Episoder
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“I’m so grateful for how He redeems. Sometimes we have to wait a long, long time for His redemptive work to come to reality. But it’s worth the wait.” —Steve Macchia
In the final episode of Season 33, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott discuss the names of Jesus and the comfort we find in knowing that God became flesh and lived among us. This conversation looks at the fulfillment of prophetic promises and the way Jesus’ life on earth showed us the fullness of God in human form.
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.
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott
“A glimpse of light shines in the darkness, a future reality for us to hang our hats on. And it’s called hope.” —Steve Macchia
With all the joyous anticipation of the Advent season, we’re still faced with the reality of surrounding darkness and despair. This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast features a conversation that offers practical and intentional ways to anchor our souls in the hope and light that is Emmanuel, God with us.
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.
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Manglende episoder?
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott
“We want his healing, his strength, his comfort, his mercy. We want the gifts that only he can provide for us as we find ourselves hurting and sometimes, hopeless.” —Steve Macchia
Healing for others. Healing from sickness. Healing in our communities. We long to see the healing power of God in our lives and in the lives of those whom we love. What does it look like to pray for healing? Episode 02 of Season 33 invites you to lift your eyes heavenward and look to Christ for healing in our bodies, minds, and souls.
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.
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott
“Everybody has a bucket of tears right next to them, and we need to acknowledge for each of us, there’s heartache, pain, suffering, and sorrow. And those don’t come to an end just because it’s Christmas.” —Steve Macchia
Season 33 begins with an invitation to notice this Advent season what often goes unattended: our heartache and hunger. Are you facing overwhelming grief? Do you have unmet longings and desires? Have you lifted up prayers that seemingly remain unanswered? In this conversation, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott invite you to consider the hopeful reality that God is with us and lovingly meets us in the deepest longings of our soul.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rich Villodas
“The greatest gift we offer the world around us is our ongoing transformation in Jesus Christ.” - Rich Villodas
In this special edition episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve Macchia sits down with author, speaker, and pastor Rich Villodas. Their conversation explores how to order our lives around a particular pace, grow a capacity for interior examination, and live a deeply formed life through spiritual practices. You don’t want to miss this conversation!
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: A.J. Swoboda
“The invitation to sabbath offends just about everything we value as Americans.” - AJ Swoboda
In this special edition episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve Macchia has a conversation with AJ Swoboda, writer, professor and pastor. AJ shares about the subversive power of sabbath, how we can care for creation, and the formative power of our daily patterns and habits.
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.
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott, Guest: Suz Skinner
“A good gardener listens and watches and wants to work with what God is already doing” - Suz Skinner
Suz Skinner is a member of the Emmaus Faculty, Abide Faculty, and a Spiritual Formation Associate for Leadership Transformations Inc. and the Pierce Fellowship at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Suz joins Steve and Matt to talk about what it means for God to be the gardener of our souls. Using the garden as a motif, Suz shares how the big story throughout the Bible is of God’s desire to dwell with humanity. Reflecting upon the parable of the fig tree, Suz reminds us that the Gardener has a heart of mercy. Finally, Suz shares how wise gardeners are aware of what is already happening in the garden.
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.
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott, Guest: Fyfe Blair
“Understanding the pruning that is happening with Christ. Yes, it’s hard, but there’s deep soul care work here going on. It’s about your fruitfulness” - Fyfe Blair
Fyfe Blair is a faculty member of LTI’s Selah Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction (Europe cohort). Fyfe is also the Project Lead for “The Caim" - a large garden in the small village in rural Scotland where he resides. With hands-on knowledge of horticulture, Fyfe joins Steve and Matt to share reflections between tending to a garden and tending to the garden of the soul.
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.
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott
“Are you creating space in your life to be alone, to be quiet, to be reflective, to be relational, to put technology away, to hang out with those you love and to be loved?” - Steve Macchia
The Bible is full of agrarian imagery. The words of Genesis, the prophet Isaiah, Apostle Paul, and Jesus himself all talked about gardens, plants, trees, seeds and soil, and farming. We see dry and dusty, sun-scorched land; we also see fertile, thriving, flourishing gardens. In Jesus's parable of the sower, He emphasized the state of the soil. This parable can also be understood as a metaphor for the state of our souls. Season 32 will consider what it looks like to discern God in the garden of our soul. In this first episode, Steve and Matt share insight about what factors contribute to souls that are hard, rocky, and thorny versus souls that are receptive to God.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
“When was the last time you’ve been awed by God?” - Steve Macchia
How can slowing down help us embrace the mysterious work of God? In this episode, Steve and Matt tackle this question as they invite you to “slow down and be more curious.”
Our technological, information-rich age can make us resistant to wonder. What do we gain from surrendering control of knowing everything? Looking at the encouragement from Romans 11:33-35 and Job 31, Steve and Matt talk about how wonder releases our sense of control, deepens our dependence on God, and enables us to worship God more fully.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
“A humble person is a content person.” - Steve Macchia
How does our hustling lead to entitlement? In this episode, Steve and Matt tackle this question as they invite you to “slow down and be more content.”
When we are hustling, this leads to entitlement. Entitlement fuels our discontent. Looking at the encouragement from the apostle Paul found in Philippians 4:10-13, Steve and Matt talk about how contentment is found not in circumstances or possessions but when we are at home with God and with ourselves. This episode includes personal stories of learning to be content through loss and practical advice to be more content.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
“What are we gripping in our hands that may simply be worth a penny in comparison to the abundant life God offers us." - Steve Macchia
How do we release the things that make for false self identity? In this episode, Steve and Matt tackle this question as they invite you to “slow down and be more detached.”
Henri Nouwen talked about the false self gripping to 1) what we do (our work) 2) what we have (our possessions) 3) what others say about us (our image). This conversation looks at practical ways to detach from these things that we build a false sense of self around. Looking at the encouragement from Jesus found in Luke 9:23-26, Steve and Matt talk about denying ourselves in order to receive the fullness of the abundant life in God.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
“Not setting realistic expectations of what we can accomplish within a day creates unnecessary hurry and angst inside each of us.” - Matt Scott
How does our inability to slow down rob us of attentive presence? In this episode, Steve and Matt tackle this question as they invite you to “slow down and be more attentive.”
Too many relationships and roles can make us overwhelmed and over-extended in life. This conversation looks at practical ways to slow down and focus our attention on God and others. Looking at the encouragement from Hebrews to fix our eyes on Jesus, Steve and Matt talk about practices that can deepen our awareness.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
"It is hard to do the 'one-anothering' of the New Testament when we are in a hurry" - Matt Scott
How does hurry hinder humility? In this episode, Steve and Matt tackle this question as they invite you to “slow down and be more humble.”
Exploring the reality that hurry drives our selfish ambition, this conversation looks at practical ways to slow down and consider the needs of others above and before our own. Looking at the example of Jesus in Paul's letter to the Philippians, Steve and Matt talk about practical ways that humility is the starting place to serving, loving, and caring for the needs of 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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
“How are we going to know God with heart, soul, mind, and strength if we don’t know Him in the inner core of our being - our soul?” - Steve Macchia
In this second episode of Season 31, Steve and Matt talk about the practice of silence. The goal of silence is to know God in the core of our being. Practices that lead us to silence include stillness, solitude, sabbath, and surrender. Every day, there are increasing distractions that challenge the practice of silence. Silence can also be difficult because paying attention to the things that weigh heavy on our hearts is disorientating at times. But this is where God meets us. One of the greatest gifts we can give one another is not our speaking but our silence, simply our presence.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott
“I think the biggest danger of hurrying is that it pours fuel into my addiction to be busy, to be hurried, to be productive, to be noticed.” - Steve Macchia
Season 31, entitled ‘Discerning God in Slowness’, begins by exploring a phrase that is central to who we are as an organization: Slow Down, Be More. In this conversation, Steve and Matt answer the question “What is the danger of hurrying?” And in addition, they dialogue around the fruit and spiritual transformation that comes from learning to live more slowly. Gleaning from the words of Matthew 11, this podcast episode invites you to embrace Jesus’ invitation to slow down, recover your life, and learn to live freely and lightly.
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.
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Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott
“I’ll spend the rest of my life helping people notice God and discern His presence, His power and His way.” - Steve Macchia
This special 200th episode is a celebration of what the Lord has done through this podcast. With listenership in over 130 countries, all fifty of the United States, and almost 200,000 downloads we are grateful for you - the listeners. Steve and Matt reflect that for the majority of Leadership Transformations Inc.’s 21-year history, we have come alongside people primarily in person. This podcast was started in 2020 and is one of the first ways we equipped leaders online. Steve and Matt reflect on highlights from the past 30 seasons, including 75 unique guests. Moving forward, we hope to hear more from you, our listeners.
Let us know what topics you would like to hear more about. In celebration of 200 episodes, we have a gift for the first 200 people who email us at [email protected]. Thank you for celebrating with us.
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.
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Hosts: Steve Macchia & Jeremy Stefano
“So much of the work of God in my life contains so much mystery. God is at work doing amazingly deep things that are unseen.” - Steve Macchia
Throughout the summer, team members of Leadership Transformations Inc. have shared a favorite psalm. This week, we swap seats and Jeremy Stefano interviews Steve Macchia to hear about one of his favorite Psalms - Psalm 139. Steve first heard this psalm as a teenager as a part of a gospel presentation and he was moved to ask Jesus into his life in a more significant way. Many years later, this Psalm continues to be meaningful to Steve. Steve reflects on how God’s all-knowingness causes us to be willing to admit our own brokenness and need for God. Finally, Steve encourages the listener to pray the Psalms, using the language to help us reflect our own experiences back to God in prayer.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Chrissy Chang
“In the middle of busyness and life, how do I enter into this retreat-like presence?” - Chrissy Chang
Chrissy Chang is the Online Ministry Coordinator for Leadership Transformations, Inc. a trained spiritual director with LTI’s Selah certificate program, and the Associate Director of Mosaic Network with Mosaic Formation. Chrissy joins Steve for a conversation around Psalm 131. The Psalms, and this one in particular have been to Chrissy, a gateway to the monastery of the heart - the place where we can meet with God in a retreat-like space amidst the responsibilities of life. Psalm 131 invites the reader to release the things that occupy the heart and the mind and release to them to the Lord who has control over them. This Psalm teaches us how to have a calm and quiet soul.
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.
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Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner
“Can I stand up to evil and say, ‘I’m not afraid’?” - Suz Skinner
Suz Skinner is a member of the Emmaus Faculty, Abide Faculty, and a Spiritual Formation Associate for Leadership Transformations Inc. and the Pierce Fellowship at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Suz joins Steve for a conversation around her favorite Psalm - Psalm 23. Suz shares that this familiar Psalm is meant to help us understand and know what it is to live a with-God life. This Psalm is rich with language showing God to be the one who comforts, shepherds, guides, overflows, protects, and leads us. Suz shares what the Psalms have meant in her life and how Psalm 23 continues to be a source of growth and trust in her life.
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.
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