Have you ever walked away from a conversation and thought, “That wasn’t random. That was God.” Maybe it started with small talk about work or the weather but somehow, it turned toward hope, healing, or even Jesus. What if those moments weren’t interruptions but invitations from God? Today, we’re diving into how to live on mission in your everyday life, and how to see every conversation as a divine appointment.

What is a Divine Appointment?

• Any God -ordained moment when he brings two people together to encourage, bless, or share the Gospel.
• We usually miss these opportunities because we’re busy and distracted.
• God is always at work, before us, around us, through us, and He often speaks through those ordinary moments with extraordinary intention.

Phillip the Evangelist (Acts 8):

• Philip obeys because he’s not just busy for God, he’s sensitive to God.
• You can be doing ministry and still miss the mission if you aren’t listening to His Spirit.
• Develop a holy attentiveness to the what the Spirit is doing around you; be on the lookout.

“When you’re looking, you’ll start seeing.”

Engaging in Spiritual Conversations:

• Philip doesn’t lead with a sermon or a theological argument; he simply asks a good question.
• You don’t need a seminary degree to engage in spiritual conversation.
• You need a heart of compassion, a spirit of curiosity, and a willingness to speak when the Holy Spirit prompts you.
• When God prompts you to speak, trust that He is already working in that person's life.

“Don’t discount the value of your obedience just because you don’t see immediate results.”

The Legacy of Charlie Kirk:

• Charlie was committed to engaging the culture with the truth of Scripture, even amidst hostility.
• You’re either shaping culture, or being shaped by it.
• The Gospel isn’t just something we preach in church; it’s the lens through which we see everything.

"Truth sounds like hate to those who hate truth."

Having a Sense of Urgency

• Philip didn’t delay; he acted immediately.
• A simple question can lead to a divine encounter that transforms someone’s life.
• There are over two billion people in the world who have never heard the gospel.
• 82% of people say they would attend church if someone invited them.

“We aren’t lacking opportunity. We’re lacking urgency.”

How Do I Start Living on Mission?

1. Pray for one divine appointment every day.
2. Be mindful and willing to follow the prompting of the Spirit.
3. Ask questions.
4. Share your story.
5. Lead someone through Christ Killers book.
6. Leave the results to God.

Bottom Line: When you live on mission, there's no such thing as random. When you obey the Spirit, even small conversations can carry eternal weight.

Subscribe & Share
If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Leave a review on your favorite platform
• Share this episode with someone who needs it

Visit trentstewart.org for more resources.

Visit Christkillers.com to get your copy of my latest book.

Episode 39: When Tragedy Strikes – Processing the Death of Charlie Kirk

This week has been heavy. The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk has left many of us brokenhearted, wrestling with questions of evil, justice, and God’s purposes. But here’s the truth: even in the darkest moments, God is still working. Nothing is wasted in His hands.
In today’s episode, we’re processing the heartbreaking death of Charlie Kirk and asking: Where is God when tragedy strikes? We’ll look to Romans 8:28 and see why it’s not just a verse to memorize, but a rock to stand on.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“We know.” This is not a guess or blind faith; this promise is rock solid.

·       The promise is for those who love God.

·       The promise is for those called according to His purpose.

·       The promise stands firm not because of our performance, but because of God’s purpose.

·       It’s God’s love and God’s work, not ours, that keeps this promise true for us.

“Your love for God may be shaky, but His call on your life is unshakable.”

Three ways God uses ALL THINGS, even suffering, for our good:

1.     To Deepen Our Devotion

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…” (James 1:2-4)

·       Evaluate trials through the lens of eternity

·       Joy is delight in God in the middle of pain

·       Steadfastness is remaining under the pressure 

2.     To Advance the Gospel

“What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard…” (Philippians 1:12-13)

·       Paul’s pain had a purpose.

·       We don’t know the why, but we can know and trust God is at work.

3.     To Bring Us Back to Him

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

·       Suffering wakes us up

·       The Holy Spirit is working, drawing us to do more, to bring us back to our purpose in Christ.

Examples from Scripture:

·       Joseph said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20)

·       Job lost everything and still declared, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

·       Esther was placed in a pagan king’s court “for such a time as this” to save her people.

·       The Cross was God’s plan to save the world.

“Romans 8:28 isn’t a vague encouragement. It’s a battle cry.”

Bottom Line: The trial might bend you, but it will not break you, because if you love God and you're called according to His purpose, nothing is wasted.

Subscribe & share. If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Leave a review on your favorite platform
• Share this episode with someone who needs it

Episode 38: Real Friends: Why You Can’t Follow Jesus Alone

Have you ever felt completely alone, even in a crowded room? Maybe you're surrounded by classmates, coworkers, or followers online, yet deep down, you're starving for something real. What if I told you that your loneliness isn't a flaw? It's a signal. It's a holy ache, pointing you to the kind of friendship your soul was made for.

Today’s episode is not just about friendship. It’s about spiritual growth. It’s about how God designed your soul to grow and thrive, and why you’ll never become the leader He’s calling you to be if you’re alone. Real friends don’t just make life better – they make you more like Jesus.

The Most Connected Generation is also the Loneliest:

·       Almost half of Americans say they feel alone 

·       43% believe their relationships aren’t meaningful.

“We were created for deep connection, but we’ve become professionals at pretending we’re just fine while we quietly drown in isolation.”

What Happens When We Don’t Have Real Friendships? 

·       We lose perspective 

·       We isolate

·       We grow selfish

·       Our health suffers

“Loneliness isn’t just about the absence of people. It’s about the absence of meaningful connection.”

A Real Friend Helps You Grow Closer to Jesus:

·       Proverbs 13:20

·       The people closest to you either pull you toward Jesus or away from Jesus

·       All friendships share a common bond. When the common bond of a friendship is Jesus, it changes everything. 

·       Proverbs 18:24

“If you want a real friend, you’ve got to start being a real friend.”

Why Small Groups are so Important:

·       A small group is not just another church activity. It’s a place where you can be real, ask honest questions, be with people who will point you to Jesus, help you study the Bible, celebrate your wins, and pray with you.

·       The theological anchor of why real friendship is so important goes back to Genesis.

·       Gensis 1:26: “Let us make man in our image.” - Community is seen in the Godhead

·       Genesis 2:8: “It is not good for man to be alone.” – Isolation is a spiritual danger.

·       Because of sin, we run from the relationships and settle for shallow connections.

·       Ephesians 4:1-3: You need to be connected to God’s people through a local church to “walk in a manner worthy of your calling.”

Roadblocks to Real Friendships:

·       Busyness - Even good things can become barriers to God’s best for you.

·       Laziness

·       Spiritual Apathy – people don’t care enough about Jesus to care about the people who follow Him

How to Prioritize Gospel-Centered Relationships:

“If you want real friends, you’ve got to make space for them.”

·       Show up – go to small group. Don’t just attend, engage.

·       Open up – let people see the real you

·       Reach out – don’t just wait for an invitation. Jesus was always the initiator.

Bottom Line: You were made for community, and real friends don't just make life more fun, they help you follow Jesus.

Subscribe & Share. If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Leave a review on your favorite platform
• Share this episode with someone who needs it

What if the biggest threat to your calling isn’t failure—but comfort?

In this episode, Pastor Trent unpacks a powerful message from Acts 20:22–24 that reveals four phases every leader walks through when God calls them to step into something greater. If you’ve ever felt a divine nudge, battled fear of the unknown, or wondered how to move forward when life gets hard—this message is for you.

We’re not called to live a safe life. We’re called to live a significant one. Don’t settle for success that’s void of purpose. Learn to recognize the Spirit’s prompting, embrace uncertainty with confidence, endure opposition with faith, and live on mission with gospel urgency.

Key Scripture: “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there… However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” — Acts 20:22–24 (NIV)

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why Deo Pneuma moments (being “compelled by the Spirit”) are critical to your calling
• How to move forward in “confident uncertainty” even when you don’t know what’s next • What to expect when opposition comes—and how to push through it
• Why a clear sense of mission matters more than comfort or security
• How to stop chasing success and start pursuing significance
• Practical leadership questions to ask yourself in every phase of your journey
• Why your story, your obedience, and your courage matter for God’s Kingdom

Episode Highlights:

• The Mission Beneath the Process - You’re not in a holding pattern. God is refining you for His purpose—today.
• Phase 1: A Nudge You Can’t Ignore – Learn how to discern the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
• Phase 2: Confident Uncertainty – Why God often gives light for only the next step.
• Phase 3: Expect Opposition – Faithfulness doesn’t guarantee ease. It guarantees resistance.
• Phase 4: A Mission That Matters More Than Comfort – Purpose always outweighs security.

Leadership Challenge: Identify which phase you’re in—and take your next step with courage.

Reflection Questions:

1. What’s a God-given nudge you’ve been ignoring?
2. Are you waiting on full clarity before stepping out in faith?
3. How has fear, opposition, or comfort kept you from moving forward?
4. What mission would you be willing to give your life to?

Challenge of the Week: God isn’t calling you to a safe life—but a significant one. Don’t waste your life. Take the next step He’s calling you to.

Resources Mentioned:

• Main Text: Acts 20:22–24 (NIV)
• Visit trentstewart.org to subscribe and get free access to the "How to Pray" video course.
• Connect on socials to stay up-to-date with content and leadership insights.

Subscribe & Share - If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Leave a review on your favorite platform
• Share this episode with someone who needs it

Welcome to the Trent Stewart Leadership podcast! I’m here to help everyday leaders make every day count. My goal is to help you grow as a leader and make a difference in your church, business, and home by influencing others to look to Jesus.

Episode 36: “A Holy Unrest: When Your Soul WantsMore”

What if your dissatisfaction isn’t a problem to be solved—but a gift from God? What if the ache inside you isn’t meant to be silenced by more noise or numbed by more stuff, but awakened into something eternal? Today, we’re talking about that divine discontent—that holy unrest—and what it really means to thirst for God.

When your body is thirsty, it’s not just a mild suggestion—it’s a desperate signal. Your brain is telling you, “You need water to live.” If that’s true physically—how much more essential is the spiritual thirst within us?

We try to quench the thirst of our souls in different ways that might feel satisfying in the moment—but actually make things worse. This is because we often drink from the wrong spiritual cups.

Cups We Reach For:

·     Entertainment, achievement, appearance, relationships

·     It might feel good going down, but it’s not going to fill us.

·     What tastes good to our flesh often harms our soul.

·     These cups are designed to gratify your senses and not nourish your spirit.

·     We laugh, indulge, chase while quietly dying of spiritual dehydration

King David Truly Thirsted for God (Psalm 63):

·     To thirst for God, you have to know who God is(v1-2)

·     Thirst changes your perspective of God (v3)

·     Thirst leads to worship (v4-5)

·     Thirst awakens spiritual attentiveness (v6-8)

·     Are you thirsting for God?

Symptoms of Spiritual Dehydration:

·     Negative attitude – complaining has become your default

·     Loss of purpose – you’re just going through the motions

·     Increased appetite for sin – and less conviction when you indulge

·     Apathy towards Jesus – you’re not against Him, you just don’t care about Him

·     Lack of gratitude – you only focus on the negative

Only Jesus Can Quench the Thirst of Your Soul:

·     We naturally thirst for love, friendships, and happiness

·     God designed your body to tell you when you’re thirsty, so you won’t die of dehydration

·     The love, acceptance, hope and peace you need is found in Jesus, the Living Water

When your spirit is craving more, run to Scripture, run to prayer, and drink deep of the living water that Jesus promises to give you when you worship Him.

Welcome to the Trent Stewart Leadership podcast! I’m here to help everyday leaders make every day count. My goal is to help you grow as a leader and make a difference in your church, business, and home by influencing others to look to Jesus.

Episode 34: “How Jesus Fulfills Your Deepest Need”

What’s your biggest need today? Most of us immediately know what that is. It might be a financial need, it might be healing, or maybe it’s a relationship you need restored. We all have needs and they all feel urgent. Today we’re going to talk about how Jesus fulfills your deepest needs.

In Luke 5:17-26, we read the story of a paralyzed man whose friends went to extreme measures to bring him to Jesus. They lowered him through a roof, expecting a miraculous healing, but Jesus says something unexpected, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

1. Jesus Knows Your Deepest Need.

• Jesus started with the man’s spiritual condition instead of just healing him physically.
• Our greatest need is spiritual health and that starts with God’s forgiveness.
• At the core of every human being is the need to be reconciled to God.

2. Jesus Wants to Meet Your Biggest Need.

• Jesus wanted them to understand that He was God in the flesh.
• Jesus proved His authority to forgive sin by healing the man.
• Sometimes we’re so focused on our immediate need that we forget Jesus is working on something greater.
• I think I know what I need, but I can trust that Jesus KNOWS what I need.  

3. Jesus Heals Every Day.

• In John 14:12, Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do” 
• God has blessed humanity with medicine so that our needs can be met.
• We see God heal people every day through the use of technology.

4. Sometimes What You Think You Need Isn’t Your Deepest Need.

• Whatever your biggest need is, it’s tied to your spiritual health.
• God wants you to be spiritually healthy.
• The problems in your life become tests.
• Will you trust God? Will you depend on Him? Will you repent of sin? Will you humble yourself and say you’re sorry?

It’s all part of the journey of growing closer to Christ. We have to go through challenges to grow. Trust that God knows what you need and is giving it to you right now. Thank Him in advance and trust Him in the waiting.

How Do We Respond?

1. Be honest about your commitment to Christ.
2. Be a friend who brings people to Jesus.
3. Be filled with praise, and share your story.

Jesus fulfills our deepest needs. He knows exactly what you need today. You can rest in that. The question is, will you trust Him?

Episode 33: “Hanging Out with God”

Just as a car's fuel gauge lets you know when you're running low on gas, there are signs when your spiritual life is running on empty. Anxiety, frustration, stress, anger, and depression can be indicators that you need to refuel spiritually. Daily habits, such as time spent in God’s Word and in prayer, are essential to keeping your spiritual tank full.

Who we are is shaped by the commitments we make and habits we develop. The good news is you can start new habits that will transform your life, and I believe one of the most powerful habits you can develop is spending time with God. 

The Apostle Paul writes to the Philippian church:

“Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence, but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

We can’t just depend on Sunday mornings. It requires more. 

Some Truths about Spiritual Growth:

The Habit of Having a Daily Devotion:

What Happens When You Hang Out with God?

Practical Tips: What to do when you sit down with your Bible.

Resource: “How to Pray,”  a seven-session online course on how to develop your prayer life. Available at trentstewart.org.

PETS Acronym:

I hope this episode inspires you to develop the habit of spending time with God. This simple practice is going to fuel your faith in ways you've never imagined.

The brands that we love are known for something. They’re known for their quality. They’re known for being cool or for looking good. They’re known for something that we like, and that’s why we acquire them. That’s why we want to wear them. But what are you known for? What’s your “brand”? 

 Today, we’re talking about what it means to be branded by a commitment and what it would look like for you to commit this year, specifically to God and a church. 

Put a Stake in the Ground.

Paul writes to the church in the city of Colossae:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.” (Colossians 1:4)

 They were known for their commitment to Jesus – “we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus…”

They were known for their commitment to their church family – “… the love that you have for all the saints.”

When You’re Committed, You Get:

1. Help to Strengthen Your Faith - “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you.” (Colossians 4:9)

2. Help to Guide Your Decisions - “We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,…” (Colossians 4:9)

3. “So that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.”  (Colossians 4:10)

As we get ready to close out this year, think about what decisions you need to make. I encourage you to put a stake in the ground that you will be committed to the Lord and committed to a church. 

Welcome to the Trent Stewart Leadership podcast! I’m

Episode 31: “Branded as a Disciple of Jesus”

We all like various brands. Maybe you love Lulu Lemon, or Nike, or Apple. Whatever brand you think is cool, you begin to subscribe to. Cost doesn’t matter because you’ve been convinced that this particular brand offers a superior product. Because of marketing and the quality of the product, these brands become known for something.

So, what’s your brand as a human being? In other words, what are you known for? Today we’re going to explore the idea of being branded. Not by the latest fashion trend, but as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

What are you going to be known for?

“From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.” - Galatians 6:17 (NRSV)

What does it mean to be branded as a disciple of Jesus?

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

You will grow spiritually when you spend time with Jesus.

“If you want to be my disciple you must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them.” – John 12:26

Three important truths about spiritual growth:

1. Spiritual Growth is a CHOICE.

2. Spiritual Growth is a COMMITMENT.

3. Spiritual Growth is a RELATIONSHIP.

“He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles to be with him, to send them out to preach.” - (Mark 3:14)

What does it mean to be with Jesus?

We should be seeking to be branded as a disciple of Jesus and want others to know that’s the brand that we care about.

We’re continuing in this series about purpose. Why are we here? What is the point of life? Why do I exist?

Well, if God is the Creator, and we believe that He is, then there is meaning to why He created us. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We can either pursue the purpose God created us for, or we can ignore it.

We've talked about how both worship and becoming more like Jesus are a part of what it means to fulfill the purpose that God has given to us. Today, I want to focus on the idea that you are saved to serve. God didn’t just save you for eternal life, He saved you to fulfill a purpose in this life, and part of that is learning to serve.

The Church is a lot like a team sport.

1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.”

Every Believer has a Spiritual Gift.

Every Believer is Gifted to Help the Entire Church.

Every Believer is Important and Necessary.

What Does God Want You to do with Your Spiritual Gift?

1. Discover it.

2. Develop it.

3. Use it.