Influence Podcast
253 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 58 ratingsThe Influence Magazine Podcast is a chance for you to hear from the premiere voices in church leadership…voices who are redefining what church leadership looks like. It's the audio companion to Influence Magazine, a resource full of practical tools, informative news and powerful biblical principals aimed at empowering all leaders. Visit us online at InfluenceMagazine.com
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Episodes
250. Rethinking Your Church’s Ministries after COVID
April 09, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MB“To say the events of 2020 have been disruptive to our lives is the understatement of the decade,” writes John Davidson. For pastors, however, those disruptions provide an opportunity to rethink ministry in order to increase “the effectiveness of their church in making disciples.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Davidson about how pastors can rethink their church’s ministries after COVID. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine, and your host. ...
249. How to Handle Grief and Loss after COVID
April 01, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBThe past year has been tough one. Millions have experienced grief and loss as a result of the COVID pandemic. Unfortunately, many American Christians have a hard time processing these negative experiences. “When we fail to attend to them,” Peter Scazzero writes, “they prevent us from living freely and honestly with God and others.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Scazzero about how Christians — especially Christian leaders — can process grief and loss after COVID. ...
248. Jesus’ Parables and Your Church’s Culture
March 19, 2021 08:00 - 33 minutes - 45.3 MB“Jesus never told us how to ‘do church’,” writes Mike Burnette. Instead, Christ talked about “how to be his church,” and He did that through parables. Burnette examines what three of those parables say about the organizational culture of a church in his new book, Parable Church: How the Teachings of Jesus Shape the Culture of Our Faith, published by Zondervan. I’ll be talking to Pastor Burnette about his new book in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive edito...
247. Evangelism for the Next Generation
March 11, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBA 2019 survey by Barna Group reported the startling statistic that 47% of Millennial Christians think evangelizing others is wrong. Craig Springer cites this statistic in the introduction to his new book, How to Revive Evangelism, and writes, “In the US especially, the instinct to evangelize is eroding.” The obvious questions church leaders need to ask are why is this happening and what can we do about it? Those are the questions I’m discussing with Springer in Episode 247 of the Influence...
246. Everything Church Leaders Need to Know about Nones
March 04, 2021 09:00 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBBetween 1972 and 2018, the percentage of Americans who identify as Christian declined, while the percentage who claim no religious affiliation increased by nearly 500%. This growing segment of “nones” is younger than the general population, but Ryan Burge writes that “no segment of American society that has been immune to the rise of religious disaffiliation.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Burge about everything church leaders need to know about the rise of the n...
245. Helping Youth Find Meaning, Identity, and Purpose
February 25, 2021 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MB“Young people are experiencing record loneliness,” notes The State of Religion and Young People 2020, a report from Springtide Research Institute. “They have low levels of trust in most traditional institutions, and they are likely not responding to the efforts these institutions are making to connect with them. But they are — amid all these realities — seeking meaning, navigating questions of identity, and pursuing community.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Dr. J...
244. Seven Steps to Diversifying AG Leadership
February 16, 2021 09:00 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MBAccording to Pew Research Center, the Assemblies of God is one of the most diverse Protestant denominations in the United States. AG statistics show that 56% of AG adherents are white and 44% ethnic minority. However, statistics also show that two-thirds of AG ministers are white. The obvious question is how to diversify AG ministers so that our pastors better represent the diversity of our adherents. That’s the question I’m asking Dr. Darnell Williams in this episode of the Influence P...
243. Advice for Couples Considering Divorce
February 11, 2021 09:00 - 35 minutes - 49.4 MBChristians believe that marriage is God’s idea and that divorce is a usually bad idea. And yet, Christians — including Christian leaders — get divorced too. The question that needs to be answered is what married couples can do to cultivate a healthy future for their relationship. That’s the question I’m talking about with Toni Nieuwhof in Episode 242 of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Toni Nieuwhof is a family law mediator,...
242. Celebrating the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God
February 04, 2021 09:00 - 35 minutes - 48.1 MBFebruary is Black History Month, and in this episode of the Influence Podcast, we’re celebrating the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God, which just completed 40 years of service. I’ll be talking with Bishop Walter Harvey about the history, growth, and mission of this vital network within the broader AG community. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Bishop Walter Harvey is president of the National Black Fellowship and pastor emeritus ...
241. What Does the Bible Say About Missions?
January 21, 2021 09:00 - 32 minutes - 45 MBMany Christians begin the New Year with a renewed determination to read their Bibles. Their intention is good, obviously, but it needs to partner with understanding and action if it’s to do us any good. In his new book, Missionary God, Missionary Bible, Dr. Dick Brogden argues that the Bible has a missional message: God desires to bless all nations. That’s the message I’m talking to Dr. Brogden about in Episode 241 of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influenc...
240. How to Settle Your Soul After an Unsettling Year
January 12, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 45.4 MBThis past year was an unsettling one. I like to think of it as the Year of Three Ps: pandemic, protests, and politics. Each one fomented conflict, but taken together, they were a conflict force multiplier. And that doesn’t even taken into account the normal stressors we face every year. How can followers of Jesus Christ experience settled souls in the midst of unsettling times? That’s the question I’m talking about with Dr. Jodi Detrick in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George ...
239. The End Times and the Church’s Mission
January 05, 2021 09:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBAccording to Stephen Covey, one of the seven habits of highly effective people is beginning with the end in mind. I doubt Covey was thinking about the Book of Revelation when he identified that habit, but I can’t think of a better way to begin the New Year than by talking about the end times. So that’s what I’ll be doing with Dr. Chris Carter in this episode of the Influence Podcast, the first podcast of the 2021 season. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your h...
238. Christ Used His Power Redemptively, and So Should We!
December 17, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MB“Jesus uses his power to protect, to expose, and to restore dignity,” writes Dr. Diane Langberg in her book, Redeeming Power. “He calls his people to be in the world using our power under his authority, displaying his character by speaking truth, shedding light, and tending and protecting the vulnerable. How does this become a reality in the lives of individual Christ followers?” That’s the question I’m exploring with Dr. Langberg in this episode of the Influence Podcast, the final episode...
237. Seven Habits That Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity
December 01, 2020 09:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MB“Almost anybody can accomplish anything if they work at it long enough, hard enough, and smart enough,” writes Mark Batterson. In his new book, Win the Day, he identifies seven “daily habits” that will help readers “stress less and accomplish more.” As 2020 draws to a close, now is a good time to start planning (and working) for a new year better than the old one. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Mark Batterson is lead pastor of National Community C...
236. The Dark Side of Discipleship
November 19, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 52.7 MB“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils,” wrote C. S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters. “One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” With Lewis’s insight on the need for a balanced view in mind, in this episode, I’m talking with Gary Tyra about what the Bible t...
235. Becoming a Church that Crosses Racial and Economic Divides
November 13, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 51 MBMartin Luther King Jr. once said, “It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is 11 o’clock on Sunday morning.” King said this about race in 1963, but it is still largely true today. According to sociologist Michael O. Emerson, a multiracial or multiethnic church is one in which at least 20% of attendees do not belong to the majority race or ethnicity. In 2019, just 23% of churches crossed that threshold. And there is evidence of a growing class divide in church...
234. Eight Models of Evangelism
November 03, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MBAfter a D. L. Moody revival meeting, a woman approached the 19th-century evangelist and said, “I don’t like the way you do evangelism.” Moody responded, “Well, ma’am, let me ask you, how do you do it?” She said, “I don’t.” To which Moody replied, “I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it!” Moody’s answer is the right one, and it also points to the variety of ways Christians can do evangelism. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Priscilla Pop...
233. Moving the Ministry of Women from Theology to Practice
October 29, 2020 08:00 - 41 minutes - 57.3 MBThis podcast begins with a paradox: On the one hand, the Assemblies of God recognizes the credentialed ministry of women at whatever level God has called and empowered them. On the other hand, AG women often face barriers to ministry leadership simply because they are women. In this podcast, I’m talking with Beth Grant and Crystal Martin about how to resolve this paradox, that is, about how to move the ministry of women from something we affirm theologically to something we practice routin...
232. How to Improve Your Preaching in the Coming Year
October 23, 2020 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MBPreaching is one of a pastor’s most important duties. It’s also one of the most difficult. Every week, pastors stand before their congregations and proclaim the Word of God. And often, they leave the pulpit feeling that they have failed. So, how can preachers get better at their craft? That’s the question I’m talking about with Chris Colvin and Dick Hardy in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Chris Colvin is a ...
231. Pioneers, Settlers, and the Local Church
October 06, 2020 08:00 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MB“God calls people to pioneer,” says Jeffery Portmann, “and simultaneously He calls others to become settlers.” Portmann isn’t talking about the settlement of new frontiers, however. He’s talking about ministry through the local church. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Portmann about why the Church needs both pioneers and settlers, as well as how best to be one or the other. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Jeffery Portmann ...
230. The Better Way of Neighborly Love
September 29, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBWhile the divisiveness of our current moment in the United States may be regrettable and fatiguing, it also represents an incredible opportunity for Christians,” writes Don Everts in the current issue of Influence magazine. He goes on to say, “As church leaders, our job is not only to help Christians recognize the temptations we’re facing, but also to highlight another way: a way of neighborly love that can cut through all the yelling and point others to the beauty of the gospel.” I’m Geor...
229. After COVID, What?
September 15, 2020 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MB“With the massive disruptions we’re facing as a result of the COVID-19 crisis of 2020 and beyond, the problems could not be more disruptive or obvious,” writes Karl Vaters. “From the lockdowns, to the unspeakable pain of the illness and death of loved ones, to the colossal financial upheavals, it is likely that we’ve never faced such a long-term disruption in our lifetimes, possibly even surpassing those that resulted from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.” In this episode of th...
228. Taking Your Small Group to the Next Level
September 03, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBSmall groups are a vital component of a church’s ministry. They extend the span of pastoral care, deepen group members’ spiritual formation, and provide a motivated cadre of volunteers for a church’s various ministries. At least that’s what they’re supposed to do. Too often, however, small groups get stuck in a rut, frustrating leaders and group members alike. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Jason Sniff about how to take your small group to the next level. I’m Geor...
227. Outrage Culture vs. Gentle Jesus
July 28, 2020 08:00 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MBIn late 2014, Slate magazine published a series of articles under the title, “The Year of Outrage.” If anything, the outrage in America has only worsened since then. Even Christians have jumped onto the outrage train. The results haven’t been pretty, for either society generally or churches specifically. What would Jesus do? And how should Christians follow His example? Scott Sauls thinks gentleness is the answer to both questions: “Jesus has been gentle toward us,” he writes, “so we ha...
226. A Better Way of Doing Apologetics
July 21, 2020 08:00 - 37 minutes - 52 MBIn 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle wrote: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” The Greek word the NIV translates as “answer” is apología, from which we get the word apologetics. Apologetics is that branch of Christian theology which offers reasonable answers to skeptical questions about the faith. Apologetics is a necessary component of evangelism and discipleship, especially in an America that is becoming increasingly pos...
225. Where Is the Supreme Court Going with Religious Freedom?
July 10, 2020 08:00 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBOn June 15th of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, ruling that the prohibition of sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act extends to sexual orientation and gender identity as well. LGBT rights groups hailed the decision as a major victory, but churches and other faith-based organizations worried that it would impinge on their religious freedom. In three cases since Bostock, however, the Supreme Court has vindicated relig...
224. The Multiethnic Church as a Solution to Racism
June 16, 2020 08:00 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MBThe death of George Floyd has sparked a nationwide conversation about racism. As our fellow citizens talk about how to reform public policy, it’s also important for the Church to look inward and see how we can better embody the truth of Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Mark DeYmaz about how the multiethnic church offers a sol...
223. How to Make Your Church Spiritually Safe for Kids
June 09, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBIn a 2019 article for InfluenceMagazine.com, Mark Entzminger wrote: “[A] poorly designed or implemented safety plan can not only damage the church’s reputation in the community but, more importantly, it can also damage the heart and spirit of a child for a lifetime.” He was talking about emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, but what he said also applies to the spiritual life of a child. There is such a thing as spiritual abuse, and it’s the job of church leaders to keep their kids spiri...
222. What Racial Reconciliation Requires
June 02, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MBThe events of the past week have set America on fire. It began on Monday, March 25th, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the death of George Floyd, a black man. Video of the event showed the white arresting officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, despite cries from both Floyd and onlookers to relent. “I can’t breathe,” Floyd said. Floyd died soon after, and Chauvin has since been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. ...
221. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
May 28, 2020 11:00 - 54 minutes - 74.4 MBOne of the hallmarks of classical Pentecostalism is its emphasis on baptism in the Holy Spirit, both theologically and experientially. This is certainly true in the Assemblies of God, which includes two articles on the doctrine—Articles 7 and 8—in our Statement of Fundamental Truths. Why we emphasize this doctrine, and how to make sure it moves from mere doctrine to vibrant experience, is the topic of my Influence Podcast with Tim Enloe. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence ma...
220. How to Relaunch Your Church
May 19, 2020 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MBAfter weeks of being closed by state and local public health orders, many churches are beginning to reopen their doors for ministry to their communities. Rather than merely reopen, however, the present moment offers churches an opportunity to relaunch. We’ll explore what relaunching your church might look like in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. My guest today is Dr. John Davidson. He is director of Leadership ...
219. The Narcissistic Leader
May 12, 2020 08:00 - 27 minutes - 37.1 MB“While it seems as if the church should be the last place narcissism shows up,” writes Chuck DeGroat, “it does indeed—in ordinary laypeople, in clergy across all theological spectrums, and in systems that protect narcissistic people and foster abuse.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking with DeGroat about what narcissism is, how it deforms both individuals and systems, and how churches can heal from the emotional and spiritual abuse that come in narcissism’s wake. I’m Geo...
218. After Digital Church, What?
May 05, 2020 08:00 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBOver the past few weeks, churches have creatively responded to public health orders that closed their doors by going digital, offering worship experiences and small group meetings online. Is this use of digital technology a “new normal”? Or is it merely a temporary expedient to for extraordinary circumstances? Those are some of the questions I talk with Jay Kim about in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Jay Ki...
217. Messy Prayers, Loud Tables, and Open Doors
April 28, 2020 08:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MB“While God can (and does) interact with individuals in a vacuum,” writes Don Everts, “he often uses the household as a reliable laboratory for discipleship.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Everts about three characteristics of spiritually vibrant homes. This conversation arises from his book, The Spiritually Vibrant Home, published earlier this year by InterVarsity Press. Don Everts is a writer for Lutheran Hour Ministries and associate pastor at Bonhomme Presby...
216. How to Make Big Decisions Wisely
March 31, 2020 08:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MB“How do you make big decisions?” asks Dr. Alan Ehler. “Making a bad decision can cost a lot. Making no decision can cost even more.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Ehler about the topic of how to make big decisions wisely, which also happens to be the title of his new book, published by Zondervan. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influencemagazine and your host. Dr. Alan Ehler is a professor and dean of Barnett College of Ministry and Theology at Southeas...
215. How to Lead When Your Church Is Closed
March 19, 2020 22:01 - 34 minutes - 48 MBThe coronavirus pandemic is temporarily changing the way Americans live, work, and use their free time. The federal government has asked citizens voluntarily to “[a]void social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people,” but many state and local governments are imposing bans on such gatherings. This negatively affects the ability of local churches to gather for worship, most immediately, but it also may have other longer term effects. How should—how can—pastors lead their congregations w...
214. What Christians Should Know about Artificial Intelligence
March 17, 2020 08:00 - 30 minutes - 41.2 MB“AI is changing everything about our world and society. And we aren’t prepared.” So writes Jason Thacker in The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to him about his book, focusing on how Christians should evaluate and use AI technology. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Jason Thacker is the creative director and an associate research fellow at The Ethics & Religious Li...
213. When Someone You Love Is Gay
March 11, 2020 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBAccording to Pew Research Center, the percentage of Americans who say homosexuality should be approved by society grew from 46% in 1994 to 70% in 2017. Over the same period, the share who say it should be discouraged declined from 49% to 24%. Public attitudes toward same-sex marriage have followed a similar trajectory. Pew reports that in 2004, 60% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, while 31% favored it. By 2019, those numbers had reversed, with 61% favoring it and 31% opposing it. T...
212. A Biblical Approach to Productivity
March 03, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MB“Life is complicated, and it’s easy to lose clarity in the face of daily, pressing needs,” writes Dr. Brandon Crowe. “To cut through the complexity and begin to make progress, you need a plan of attack.” In Every Day Matters, Dr. Crowe offers sound advice for how to “think biblically about how to get things done,” as well as how to maximize “your time and energy toward the most important things in everyday life.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Dr. Crowe about this...
211. How to Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry from Your Life and Ministry
February 18, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBJohn Mark Comer lived many pastors’ dream. He led a growing congregation (adding 1,000 adherents annually for seven years running) in the Pacific Northwest (one of the nation’s most secular regions). You’d think he’d be happy, but he wasn’t. He was burnt out, enduring most pastors’ nightmare. Busyness, which according to Comer is “where your life is full with things that matter,” wasn’t the problem. The problem was hurriedness, “when you have too much to do and the only way to keep the quo...
210. How to Read Proverbs for Preaching
February 11, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 51 MBWhen I went off to college, my mom concluded every letter she sent me by quoting Proverbs 3:5–6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Those verses capture the essence of the Book of Proverbs. They teach us about God, our relationship to Him, and how we ought to live in a pithy, memorable way. Indeed, the whole book is filled with gems like this one. Th...
209. What Effective Board Governance Looks Like
February 04, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MB“Church boards exist in all shapes and sizes, and they vary across theologies and tradition. But what if you compared those boards that view themselves as ‘effective’ against those who do not? What would you learn?” That’s the question asked in Unleashing Your Church Board’s Potential, a new study by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). It’s also the question I’m asking Dan Busby and Warren Bird in Episode 209 of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive ...
208. The Power of “What If?”
January 30, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MB“Throughout my life,” writes Pastor Tommy Barnett in his new memoir, “God has continually prodded and prompted me to ask, ‘What if?’” He goes on to say, “Through all these years, ‘What if?’ has been quickly followed by ‘Why not?’ and then ‘Wow! God is doing amazing things.’” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Pastor Barnett about this what-if-why-not-wow dynamic of spiritual leadership. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Tommy ...
207. What’s Happening in the Assemblies of God Today?
January 23, 2020 09:00 - 35 minutes - 49.2 MBWelcome to the Influence Podcast, a collection of inspiring and challenging conversations, aimed at empowering the entire spectrum of church leadership, from lead pastor to lead volunteer In Episode 207, I’m talking to Doug Clay about the good things God is doing in the Assemblies of God. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Doug Clay is general superintendent of the Assemblies of God. He will share his unique perspective on our Fellowship after a brief...
206. Ministry in the Aftermath of Sexual Violence
January 16, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBAccording to the National Sexual Violence Research Center, “One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives.” The center also reports that “one in three women and one in six men [will experience] some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.” These statistics show that sexual violence affects millions of women and men. But when was the last time you heard a sermon or Sunday school lesson about sexual violence? If churches aren’t aware of or talking ...
205. How to Improve Your Preaching in 2020
January 09, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.2 MBPreaching and teaching God’s Word is an essential skill in pastoral ministry, whether you’re a senior pastor, youth pastor, children’s pastor, or the like. As with any skill, your preaching can improve with intentional practice. In Episode 205 of the Influence Podcast, the second podcast of the New Year, I’m talking with Matthew Kim about how to improve your preaching in 2020. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. My guest is associate professor of pre...
204. Setting Your Church’s Agenda with Prayer
January 02, 2020 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MB“At Oaks Church we don’t open the agenda with prayer,” writes Scott Wilson, “we set the agenda with prayer.” He goes on: “We don’t want to just acknowledge God when we meet, we want to hear Him speak and lead us.” In Episode 204 of the Influence Podcast—the first episode of 2020—I’m talking with Scott Wilson about how prayer can set the agenda for your church. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Scott Wilson is pastor of Oaks Church in Red Oak, Texas...
203. The Gospels as Truthful Biographies of Jesus
December 19, 2019 09:00 - 44 minutes - 60.6 MBSpeaking of the first generation of Christians, 2 Peter 1:16 says, “we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Though written nearly two millennia ago, Peter’s statement still describes the choice before readers of the Gospels: Are the Gospels made-up stories or truthful biographies? That’s the question I ask Craig Keener in Episode 203 of the Influence Podcast—the final podcast e...
202. The Emotionally Intelligent Pastor
December 12, 2019 09:00 - 32 minutes - 45 MBreater emotional intelligence leads to reduced stress and increased influence,” writes Dr. Jeannie Clarkson. Pastor, if that sentence appeals to you, you definitely want to listen to this episode of the Influence Podcast because I’m talking with Dr. Clarkson about how emotional intelligence accomplishes those results. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Dr. Jeannie Clarkson is a Christian psychologist and founder of Christian Care Connection, a multi...
201. Evangelism, Compassion, and Mission(s)
December 05, 2019 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBWhen compassionate missions stand apart from evangelistic efforts and apart from the work of the local church, the uniquely redemptive role of the church is either diminished or lost altogether,” writes Dr. Jerry Ireland in For the Love of God. “Therefore, missionaries must find ways to engage in compassion in ways that are more directly linked to the evangelistic calling of the church.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I’m talking to Dr. Ireland about the relationship between e...