5 Leadership Questions Podcast on Church Leadership with Todd Adkins and Dan Iten

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Robby Gallaty, lead pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., and author of The Disciple's Study Bible and The Forgotten Jesus. During their conversation, they discuss getting to know your congregation and the importance of growing leaders. BEST QUOTES “You don’t want to just read from one stream.” “You want to eat the fish and spit out the bones. You have to discern the difference.” “God convicted me a few years ago, “Why are you reading books about what I say, when you can just read what I say?” “Healthy things grow. If we could create a top down healthy staff it would trickle down to the congregation.” “The overall process of our disciple making strategy is both inviting people to church and then investing in those we invite.” “A good leader is a leader who is raising up and developing other leaders." “I think developing leaders who come after you is a stewardship issue that Jesus is going to hold us accountable to.” “There’s no impact without contact.” “Most pastors stop learning as a leader the day they finish school.” “Information without application is useless information.” “We tell our kids all the time, “We want you to have a love for Jesus and His word that you have and not based on what Mom and Dad have.” “I emulated before them what I would later expect from them.” “Discipleship of both husbands and wives exponentially changes the home.” “Leaders are learners. You are never learning for yourself, you are actually learning for the guy who is coming behind you.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Leadership Pipeline Learning Community Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller Behold the Man! by Dwight Pryor Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth Bailey Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey Jcstudies.org Walking in the Dust of  Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg Our Father Abraham by Marvin Wilson Growing Up by Robby Gallaty Firmly Planted by Robby Gal...

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Eric Geiger are joined by Brian Dodd, author of Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices of Apex Leaders. During their conversation, they discuss increasing capacity and the importance of quiet times. BEST QUOTES "The main thing I am working on personally is just trying to accomplish everything God wants me to accomplish, and that’s generally a little bit more than I am already doing by myself so I need to do some stuff to fill the gaps." "As people who God has called to be in leadership, we can forget the basics. There are fundamentals that provide the foundation for anybody’s leadership. The number one things that I did last year that gave me the biggest benefits is waking up at 6 o’clock gave me the margin to really focus on my morning quiet time." "There’s leader development and leadership development. Those are two completely different things. Leadership development is acquiring the skills, talents, and abilities to accomplish a task or assignment from God. Leader development is becoming the type of person who can accomplish a task or assignment given to you by God." "If you’re not careful, your skills, talents, and abilities will outpace your character and it will take you to a place your character can’t sustain you." "That quiet time that I’ve designated into my schedule has totally taken my leadership to a completely different level." "Understand the journey you are about to take. It’s about the journey, not the destination." "There are two kinds of people in this world. Those are humble and those who are about to be humbled. And this journey is going to be a humbling journey." "Don’t focus so much on production that you miss the joys along the way." RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Leadership Pipeline Learning Community Briandoddonleadership.com Timeless: Ten Enduring Practices of Apex Leadership by Brian Dodd (GET IT FOR 25% OFF HERE) Demolishing Strongholds by Dr. Johnny Hunt  The Forgotten Jesus by Robby Gallaty  The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle Getting To Us by Seth Davis

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Eric Geiger are joined by Pete Scazzero, the founder of New Life Fellowship Church in Queens, New York City and author of The Emotionally Healthy Leader. During their conversation, they discuss discipleship being the foundation of leadership. BEST QUOTES "Pondering a text, prayerfully before God, that’s where revelation comes." "I realize why the American church doesn’t do discipleship. It’s so demanding. It’s so counter-cultural to American evangelicalism. So we water down discipleship to grow-serve-connect. It’s so radical to how we do church today." "I think the Americanisms in our Christianity is so enormous we can’t even see it." "We are going to invest our lives to change the way the church does discipleship, so that our mission is effective around the world and so that we are raising up leaders. Because you are never going to have leaders develop without a serious discipleship that deeply changes people." "There are certain things I can’t do that are limits given by God as a gift that other leaders can do." "My whole life is structured around being with Jesus. All of my leadership flows out of that. And without that I would not be here." "Leadership in the home is always first, after Jesus, of course. I don’t segment my leadership, my walk with Jesus, from my marriage. I want to be one with Jesus. I want to be one with my wife." "Our greatest gift to the world, I believe, is our marriage. We model something of the depth and the love of Jesus as a sign and wonder to the church and the world." "Slow down your life. And recognize there are gods, idols, that are in the church as much as they are in the world. And if you bow down to them they will destroy you. The two biggest gods are numbers and what people think, impressing people." RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Leadership Pipeline Learning Community The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero Matthew: A Commentary Vol. 1 by Frederick Dale Bruner Matthew: A Commentary Vol. 2 by Frederick Dale Bruner

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Michael Kelley, the Director of Groups Ministry for Lifeway Christian Resources and author of the new book Growing Down. During their conversation, they discuss the similarities and differences between discipleship and leadership development. BEST QUOTES “Discipleship is an intentional progression toward Christlikeness.” “Leadership is the joyful taking hold of responsibility.” “Leaders are the ones who don’t run from responsibility, but they take hold of it.” “We have to take a posture of intentionality toward those we are discipling or developing.” “Character is manifested in big moments, but it is made in small ones.” - Phillip Brooks “Often throughout history, the people who make disciples get lost as time goes by.” “The greatest way that you may impact the world is through someone else that you influenced.” “Part of leadership is understanding who you are and then maximizing what you have been given for the sake of others.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Growing Down by Michael Kelley MichaelKelley.co MinistryGrid.com

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Michael Anthony, lead pastor of Grace Fellowship and author of A Call for Courage. During their conversation, they discuss learning from your children, being open to honest feedback, and listening before you speak as a leader. BEST QUOTES “Most of the lessons I’ve learned in life, I’ve learned from my own failures.” “Leadership is not something you arrive at. You are constantly becoming a better leader.” “If God has called you to lead and you have a family, you have to balance and be intentional with your family or else they get lost in the crossfire.” “Leaders would benefit from doing a lot more listening and a lot less talking.” “It is amazing what you can get done if you only care that Jesus gets the credit.” “Growth requires confrontation.” “Most of the important things in life are not complex; they’re simple. Its just the matter of doing them and executing on them.” “No one who truly surrenders to God will live to regret it.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES A Call for Courage by Michael Anthony Courage Matters Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Jon Tyson, Lead Pastor of Church of the City in New York and author of the new book The Burden Is Light. During their conversation, they discuss learning from church history, finding your calling in life, and setting aside time for deep thinking and vision planning. BEST QUOTES “If discipleship doesn’t show up in the work place, it doesn’t show up at all.” “To help understand the calling on our life, we need to learn to be able to exegete and make sense of our own lives.” “We must live in the kingdom of God in such a way that it provokes questions for which the gospel is the answer.” - Lesslie Newbigin “I daily try and set aside time just to think and hear from God.” “Today, when every thought is a tweet or a short snippet, deep thinking is greatly needed.” “I have worked very hard to build an immune system in our family that can handle the sickness of our modern, fragmented culture.” “Young leaders have to learn how to deal with criticism.” “There is an importance of timing in leadership. I’ve often known the right thing to do, but I have done it too quickly or too slowly.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES The Burden is Light by Jon Tyson iGen by Jean Twenge 5LQ Episode 74: Discerning Your Calling in Life Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work by John Maxwell 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Steven Covey Ministry Grid

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Danny Franks, Connections Pastor at the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. During their conversation, they discuss the following questions: * Why should churches care about their Guest Service team and the first impression they make? * How do you communicate this vision to your people? * What are some qualities you should look for in a guest service volunteer? (Job profile) * How do should you go about recruiting for and building a guest services team? * What are some practical tips to welcome first time guests? BEST QUOTES “People were the mission for Jesus, so they should be our mission today as well.” “I’m surprised at how many churches communicate that they don’t care about their guests.” “Many churches do not have a plan for how they will reach their guests on a Sunday morning.” “Churches need to realize there is a difference between being friendly and being intentional.” “It is going to be hard for someone to connect with a sermon if they first have not connected to you or someone in your congregation.” “You need to have volunteers outside of your building because that is the first thing that your guests are going to see.” “Stage announcements for volunteers often create awareness, but don’t always create action.” “The best person to recruit or develop a volunteer for a ministry is someone already serving in that ministry.” “If we think through the experience before our guests have the experience, we've already won 90% of the battle.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES People are the Mission by Danny Franks Guest Services Training on Ministry Grid

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Eric Geiger are joined by Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of the book iGen. During their conversation, they discuss how social media, smartphones, and the internet are changing the children, teens, and young adults born in the mid-1990s and later. BEST QUOTES “iGen is the first generation to live their entire adolescence with smartphones.” “Teens who spend more time online and on social media are less happy and more likely to be depressed.” “In 2012, the percentage of Americans with a smartphone crossed 50%.” “The average age in America to get a smartphone is now 10 years old.” “There are two worries when it comes to the media your kids view. One is content and the other is access and time.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES iGen by Jean Twenge Ministry Grid

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Quetisons podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Nick Runyon, the Executive Director of CV Outreach. During their conversation, they discuss how to understand your values, leadership lessons learned while washing dishes, and if listening to an audiobook counts as reading a book. BEST QUOTES “We try to put every idea we come up with through a value filter first. “As a leader, you must realize that there is nothing that is below you.” “Leadership in my home never looks good enough.” “We need to do the right things for the right reasons.” “You are going to make mistakes along the way, but whatever God is calling you to, just do it.” “As a leader, a lot of your job is learning in front of others.” “If you are a leader and not a learner, you are going to have a short shelf life.” "There are a lot of books out there that are not worth reading, but they are worth listening to." “It is still true that readers are leaders, but nowadays with podcasts, it is also listeners are learners.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES 5LQ Episode 216: Churches and Google Search Seth Godin’s Alt MBA Program Masters of Scale podcast How I Built This podcast

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Dr. Jeff Iorg of Gateway Seminary, author of Leading Major Change in Your Ministry, and host of the Lead On Podcast. During their conversation, they discuss how to lead through change, how reading biographies can help you become a better leader, and leading a team as they move to a new location. BEST QUOTES “If you are a ministry leader, you know that change is inevitable.” “Leaders often get the idea that if they make a mistake, they can’t continue leading, and that is simply not true.” “We spend so much time on our own plans that we do everything we can to stick with them, even when it is not working.” “The transition is not over just because change has been implemented.” “When I don’t get proper sleep, it shows up in my decision making.” “Directional discipline is vital to leadership.” “I would tell younger leaders to prioritize the leadership of your family and recognize you will have to say no to some things now, that you will be able to say yes to later.” “The price you will pay in the early years of building a healthy marriage is worth it in the latter years when you enjoy what you built.” “I would tell my 20 year old self to be more patient and focus on your own growth and development and not trying to change everyone else around you.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Lead On Podcast Leading Major Change in Your Ministry by Jeff Iorg Gateway Seminary Great by Choice by Jim Collins

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Joel Rosenburg, a New York Times bestselling author and founder and chairman of The Joshua Fund. During their conversation they discuss what it is like to serve God in Israel, the importance of prayer, and the necessity of discernment in leadership. BEST QUOTES “Leaders are always learners.” “We have to be patient and battle against the force of the enemy that is trying to plant seeds of division every single day.” “We believe that God can open doors. We just don’t believe He will. So we don’t pray.” “We a serve a prayer hearing, a prayer answering, and wonder working God.” “We need to have a not-to-do list.” “I’m not always the best judge for the opportunities that lay in front of me. I need other people to help me.” “If you do not have the gift of discernment, you need to surround yourself with others who have that gift.” “Leaders must be careful to lead people, not drive them and run them over along the way.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel Rosenburg The Invested Life by Joel Rosenburg The Joshua Fund

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Jamie Ivey, host of The Happy Hour podcast and author of If You Only Knew. During their conversation, they talk about learning from those a few steps ahead, prioritizing your schedule, and how learn from failure. BEST QUOTES “Our stories matter, and God is in them.” “Find people who are a few steps ahead of you, watch them, ask them questions, and get them involved in your life.” “Watching people online is fine, but watching people in real life is where you actually see what is going on in their world.” “It is so important to be in environments where you are a learner and not always the leader.” “It is important for leaders to stop and not just give to do lists, but ask can I do anything for you on a personal level.” “We try to look at our calendars and ask, what are the things that we have to do, what are the things that we need to do, and then we fill in the wants when we can find a place for them.” “Trust the people that God has put in front of you.” “We are called to lead those who are right in front of us.” “If you crush your now, it will lead to your next.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey Sparrow Conference We'd like to thank our sponsor NRB TV. Their goal is to consistently deliver impactful programs that help you dive deeper into God’s word and provide the practical tools you need to put your faith into practice. Learn more at www.nrbtv.org.

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Eric Geiger are joined by not just one guest but two: Kevin Peck, Lead Pastor of The Austin Stone Community Church and Josh Patterson, Lead Pastor over Ministry Leadership at The Village Church. During their conversation, they discuss learning from older leaders, leading well in their homes, and keeping the long journey of leadership in mind. BEST QUOTES “As leaders, we need to be faithful with the stewardship of time that God gives us to impact the world.” “As leaders grow and develop their own voice, you must fight to still lead together.” “The minute we assume something is going to happen, it doesn't happens.” “Everyday I have to ask God to make his will be done and not mine, otherwise, I am going to make a dumpster fire of my life.” “I have a finish line every day where I stop working.” “If we think that our finish line is bed time, than we can view our kids as another job.” “I try to make it a priority not to only be around other leaders and other Christians. I want to connect with people who don’t care about my title.” “We can lead successfully in other places, but if we don’t lead well in our home, the other places we lead will eventually lose credibility.” “As leaders, there comes a time where have to say no to things that are good, but they are not great.” “Our kids are going to love Jesus not by what we tell then, but by what they see us doing.” “Young leaders need to spend a lot more time listening and preparing for the long haul.” “Leadership is a long journey. It is not something you can quick bake. It is not a microwavable skill.” “Leaders navigate and negotiate change.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Strategic Leadership Community hosted by Kevin Peck and Josh Patterson We'd like to thank our sponsor NRB TV. Their goal is to consistently deliver impactful programs that help you dive deeper into God’s word and provide the practical tools you need to put your faith into practice. Learn more at www.nrbtv.org.

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Steve Gladen, Pastor of the Small Group Community at Saddleback Church and author of Small Groups with Purpose. During their conversation, they discuss the following questions: * Why are small groups important? * What are some of the basics that a small group leader needs to know? * What are some common challenges in the life cycle of a small group? * How do you make sure your groups are connected to the church and do not go rogue? * How can a small group leader effectively recruit and develop other small group leaders? BEST QUOTES “We want to provide leaders with a map, not a menu of training.” “The first thing Jesus did after his temptations was form a small group.” “The practical application of the Bible can’t happen in isolation or while being hidden in the crowd.” “Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Small groups leaders need to see and lead their group like a family.” “People don’t know what they don’t know.” “You need two different guardrails: a process guardrail and a people guardrail.” “In order to develop leaders, you have to know what you are trying to produce.” “When you are looking for leaders in your church, it starts long before the need arises.” “The devil likes to pick us off when we are in isolation.” “People don’t do what you expect. They do what you inspect.” “You must always be trying to get people out of the audience and into the army.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FREE Small Groups Training on Ministry Grid

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Eric Geiger are joined again by Carey Nieuwhof to discuss 5 more lies that leaders believe, just as they did on 5LQ Episode 112. This special episode is being broadcast not only on 5LQ, but also on the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast. So many leaders are susceptible to believe things that are simply not true. The question is why do leaders believe these lies and how can they overcome them? * If I’m winning at church, but not at home I’m still winning. * If I’m winning in the eyes of my church, then I am winning in the eyes of God. * I have paid my dues and I deserve this. * Either people aren’t being honest with me or people are being honest with me. * My secret sin doesn’t matter. BEST QUOTES “If you can’t lead well at home, you can’t lead well anywhere.” “I thought because we were winning at church, it excused everything that happened at home.” “Ministry is a vortex of theological confusion.” “I’d rather win at home and lose at church.” “Leaders must fight off ministry idolatry, which is caring more about what God is doing through you than what God has done for you.” “If you aren’t right with people, you probably aren’t right with God.” “You can think you crushed a meeting, but instead, you crushed the people.” “In the short term, secret sin will steal your confidence, and in the long term, it will destroy you.” “Not everyone needs to know your secret sin, but someone needs to know.” “Your competency will take you only as far as your character will sustain you.” “If we do not feel the weight of our sin, we’re susceptible.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES 5LQ Episode 112: Lie Leaders Believe Pipeline West