Christmas into something truly transformative.
Steve has a background in journalism and three decades experience pastoring and planting churches. He has spent most of his life in Western Australia, but is originally from Northern Ireland, emigrating, as so many did, back in the 1970s.

TOOL BOX
Have a Merry Christmas!!

CREDITS
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
22 min
December 16, 2024381 Why EQ is the Edge Every Leader Needs Part 2 (Pete Stedman)
We continue our dive into the crucial role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in church leadership, specifically focusing on team dynamics with Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Church in Sydney.
What happens if you neglect EQ in a team

A framework for understanding EQ

How to foster a positive team culture that values EQ

How to equip church leaders to build strong, emotionally healthy teams
TOOL BOX:
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradbury and Greaves
I Told Me So by Gregg Elshof
242 What I Have Learnt In Leadership with Pete Stedman
The NorWest Way
380 Why EQ is the Edge Every Leader Needs Part 1 (Pete Stedman)

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Youthworks
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
31 min
December 09, 2024380 Why EQ is the Edge Every Leader Needs Part 1 (Pete Stedman)
While IQ is important, emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial as pastors navigate the complexities, compromises, and conflicts inherent in church life.
Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Church, Sydney shares how EQ shapes his leadership style, transforms team dynamics, and helps him navigate the challenges of ministry.
EQ for navigating team dynamics, managing conflict and fostering compromise

Viewing team members as individuals, not resources

Slowing down, emotional check-ins and seeking feedback.

How to develop emotional intelligence

TOOL BOX:
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradbury and Greaves
I Told Me So by Gregg Elshof
242 What I Have Learnt In Leadership with Pete Stedman
357 Inheriting and Building Teams with Ray Galea

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Youthworks
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
23 min
December 02, 2024379 The Beauty of January For Gospel Workers: Stop, Reflect, Rest, Focus
January can feel like a weird limbo—Australia practically shuts down, and people are in and out all month. Bur don’t just coast; use this time wisely:
Capitalising on the post-Christmas momentum

Welcoming new faces

Preaching with purpose

Using the downtime strategically

Supporting the lonely

Developing long-term plans

Investing in leaders

Reseting ministry teams

Reading and reflecting
January’s not a throwaway month—it’s a launchpad. Make it count.

TOOL BOX:
332: What do I need to think about on Term 1
315 Organising my Preaching Program
You're Not Crazy with Sam Allberry and Ray Ortlund (Podcast)
Fire Up! with Dave Jensen (Podcast)
Aspire with Paddy Benn and Aaron Smith (Podcast)
Made in Our Image by Stephen Driscoll (Book)
Growth and Change by Andrew Heard (Book)

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by The Leadership Development Program
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
18 min
November 25, 2024378 What Should Your Church be Tracking?
Data is just a tool, but it's an important tool. Its real purpose? Loving and serving your people better. A snapshot of data can give you an idea of your church health. Scott and Derek dive into:
Average Attendance: Are people showing up consistently?

Growth Rate: Are you growing each year? What's a healthy growth rate?

Conversion Growth: How many new believers are you seeing? What's a good target?

Community Reflection: Does your congregation reflect the diversity of your local area?

Secondary Giving: Beyond general giving, how generous are people with time, talent, and resources?

Newcomer System: Are first-time guests sticking around? If not, what’s falling through the cracks?

Staff-to-Attendee Ratio: Do you have enough leaders? What's a good ratio?
TOOL BOX:
Church Health Consults
Knowing What to Measure and Why Seminar
Measure What Matters Book

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Church Suite
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
23 min
November 18, 2024377 Revitalisation vs. Planting: Which Should We Do?
Should we plant new churches or invest in revitalizing struggling ones? If you had to choose, where would you lean?
Know Yourself: Are you wired to pioneer something new, or are you better suited to steady, transformative work?

Listen In: What are others saying about your strengths? Seek out feedback.

Maximise Impact: Which option has the greatest gospel potential?

Foundation or Fresh Start?: Planting means starting from scratch; revitalising means building on an existing foundation.

Nurture or repot: And if you choose revitalisation—how do you know when to keep nurturing and when to repot entirely?

TOOL BOX:
Church Planting Podcast
Gospel Workers Questionnaire
Church Planters Questionnaire
376 Why Everyone Needs to Know About the Church Planter Questionnaire
Church Planting is for Wimps
Church Health Consults

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Church Suite
The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠
To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.
For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.
19 min