Matthew Weaver discusses his faith journey and insights on Christian living.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew transitioned from full-time pastoral ministry to teaching at a Christian school, finding renewed purpose and family balance
- He emphasizes the importance of authentic relationships and being present with family in transferring faith to the next generation
- Matthew advises struggling believers to evaluate unconfessed sin, be honest with God, and press into Him during difficult seasons
- He stresses the critical nature of prioritizing one's walk with Jesus above all else for sustainable spiritual growth and ministry
Topics
Matthew's Background and Current Role
- Born and raised in Georgia, now living in Louisiana for over a decade
- Graduated seminary in 2016, married Emily in 2017
- Served as associate pastor for 8 years at a church in New Orleans
- Recently transitioned to teaching Bible classes at a Christian school (1,100 students)
- Has a 3-year-old son named Camden
Faith Journey and Transition to Ministry
- Accepted Christ at age 6, influenced by a sermon on the cross
- Deepened faith commitment in late high school and college years
- Pursued vocational ministry after college, serving in various roles
- Experienced burnout during COVID, political tensions, and personal challenges
- Sabbatical led to sensing God's direction toward educational ministry
Spiritual Disciplines and Growth
- Emphasizes eliminating distractions (e.g. removing social media from phone)
- Adapts Bible reading habits to current life stage (e.g. devotionals, audio content)
- Recommends fasting as a practice to increase dependence on God
- Stresses the importance of authentic relationships for accountability and growth
Sharing Faith and Mentoring
- Advocates building genuine relationships as the foundation for evangelism
- Encourages being sensitive to Holy Spirit promptings in daily interactions
- Emphasizes the need for both actions and words in sharing the gospel
- Highlights the value of having multiple mentors for different life stages
Transferring Faith to the Next Generation
- Stresses being present and fully engaged with children
- Involves children in ministry activities to model service and faith
- Plants seeds of faith through prayer, worship music, and age-appropriate teaching
- Encourages partnering with trusted adults who can mentor and influence kids
