Lasting ministry isn’t built by going faster—it’s built by abiding deeper.
Mark and Erica get practical about the dangers of leading at a breakneck pace—hero-complex, thin defenses against sin, and drifting into “man’s wisdom” over God’s. They unpack how prayer, Scripture, and Sabbath keep leaders grounded, how to disciple a team into healthy rhythms, and why slowing down actually increases trust in God. Expect honest stories, biblical guardrails, and simple, repeatable practices for a rest-first leadership culture.
📋 Key Takeaways
- Impress vs. Impact: You can impress from a distance, but you impact up close—healthy leaders model rest and dependence, not nonstop hustle (cf. John 15:5).
- Hero-Mode is Hazardous: When pace rises, defenses thin and temptation spikes; accountability and humility are non-negotiables (1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Cor. 1:19).
- Man’s Wisdom Autopilot: Competence and knowledge are good, but dependence is better; without abiding, our “wins” don’t last (2 Pet. 1:4–7; 1 Cor. 13:1).
- Rested = Smart & Strong: Sabbath, time off after big pushes, and “camp time” seasons form a culture where creativity, discernment, and holiness thrive (Gen. 2:2–3; Mark 2:27).
- Only Do What Only You Can Do: Early leaders should explore broadly, then narrow to the two or three God-assignments—and build a home team that frees you to do them (Acts 6:2–4; 1 Cor. 12).
💬 Quotes & Soundbites
"You can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact them up close." (01:11) - Dr. Carter quoted Rick Warren while explaining that if leaders truly wanted to impact people, they needed to model a healthy, sustainable pace rather than just appearing tireless.
"The moment that I think that I am sufficient with my wisdom, I've already jacked it up." (04:59) - This was his direct response when asked about the difference between man's wisdom and God's wisdom, emphasizing that self-sufficiency was an immediate failure.
"You can't bear more fruit than you have roots." [11:35]
"Relying on God to do it teaches you that he does it." [31:24]
🕐 Timestamps
- 0:00 – Intro + why Part 2 matters
- 1:11 – The hero temptation & why pace thins your defenses
- 3:10 – Humble leadership: play the long game
- 5:00 – “Man’s wisdom” vs. God’s wisdom; posture of dependence
- 9:30 – What hurry does to prayer & Scripture (lean, perfunctory)
- 11:25 – Abide in Christ for fruit that lasts (John 15)
- 13:20 – Long-term fallout: sin, lack of accountability, church hurt
- 16:20 – Early warning signs: stress, mis-ordered loves (politics/hobbies)
- 18:05 – Leadership wins when you name busyness and slow down
- 19:30 – Discipling your team into rest rhythms; staff “camp time”
- 22:10 – “The rested are smart and strong” culture
- 23:10 – “Only do what only you can do” (young leaders → narrowing focus)
- 24:58 – Build your home team & align family around God’s call
- 31:05 – Slowing down increases trust: God really does the work
- 31:55 – Close: God gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6–7)
📖 Scripture Tie-Ins
- John 15:5 – “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
- 2 Peter 1:4–7 – Add to your faith… knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 – God frustrates the wisdom of the wise.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 – Without love, noise not impact.
- 1 Kings 19:11–13 – God’s voice in the gentle whisper, not the frenzy.
- Matthew 6:33; Philippians 1:6 – Seek first; He completes the work.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 – We plant and water; God gives the growth.
🛠️ Next Steps for Listeners
Do / Reflect / Pray
- Sabbath this week. Pick a 24-hour window to stop, delight, and worship. Guard it like a meeting with Jesus.
- Audit your pace. Circle the top two things only you can do; delegate or delay the rest for 30 days.
- Dependence rhythm. Pray daily: “Jesus, I renounce self-sufficiency. I choose to abide and receive Your wisdom today.”
- Early warning check -
- Where am I stressed and not offloading to Jesus?
- What “good things” (politics, hobbies, projects) are crowding first love?
- Who are my five smooth stones (people God’s given me for the long game)?
- Team practice. If you lead others, schedule a post-push slow week (“camp time”) and publicly celebrate Sabbath stories.
Suggested follow-ups & resources
