Shows
Broken to Beloved Podcast030: Healing from Church Hurt with Steve CarterThis is a special episode swap with my friend Steve Carter and his Craft and Character podcast. This episode was originally released in September 2024.In this episode of the Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews pastor and thought leader Brian Lee about healing from church hurt.Brian has a heart for those who feel like wanderers looking for a safe place to land. He has created an incredible community for anyone who has felt cast aside, betrayed, or hurt from religious institutions.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄G...
2024-12-3156 min
Craft & CharacterThe Art of Discernment with Ruth Haley BartonIn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with author, spiritual director, and founder of the Transforming Center, Ruth Haley Barton about the importance of spiritual formation for pastoral care.Ruth Haley Barton offers up so many moments of pure gold as she talks about the soul, the art of discernment, and how she came to discover the goodness with spiritual formation decades ago. This is an important episode for any pastor and leader.If you haven’t read her work, please check out Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, Strengthening the Soul of Your L...
2024-10-0152 minCraft & CharacterBroken to Beloved with Brian LeeIn this episode of the Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews pastor and thought leader Brian Lee about healing from church hurt.Brian has a heart for those who feel like wanderers looking for a safe place to land. He has created an incredible community for anyone who has felt cast aside, betrayed, or hurt from religious institutions.Brian is hosting a conference for pastors to learn how to be better trauma informed and how to create a safe place for their congregation and staff.Also for any congregant looking to find healing an...
2024-09-1755 minCraft & CharacterThe Expectation Gap with Steve CussOn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with pastor, founder of Capable Life, and author Steve Cuss about the tiny gap for preachers between our beliefs and experiences of God.Steve Cuss unpacks why this matters from theological, emotional, and character fronts, so we can begin to confront these gaps with curiosity and openness.Steve Cuss offers us a way forward to not just help the pastor's spiritual well-being and experience of God, but to also invite your congregation into newfound depth and honesty with the Lord.BIOSteve C...
2024-08-2750 min
Broken to Beloved Podcast008: Identity and Integrity After Pain and Loss with Steve CarterWhat do you do when you’ve given your life to a cause and calling, to have only to find yourself walking away?Steve Carter was named as one of two successors to Bill Hybels at Willow Creek Community Church. When the allegations against Hybels broke national news, it all changed. Ultimately, Steve sided with the women who told their stories and resigned his position in protest.In this week’s conversation, Steve shares about that decision, and how he made choices to pursue integrity, and to allow his own grief to shape, but...
2024-08-2048 minCraft & CharacterThe Discipleship Opportunity with Daniel ImThere is a discipleship opportunity right now that pastors and preachers must take advantage of. Pastor Daniel Im and Steve Carter discuss how we must understand the audience is different in our congregations than from 10, 20, 40 years ago. They’re asking different kinds of questions. They’re more cynical in some ways and wildly curious in others.When our messages can invite people into the deeper streams, challenge them in the right ways, and truly wrestle with the questions they’re wondering about, we have a chance, a grand opportunity to disciple more and more people than ever before...
2024-08-1351 minCraft & CharacterHealing What You Can’t Erase with Christopher CookIn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews the Win Today Podcast host Christopher Cook about how leaders can transform their mental, emotional, and spiritual health from the inside out.Christopher shares wisdom he has learned, how the reliance on the Holy Spirit is everything, and what courage looks like as you face past trauma.This episode explores key insights from Cook’s new book Healing What You Can’t Erase and will give you some practical steps to partner with the Holy Spirit to take your next right step in your personal spiritual format...
2024-06-1159 minCraft & CharacterHow to Avoid Pastoral Burnout with Alan BriggsIn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews leader, coach, and author Alan Briggs about avoiding burnout and finishing the race well.Alan recently released a new book called AntiBurnout that will help you lead for the long haul by sharing practical steps that he has learned advising pastors and business leaders. This episode is so practical and will help you take a good hard look within to see if how you are working today is actually going to work well for you in the seasons to come.BIOAlan Briggs helps CATA...
2024-05-2841 minCraft & CharacterHow to Love the Life You Already Have with Luke NorsworthyIn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews Westover Hills Senior Pastor Luke Norsworthy about having the internal character to meet the six demands of life.It can be so easy to give time and energy wondering if my life would be better if I was in a new role or at a new church; but Luke beautifully articulate to love the life you already have isn’t about changing your circumstances but being the version of yourself that inhibits your life.Luke walks us through each of the six demands that he writes abo...
2024-05-1459 minCraft & CharacterGrieve, Breathe, Receive with Steve CarterIn this special episode, the host of the Craft & Character, Steve Carter, unpacks how holy weekend is an incredible gift to anyone walking out a grief journey.Steve opens up about what led to him writing these words, what his hope is for Grieve, Breathe, Receive, and how to honor what comes up when change shows up.This is a book that will help you know what to do when life shocks us or we experience hurt, loss, death, an end to a relationship, or any form of change.Give this episode a l...
2024-05-0752 minCraft & CharacterThe Slower Way with Micha BoyettIn this Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews author and youth pastor Micha Boyett about her new book Blessed Are The Rest Of Us.Micha talks about how she discovered the slow way when her son was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with autism, she was drawn into the ancient teachings of the Beatitudes.In a culture that values performance, perfection, and strength, Micha found in this small passage of ancient text a new language to honor the worth of her son and to push against the intrinsic ableism in our culture’s res...
2024-04-2653 minCraft & CharacterWhy Every Pastor Must Learn to Listen, Listen, Speak with Jay KimIn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews author and pastor Jay Kim about how to hear God’s voice and communicate truth in a noisy world.Jay unpacks what led him to write his new book that comes out on April 16th called Listen, Listen, Speak. He talks about how discernment, mastering the art of listening well to God and one another, and also being able to clearly speak to the times is important for every preacher.Jay is one of the wisest, most thoughtful and accessible pastoral voices of our day. His ins...
2024-04-0950 minCraft & CharacterAlive in You with Carrington GainesThe relationship between a worship pastor and the preacher is crucial, especially on holiday weekends. In the latest episode of the Craft and Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews the worship pastor at Forest City Church, Carrington Gaines about how to work well together.Steve and Carrington serve together and breakdown how they planned out the Good Friday and Easter services around the song “Alive in You.” They talk about the trust required between preacher and worship pastor, how to dream, push each other, and bring out the best in one another.Carrington shares his process of w...
2024-03-2654 minCraft & CharacterA Call to Resilience with Jay HewittIn this episode, Steve Carter interviews pastor and author Jay Hewitt about finding strength in our deepest need and weakness.A few years back Jay was diagnosed with brain cancer and during his chemo treatment he decided to train for an Ironman to show his young daughter what resilience looks like. Jay ended up completing the Ironman and wrote an incredible book called “I Am Weak, I Am Strong” about what God has taught him during this fight with cancer.Steve and Jay stood in each other's weddings, are dear friends, and this episode is one...
2024-03-121h 04Craft & CharacterTransparent Preaching with Justin DavisIn this episode of Craft and Character, Steve Carter interviews Justin Davis about how transparency leads to transformation. Justin details the hard lessons he had to learn and what God has redeemed and refined because of it.They also unpack Justin’s latest book entitled Being Real > Being Perfect and how to embody that from the pulpit, in our leadership, marriage, and with the deepest friendships.BIOJustin is an author, speaker, and pastor and has dedicated his life to helping people experience life change through the power of authenticity. He co-founded RefineUs Mini...
2024-02-2751 minCraft & CharacterThe Spirit of Politics with Michael WearThe majority of pastors are not looking forward to this 2024 presidential election season. The division between parties. The vitriol online. The angst within the congregation. The last few elections have been so difficult to navigate. There has to be a better way!In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Michael Wear who is the President of The Center of Christianity and Public Life as well as the author of The Spirit of Our Politics. Michael shares how Dallas Willard’s teachings helped him understand a better way to engage with politics.This interview will help pastors ref...
2024-01-2349 minCraft & CharacterStart to Finish with Mark DanceDo you ever feel like the tyranny of the urgent runs your life? Do you ever feel shame for wanting to take a day off or go on a vacation?As pastors, the needs are great and time is limited. Sadly, for many this means neglecting the things that matter most: our relationship with God, family, and the health of our souls.In this episode, Mark Dance, Director of Pastoral Wellness for Guidestone Financial Resources, explains to Steve Carter that orienting our lives around the two greatest commandments一loving God and neighbor一can be a joyf...
2023-12-2644 minCraft & CharacterThe Shepherd's Heart with Lee EclovEvery pastor needs a pastor一someone to offer wisdom, empathy, and an example of finishing well. Lee Eclov is a shepherd to shepherds, and in this episode he shares with Steve Carter:
How to care more about people and less about numbers.
The role of spiritual formation in preaching.
The importance of working through a text in your own soul before you preach.
Why thinking of Scripture as a song will enrich your preaching.
How to write sermons that touch people’s minds and hearts.
If you’re a pastor, please don’t miss this episode! Lee’s voice reso...
2023-11-2854 minCraft & CharacterAI, Ethics, and Preaching with Jason ThackerAs the world continues to progress technologically, how do we begin to approach this theologically. Jason Thacker, a professor of ethics and author joins Steve Carter on the craft and character podcast to help us better understand what is at stake and what we can do about it. Technology is not a net neutral conversation; but rather one we must approach with greater wisdom and discernment. With the advent of AI and other technological advancements, we as preachers have an opportunity to help our people understand what formation, ethics, and life in the kingdom truly looks like...
2023-11-1455 minCraft & CharacterDiscerning the Times with Jon HuckinsAs headlines convulse with the latest news about the Israel-Hamas war, how should followers of Jesus respond?Jon Huckins, professor, author, and founder of Journey Home, shares with Steve Carter about what peacemaking looks like一first in our own hearts, then in the world God calls us to love. This convicting conversation point us toward the way of Jesus, helping us see the image of God in people on all sides of the conflict.Jon and Steve, who recently hiked the Camino de Santiago together, reflect on the lost art of pilgrimage and how it he...
2023-10-3156 minCraft & CharacterA Church Planter's First Sermon Series with Micah E. DavisAs a leader, how well do you know your people and city? As a preacher, how much does your context shape your content?For Micah Davis, the pastor of teaching and vision at a new church plant, The Sanctuary in Indianapolis, there’s a deep connection between who he serves and how he leads. After hearing God whisper “pastor your neighborhood” during a prayer walk, he’s ignited by the realization that God raises up particular people in specific places一a vision that excites and fuels his church plant.In this conversation with Steve Carter, Micah high...
2023-10-1048 minCraft & CharacterReconnect to the Rhythms of Faith with Kayla CraigIf you’re a parent, how do you nurture and guide your children? If you’re a pastor or leader, are you truly creating an environment that draws kids to Jesus? The responsibility of stewarding young hearts can feel immense, but the good news is: you don’t have to figure it out alone.Today’s guest is author Kayla Craig, whose new book, Every Season Sacred, is a collection of practical tools and reflective prayers to help families build a culture of discipleship in the ebb and flow of everyday life.Kayla speaks candidly with Stev...
2023-09-2639 minCraft & CharacterHow Every Church Can Pivot to Be Tov with Scot McKnight and Laura BarringerHow do we call out injustice and seek shalom without becoming self-righteous?In their new book, Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church Into a Tov Culture, father-daughter duo Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer follow up their previous book, A Church Called Tov一charting a course for those seeking to create a healthier church culture.In this episode, they share with Steve Carter:
How healthier churches exist when leaders listen to the Spirit and surrender to his leading.
How to build a church culture in which power is stewarded, not abuse...
2023-09-1254 minCraft & CharacterThe Art of Rhetoric in Preaching with Theon HillWant to become a better preacher? Listen to hip hop. That’s the advice of Dr. Theon Hill一an enthusiastic hip hop fan who serves as Associate Professor of Communication at Wheaton College. As an expert in rhetoric, Dr. Hill explains to Steve Carter:
The three primary ways to reach an audience
How to anticipate and teach to diverse perspectives in your audience
Why preaching is about transformation, not just information
Why hip hop is a great primer for preaching in our cultural moment
Throughout this episode, Dr. Hill walks Steve Carter through Dr. King’s “I Have...
2023-08-2245 minCraft & CharacterPreaching Faith as a Spider Web with Meredith MillerTeaching kids about God is one of the greatest tasks of our lives. Even with good intentions, It’s easy to slip into behavior-driven moralism that emphasizes good behavior while neglecting the heart of God.This disconnect一between head and heart一is why Meredith Anne Miller wrote her forthcoming book, Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From. In this episode, she explains to Steve Carter some of the simple shifts that can help you disciple kids better:
Simplify: limit the amount of info and the length of the lesson
Age appropriate: emphasize...
2023-08-0851 minCraft & CharacterWhen the World Breaks with Jason MillerThe world is broken. When we see and feel that brokenness, it sometimes feels impossible一even illogical一to cling to faith. In this episode, Jason Miller, lead pastor of South Bend City Church in Indiana, describes his own journey with loss and how it led him past hollow platitudes into a deeper, more sacred space with Jesus.His new book, When the World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus, is a refreshing reminder that God’s love sustains us in life’s darkest seasons.Weary of injustice? Aching for renewal, i...
2023-07-2558 minCraft & CharacterHow to Reach Urban Youth with Tommy NixonSteve Carter chops it up with his best friend Tommy Nixon一CEO of the Urban Youth Workers Institute一about how to reach the next generation for Christ. Tommy unpacks 20+ years of urban ministry, including:
What to do about the 1.2 million young people leaving the church every year
How to communicate effectively to a church that’s increasingly young, urban, and multiethnic
The two key ingredients for communicating to urban youth
Why suffering must shape our lives and message
How to use humor to connect with your audience, deliver hard truths, and show humility
Why honest feedback is crucial for yo...
2023-07-0859 minCraft & CharacterHaving Something to Say with Michele CushattEvery communicator must decide: Am I going to be the person pretending I don’t have flaws, or am I going to be someone with something to say?For Michele Cushatt一author, speaker, and communication coach一three bouts with tongue cancer, which left her with only two-thirds of her tongue and a permanent lisp, have taught her it’s the foundation of her life, not a polished facade, that makes her a transformative communicator.Michele’s conversation with Steve Carter explores the unwanted pain life inevitably brings and the healing work God does in the midst of i...
2023-06-2756 minCraft & CharacterMaster the Art of Storytelling with Nick Benoit and Paul JohnsonIf you’ve ever felt creatively fatigued from the demand to preach week after week, meet Bravingbird: a go-to resource to help you communicate the gospel story with more clarity, beauty, and authenticity.In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Nick Benoit (creative director) and Paul Johnson (executive director) about why the art of storytelling is a powerful communication tool for churches and organizations:
Storytelling makes room for artists in the church who are often overlooked and undervalued.
Storytelling pierces our defenses, moving truth from head to heart.
How preachers can tell stories with more impact.
The li...
2023-06-1342 minCraft & CharacterFind Healthier Ways to Preach on Sex with Sheila Wray GregoireSex is designed by God to be a gift, but tragically, it’s horribly misused to objectify women一not only in the world at-large一but also in the church. In this episode, Sheila Wray Gregoire, author of The Great Sex Rescue, She Deserves Better, and The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, explains some heartbreaking trends in evangelicalism:
Why sex has become about male entitlement and female obligation, rather than an mutual expression of intimacy and pleasure
How gender stereotypes about sexual drive and wiring have damaged women
What many of the prominent evangelical books and curriculums about sex ge...
2023-05-2355 minCraft & CharacterFinding Streams in the Wasteland with Andrew ArndtAndrew Arndt had an airtight plan for his life: keep preaching at the same church as lead pastor until his final breath. But when God led him out of his small, artsy community into a megachurch, while grateful for his new assignment, he found himself disoriented and mourning the loss of his former role.That’s when a friend recommended, “You should read the Desert Fathers and Mothers.” So he did, and it changed everything.The Desert fathers show us that in the midst of disorientation is an invitation一not to suppress what’s inside, but to wel...
2023-05-0940 minCraft & CharacterPreaching the Centrality of Christ with James ForsythEvery time James Forsyth preaches, his goal is to set hearts ablaze一like Jesus in Luke 24, when he opened the scriptures with his disciples and their “hearts burned within them.” As the senior pastor at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN, James is not interested in conjuring a response in himself or his people but wants to genuinely encounter the living God through Scripture. In this episode, James explains some of his best preaching practices一from prep to delivery一with Steve Carter: ● How and why to schedule your preaching calendar for the whole year● ...
2023-04-2557 minCraft & CharacterHaving Words with God with Addison BeverePrayer is the one thing we know we’re supposed to do, but often the thing we don’t know how to do一or if we’re 100% honest一the thing we don’t always want to do.In this episode, Steve Carter talks with Addison Bevere, who’s forthcoming book Words with God tackles questions like: How should we pray? Why isn’t God answering? Why do other Christians seem to hear from God daily, while we experience silence?Drawing from the prayers of Jesus himself, he also offers practical pointers: our prayers should be specific, steadfast...
2023-04-1149 minCraft & CharacterPreaching Theology for Everyone with Joel MuddamalleKnowledge often produces hubris, not humility, which is why Joel Muddamalle is such a refreshing theological voice. As the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a preaching pastor at Transformation Church in South Carolina, his passion is to show how theology can be lived out in everyday life.With grandparents who were missionaries in India, and parents who immigrated to the U.S., Joel grew up learning how to toggle between two social-ethnic worlds. He masterfully brings this cultural sensitivity to the Bible一a Book which feels foreign to many people一and helps translate the...
2023-03-2855 minCraft & CharacterBecoming Strong Like Water with Aundi KolberBack by popular demand, author and therapist Aundi Kolber shares about her forthcoming book, Strong Like Water. This book debunks stoic, soul-depleting platitudes like “No pain, no gain,” instead showing that healing from trauma is only possible through freedom, safety, and compassion.Aundi masterfully integrates psychology, neurology, and theology, and explains to Steve Carter three categories of strength: situational, transitional, and integrated. Steve and Aundi also reflect on how Jesus dignified pain一and entered into it himself一rather than denying it. If God himself engaged with the full spectrum of human emotion, as the church we must follow hi...
2023-03-1457 minCraft & CharacterA More Accessible Theology with Ricky JenkinsUPDATE: Audio has been updated from the previous version. So, if you were only able to listen to the first 7 minutes, now you can hear the entire episode.For Ricky Jenkins, lead pastor at Southwest Church in Indian Wells, CA, preaching is “an exchange between heaven and earth.”He explains how diligent prep overlaps with sensitivity to the Spirit during the sermon一just as jazz music riffs freely while still submitting to the key to a song. Growing up in the black church taught him how to lean into the text while also leaning into the ro...
2023-02-281h 08Craft & Character4 Commitments of Preachers with Jared E. AlcántaraSome people transport us beyond our blind spots and comfort zones一introducing us to a chorus of diverse voices echoing across God’s kingdom, from both church history and our own age.Jared Alcantara is one of those guides.Growing up in a bi-cultural home in a diverse low-income neighborhood, and now as Professor of Preaching at Truett Theological Seminary, his homiletics classes prominently feature Black, Latino(a), and Asian North American preachers. He’s written two books on one of his preaching heroes, Gardner C. Taylor.Jared talks with Steve Carter about his boo...
2023-02-1456 minCraft & CharacterDeveloping a Preacher's Hermeneutic with Joe GranaIn this special episode, Steve Carter talks to one of his mentors, Dr. Joe Grana, a longtime professor and dean at Hope International University, and currently a teaching pastor at The Refinery Christian Church in Arizona.Dr. Grana explains the importance of hermeneutics (the process of interpreting Scripture) and how it rescues teachers from the highly subjective “reader’s response” approach to Bible study. Rather than shoehorning a passage into what we think it means, preachers can discover its original (and timeless) meaning by following three basic steps:
Observation
Interpretation
Application
After showing these three steps in...
2023-01-2457 minCraft & CharacterPreaching with No Regrets with Steve Sonderman“Ministry to men is on their time, their turf, and their agenda.”Steve Sonderman first heard those words from a mentor, and after pastoring at Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin for 34 years, serving as a chaplain for the Milwaukee Brewers, and launching No Regrets Men’s Ministry, he’s spent over three decades equipping the church to effectively disciple men.He currently serves as the president of No Regrets full-time, and this year marks the 30-year anniversary of the organization’s annual men’s conference. Steve Carter listens to the fascinating story of how the conference began, and h...
2023-01-1047 minCraft & CharacterPreaching on Mission with Jordan Gustafson + Andrew RichardsWhat topic is on every page of the Bible?The answer is MISSION: God’s heart to seek and save those who are not yet a part of his family. This mission is not just something we read about in Scripture一it’s happening right now, and you can be a part of it!In this final episode of 2022, Steve Carter, along with his friends at Food For the Hungry (FH), ask you to donate to the severe famine impacting 36 million people in Africa. Every 36 seconds, someone will die from hunger-related causes. As God’s people...
2022-12-2754 minCraft & CharacterThe Preaching Funnel with Jarrett StevensMost communicators know the agony of staring at scattered notes, wondering how to shape them into a compelling message.Enter Jarrett Stevens, lead pastor Soul City Church in Chicago, who has spent 25 years honing his writing and outline process into what he now affectionately calls the “funnel of love.” Rather than a predictable formula, the funnel is like a trellis, undergirding messages with a thoughtful structure, while also letting them thrive in the freedom of the Spirit.Steve Carter asks Jarrett about how to balance levity and gravitas: When should we use humor in sermons? And...
2022-12-131h 07Craft & CharacterHow to Preach Advent Like Never Before with Vanessa StrickerFor a lot of people, the holidays are physically frenetic, emotionally overwhelming, and spiritually distracting. Few slow down long enough to ponder what’s happening in their own souls, or to give more than a passing thought to the significance of this season: God coming to earth.That’s why Steve Carter is excited to introduce you to an incredible Advent devotional, written by his good friend Vanessa Stricker, who is the Pastor of Peacemaking and Justice at One Life City Church in Fullerton, California.Advent Reflections earnestly reminds individuals and families that hope, love, joy...
2022-11-2241 minCraft & CharacterPreaching to a Divided Nation with Paul A. HoffmanThe 2022 midterm elections, like most political events in our age, will undoubtedly spark new fires of division in our country一not only in the nation at large, but sadly, within the church. Enter Paul A. Hoffman, the lead pastor of Evangelical Friends Church in Newport, Rhode Island, and co-author of a new book: Preaching To A Divided Nation: A Seven-Step Model for Promoting Reconciliation and Unity.Steve Carter asks Paul to walk through the seven crucial steps every Christian can take to live out the reconciliation-filled power of the gospel. In this click-bait-laden, polarized cultural moment, these ste...
2022-11-0852 minCraft & CharacterHow Every Preacher Must Fan the Flame with Jim CymbalaIn his new book, Fan the Flame: Let Jesus Renew Your Calling and Revive Your Church, Jim Cymbala distills the Spirit-fueled, Bible-saturated ethos of his 50+ years in ministry. As Steve Carter affectionately quips, "Jim is like a firehose of passion and wisdom."In this episode, Jim explains why Acts 20 is the “spiritual selfie” every pastor should aspire to. He pushes back against the church growth movement一which is consumeristic in its mission and methods一instead imploring pastors to preach the full counsel of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the singular purpose o...
2022-10-2542 minCraft & CharacterThe Essential Preaching Frequencies with Erwin McManusErwin McManus has spent decades honing his skill as a communicator, at Mosaic (the church he founded in Hollywood, CA), at conferences around the world, and in living rooms filled with a handful of friends. Wherever he goes一even in places where he doesn’t speak the native language一he’s able to communicate in a profound way. Why?Erwin explains to Steve Carter that it’s all about “frequencies,” a concept he unpacks in his recent MasterClass titled “The Art of Communication.” Frequencies are the key to understanding your own voice, as well as intuitively sensing the needs of your...
2022-10-1143 minCraft & CharacterThe Preacher's Checklist with Luke NorsworthyThis episode is packed with insights from Luke Norsworthy, pastor of Westover Hills Church in Austin, Texas, and author of God Over Good and Befriending Your Monsters. His conversation with Steve Carter meanders through all sorts of topics:
How to put yourself into sermons without being narcissistic.
Why Luke uses a checkmark system to track sermon writing progress.
How the sobering but hope-filled journey of an Afghan family is shaping Luke’s church.
How Luke receives sermon feedback before Sunday, and why he’s a better preacher because of it.
Luke’s final advice? Be grateful every time yo...
2022-09-271h 02Craft & CharacterLearnings from Seminary with Preaching Today’s Biblical Preaching Award WinnersIn this episode, Steve Carter chops it up with four recipients of the 2022 Preaching Today Biblical Preaching Award: Ryan Roach (Western Seminary, Portland, OR), Abby Stuckle (George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor, TX), Rachel Koch (Denver Seminary, Denver, CO), and Christian Schmitt (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA). This award is given on the basis of faithful biblical exposition, clear and simple structure, creativity, pastoral application to daily life, and urgency in delivery.These students beautifully embody not just the excellence of world-class theological education, but also the humility of Jesus. They tackle some hard-hitting homiletics...
2022-08-2349 minCraft & CharacterThe Required Humility with Steve CarterIn this special episode of Craft and Character, Steve Carter shares why humility is the key to growing as a preacher一a reflection sparked by a conversation he had with Nancy Beach.Communicators give many reasons for neglecting their own development, but as 1 Timothy 4:14-15 reveals, honing our craft is a matter of stewardship, not just excellence.Steve gives three practical ways to embrace humility and grow as a preacher:
Development
Coaching
Feedback
This is a timely reminder that, to give ourselves wholly to the task of preaching, we must showcase a relentless co...
2022-08-0951 minCraft & CharacterDigital Hygiene with Jay KimLike many of us, Jay Kim often feels that involuntary urge to reach for his phone. As the lead pastor at Westgate Church in San Jose, CA, he knows firsthand that modern people crave guidance for using devices well. Jay’s new book, Analog Christian, explains how Christians can respond to the values of the digital world一not by abandoning technology一but by faithfully stewarding it.Jay also shares with Steve Carter some valuable leadership practices, like pausing email while he’s on vacation, resisting the pressure to respond to every headline immediately, and honestly admitting when he needs m...
2022-07-261h 03Craft & CharacterThe Heart of Preparation with Ken Shigematsu“Ken, if the ship sinks now, everyone will blame you.”It wasn’t the ideal pep talk for a pastor in his first few days on the job, especially at a church that had gone through 20 pastors in 20 years. But when someone spoke those words to Ken Shigematsu, he stuck it out. 25 years later, he’s still leading Tenth Church in Vancouver, Canada.Steve Carter asks about his sermon prep process, and Ken explains how a tidbit from preaching legend Haddon Robinson transformed his method from anxiety-laden to prayerful一from crammed to creative.Ken shares...
2022-07-1248 minCraft & CharacterSpeaking to the Soul with Jeanne StevensThe modern world is a relentless waterfall of information一sound bytes and images flood our minds and trouble our hearts. Enter Jeanne Stevens, whose recent book, What’s Here Now?, unpacks the power of presence and how it offers peace so many ache for in our frenzied age.Steve Carter asks Jeanne to unpack her book’s punchy tagline: How to stop rehashing the past, and rehearsing the future, and start receiving the present. Presence begins with an awareness of your body, emotions, and thoughts一aspects of our God-created existence that have been neglected in the church.Jea...
2022-06-281h 01Craft & CharacterMake the Good News Your Life's Work with Nick HallNick Hall’s mission is to raise up the next generation of evangelists. In our anxiety-filled age, Nick boldly models how the gospel offers the exact hope and comfort the world craves. His voice is prophetically challenging一pointing out the ease with which apathy creeps into the church. But he’s also relentlessly hopeful that God is stirring the next generation to share Jesus and transform the world.Steve Carter talks with Nick about the upcoming Together ‘22 conference, which seeks to empower the next generation of Christians to make Jesus known. Significantly, it will take place on the 50th...
2022-06-1450 minCraft & CharacterA Church Worth Fighting For with Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach KileyIn this episode, Steve Carter interviews Nancy Beach and her daughter Samantha Beach Kiley一two women humbly modeling what it looks like to lead the church in a skeptical age. They are both pastors, leaders, and champions of the local church.Steve unpacks a recent sermon Samantha delivered at Church on Morgan in Raleigh, NC and the way she writes her messages with such verbal precision.Nancy and Samantha love the local church and they spend time unpacking how they would debrief moments in a service or sermon around the kitchen island most weekends....
2022-05-311h 01Craft & CharacterStarting with Scripture with Annie F. DownsAnnie F. Downs hosts a podcast called That Sounds Fun一a title which captures the contagious joy emanating from everything she does. Her content travels the globe through speaking tours, books, and podcasts, but her most cherished role is serving on the teaching team at Cross Point Church in Nashville. Her rootedness in this local community keeps her grounded, accountable, and reflects her heart to prioritize people over platform. For any communicator who struggles against the time clock, or who gets overwhelmed by everything they want to say, Annie helpfully explains her process of eli...
2022-05-1050 minCraft & CharacterSpeaking by the Numbers with Sean PalmerEver deliver a message—from the pulpit or in a meeting—that excited some but bored others? Why is the response in the room a mixed bag? Sean Palmer, teaching pastor at Ecclesia in Houston, TX, shares an Enneagram-informed strategy that helps him answer the one question plaguing communicators: How do I reach my entire audience?Sean explains to Steve Carter, how every person has three intelligence centers: thinking, feeling, and doing. We need to understand the demographic of our people to transform the effectiveness of our pulpits. While statistics are helpful, Sean doesn’t reduce effective commun...
2022-04-2651 minCraft & CharacterFraming a Talk with Jonathan PokludaJonathan Pokluda believes that good teachers are exceptional listeners. As the lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX, he’s intentional about checking the pulse of his people. Every Friday he hosts a Q&A session on Instagram Live, often with his wife and kids in the car. Of the 2,000-ish questions that pour in weekly, he tackles 50-100 of them. Inquiries come from people of all ages一boomers to Gen Z, and span all topics: sex, marriage, faith, divorce, friendship, you name it. At 3 pm every Thursday, a small group of people from his church list...
2022-04-1256 minCraft & CharacterThe Last Supper on the Moon with Levi LuskoWhat Bible verse did Buzz Aldrin take to outer space? What was the first meal eaten on the moon? What do space travel and the Christian life have in common? In this fascinating conversation, Steve Carter interviews Levi Lusko, the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, located in Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah and everywhere online, about his new book, The Last Supper on the Moon, which plays off NASA’s 1969 lunar voyage to draw powerful principles about what it means to follow Jesus.Sometimes we need to hear age-old truths in a ne...
2022-03-2253 minCraft & CharacterHow We Love Matters with Albert TateFor Albert Tate, a sermon isn’t about words streaming from your mouth, but truths running through your life. He explains how the best sermons start in the head, move to the heart, then lodge in your gut一until the Spirit grips you with conviction, you aren’t actually preaching yet. A cursory glance at Tate’s dynamic teaching reveals not only a willingness to say hard things, but to preach them to himself first.Steve Carter interviews Tate about his forthcoming book, How We Love Matters: A Call To Relentless Racial Reconciliation. With his tradem...
2022-03-0852 minCraft & CharacterLiving Undistracted with Bob GoffWhether in his books or live talks, Bob Goff seems to have ten lifetimes worth of stories. He has an uncanny knack for putting himself in unlikely places with unlikely people. He talks to dozens of strangers every week, because he listed his cell phone number in the back of his New York Times bestselling book, Love Does. He teaches classes at Pepperdine University and San Quentin State Prison. After the Taliban took control of major cities in Afghanistan in 2021, Bob called them to ask if they would allow women to return to a school he helped launch there...
2022-02-2252 minCraft & CharacterIf the Tomb Is Empty with Joby MartinFew aspects of Joby Martin’s ministry journey have been predictable. His first sermon was an impromptu talk at a youth camp, thanks to a coach who believed in him and tossed him into the deep end. He planted a church almost without realizing it. On Mondays he prepares sermons while hunting, tucked away in the woods, or poised quietly in a tree stand. He rarely plans sermon illustrations beforehand一they just sort of come to him in the moment.Through the ups and downs of 20+ years as a pastor, now as the pastor of The Church of E...
2022-02-081h 12Craft & CharacterFighting Racism Through Preaching with Jemar Tisby“We are living in times that demand a decision on justice.” In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Historian, Author, and Speaker, Jemar Tisby. Tisby walks listeners through why we have to be pushing people towards the gospel truth, his expansive understanding of what progress looks like, and why the transformation of the heart as people pursue racial justice still gives him hope. He encourages pastors not only on WHY to lead your church well through racial justice, but provides priceless and practical recommendations on HOW to bake racial justice into the core of your culture. Finally, Tisby reminds pastors that...
2022-01-2557 minCraft & CharacterFighting Racism Through Preaching with Jemar Tisby“We are living in times that demand a decision on justice.” In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Historian, Author, and Speaker, Dr. Jemar Tisby. Dr. Tisby walks listeners through why we have to be pushing people towards the Gospel truth, his expansive understanding of what progress looks like, and why the transformation of the heart as people pursue racial justice still gives him hope. He encourages pastors not only on WHY to lead your church well through racial justice, but provides priceless and practical recommendations on HOW to bake racial justice into the core of your culture. Finally, Dr. Tisby remi...
2022-01-2557 minCraft & CharacterWanderlust and the Power of Place with Daniel GrotheIn this episode, Steve Carter interviews Pastor, Teacher, and Author, Daniel Grothe. The vow of stability and place is counter cultural. We live in a world of cultural impermanence… and Daniel challenges us with the question, “How is that going for us?” Place matters. Stability matters. You have to fight to stay. “If salvation is going to break into the world, it’s going to be local and personal.”EPISODE LINKSFollow Craft & Character on Instagram: @craftandcharacterFind Daniel at DanielGrothe.com Get Daniel’s New Book: The Power of Place: Choosing Stabilit...
2022-01-111h 11Craft & CharacterWanderlust And The Power of Place With Daniel GrotheIn this episode, Steve Carter interviews Pastor, Teacher, and Author, Daniel Grothe. The vow of stability and place is counter cultural. We live in a world of cultural impermanence… and Daniel challenges us with the question, “How is that going for us?” Place matters. Stability matters. You have to fight to stay. “If salvation is going to break into the world, it’s going to be local and personal.”
Welcome to the next episode of Craft & Character with Steve Carter.
2022-01-111h 10Craft & CharacterA Yearlong Quest of Jesus with Mark MooreIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews teaching pastor and author of Quest 52 Mark Moore about how to intentionally pursue Jesus. Mark Moore is an NT scholar that has the ability to unpack the person, preaching, power, and passion of Jesus in ways that are wildly accessible. Steve and Mark discuss different passages that Mark writes about in Quest 52, playing off one another, diving deeper into the text to discover what it meant then and what it means for us today. Mark ends the podcast by examining the humility required to pastor today. The lessons learned in this...
2021-12-2858 minCraft & CharacterA Yearlong Quest of Jesus with Mark MooreIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews teaching pastor and author of Quest 52 Mark Moore about how to intentionally pursue Jesus. Mark Moore is an NT scholar that has the ability to unpack the person, preaching, power, and passion of Jesus in ways that are wildly accessible. Steve and Mark discuss different passages that Mark writes about in Quest 52, playing off one another, diving deeper into the text to discover what it meant then and what it means for us today. Mark ends the podcast by examining the humility required to pastor today. The lessons learned in...
2021-12-2759 minCraft & CharacterFinding True Rest with Dr. Paul AlexanderIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews Hope International University President Dr. Paul Alexander about the importance of soul care and his findings in a study he conducted with over 2200 pastors about depression and anxiety in the pastorate. Dr. Alexander is an ordained pastor, licensed therapist, and has a doctorate in organizational leadership. His love for the local church, his compassion for the loneliness from which many pastors suffer, his transparency, and the way in which he walks you through how you can find true rest and care for your soul is deeply refreshing. YouTube link for...
2021-12-141h 02Craft & CharacterFinding True Rest with Dr. Paul AlexanderIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews Hope International University
President Dr. Paul Alexander about the importance of soul care and his findings in a study he
conducted with over 2200 pastors about depression and anxiety in the pastorate. Dr. Alexander is an
ordained pastor, licensed therapist, and has a doctorate in organizational leadership. His love for the
local church, his compassion for the loneliness from which many pastors suffer, his transparency, and
the way in which he walks you through how you can find true rest and care for your soul is deeply
refreshing.
YouTube link for conversation...
2021-12-141h 01Craft & CharacterSpirit and Truth with Daniel ImIn the latest Craft & Character Podcast episode, Steve Carter interviews author and Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church Daniel Im about his preparation process for crafting sermons. Daniel is an incredible communicator who has the ability to be thoughtful, deeply theological, and accessible while making so much space for the Holy Spirit to stir in the hearts of the congregation. The level of intentionality Daniel uses even in his sermon notes (where he’ll even occasionally add emojis) will inspire you and easily be something you can apply to your upcoming teaching right away.
2021-11-3045 minCraft & CharacterCharisma over Character with Mike CosperIn the latest Craft & Character Podcast episode, Steve Carter interviews the creator of the Rise And Fall Of Mars Hill Podcast Mike Cosper about what he discovered unpacking the Mars Hill story. We discuss which interview from the podcast broke his heart the most, why people are drawn to charisma over character, people’s critiques of the podcast, and what he’s looking for in a preacher and pastor.
2021-11-0249 minCraft & CharacterCharisma over Character with Mike CosperIn this episode, Steve Carter interviews the creator of the Rise And Fall Of Mars Hill Podcast, Mike Cosper, about what he discovered unpacking the Mars Hill story. We discuss which interview from the podcast broke his heart the most, why people are drawn to charisma over character, people’s critiques of the podcast, and what he’s looking for in a preacher and pastor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2021-11-0250 minCraft & CharacterSimple Prayer with Charlie DawesIn the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews Pastor and Author Charlie Dawes. Charlie and his team planted Hill City Church in the greater DMV ( DC + Maryland + Virginia) area. Steve and Charlie talk about how prayer plays a crucial part in the sermon prep process. Charlie wrote a fantastic book a few years ago called “Simple Prayer” about learning to speak to God. Charlie speaks candidly about the practice of prayer, not needing to hype up moments but rather how to stay wildly open to the burning bush moments that occur all around us, shaping us and the messages we g...
2021-10-1957 minCraft & CharacterSimple Prayer with Charlie DawesIn the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews Pastor and Author Charlie Dawes. Charlie and his team planted Hill City Church in the greater DMV ( DC + Maryland + Virginia) area. Steve and Charlie talk about how prayer plays a crucial part in the sermon prep process. Charlie wrote a fantastic book a few years ago called “Simple Prayer” about learning to speak to God. Charlie speaks candidly about the practice of prayer, not needing to hype up moments but rather how to stay wildly open to the burning bush moments that occur all around us, shaping us and the messag...
2021-10-1957 minCraft & CharacterAche, Desires, and Strongholds with Steve CarterAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character Podcast episode, Steve Carter takes your questions about how to dive deeper into your sermon prep. Steve unpacks how every person tuning into a sermon has an ache and good desires. As communicators, we must keep searching, praying, studying, and marinating to name the ache people are feeling and also how this text can call out good desires within. Every context we speak in has unique strongholds that must be addressed when we preach. In this episode, Steve will help you identify the problem (these three words), name the premise (what the...
2021-09-2026 minCraft & CharacterPreaching Logos with Passion with Mark MooreAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews author, professor and Christ Church of the Valley Teaching Pastor Mark Moore about the makings of a great talk. Mark explains his process, why he believes he needs to practice preaching a message six times before ever speaking it to an audience and how he has framed talks for students, college classroom, and adult congregation. What Mark shares about the importance of character at the end is worth the whole episode.
Who is Mark Moore?
Mark joined the staff at Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV) in Pe...
2021-09-0654 minCraft & CharacterAt Your Best as a Preacher with Carey NieuwhofAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews author, leader and former senior pastor of Connexus Church Carey Nieuwhof about how to get time, energy and priorities for every preacher working in their favor. Carey speaks candidly about what he learned from burning out and the wisdom he has acquired along the way that will help every single communicator to get out of the stress spiral and live well in the thrive cycle.
Who is Carey Nieuwhof?
Carey Nieuwhof is a former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus Church. Carey’s passion for helping people thrive in...
2021-08-2452 minCraft & CharacterPreaching towards Discipleship with Sharon Hodde MillerAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter talks with Bright City Church Teaching Pastor Sharon Hodde Miller. Sharon is an accomplished author and a thoughtful communicator who has an incredible ability to put her Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School to good use while also making her messages widely accessible. Sharon and Steve unpack her message, “We are heirs,” from Bright City Church, process how she preps for her talks, and how her words compel people towards becoming disciples of Jesus.
Who is Sharon Hodde Miller?
Sharon leads Bright City Church in Durham, NC with her...
2021-08-1052 minCraft & CharacterSeven lessons for every communicator with Noah HerrinAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character Podcast episode, Steve Carter interviews Pastor Noah Herrin about the seven lessons he learned in his first five years of communicating. Noah is a gifted teacher of God’s word, has a heart of gold, and offers up an honest reflection of the crucial lessons he has learned throughout his ministry. Whether you’re just starting out preaching or have been doing it for years this episode is for you.
Who is Noah Herrin?
Noah is a 26 year old communicator and pastor based in Atlanta, Georgia. His passion is to reach the next...
2021-07-1349 minCraft & CharacterBearing witness with Tyler BurnsAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews pastor Tyler Burns about his commitment to being a local pastor and how in bearing witness to the pain of his people there comes a newfound power in his sermons. Tyler breaks down his prep for his Q Conference talk and shares a plethora of mentors, pastors and authors who have helped him shape and form a talk. What Tyler shares about his prep process is information you can immediately implement in your own talk creation process.
Who is Tyler Burns?
Tyler Burns is the President of The...
2021-06-291h 08Craft & CharacterThe Journey of the Soul with Bill & Kristi GaultiereAbout the Episode
In the latest Craft & Character episode Steve Carter interviews Spiritual Directors Bill & Kristi Gaultiere about the soul journey every pastor and follower goes on to experience more intimacy with Christ. Bill & Kristi run www.soulshepherding.com and have a heart to help people discover the pathway towards emotional honesty, spiritual maturity and how to handle those dark nights of the soul. Bill & Kristi also work with pastors around taking a sabbath break and how to best structure that so your heart, mind and soul can experience true replenishment.
Who are Bill and Kristi Gaultiere?
Bill is a...
2021-06-1546 minCraft & CharacterLearning to Linger in the word with Jay KimOn the latest Craft & Character podcast episode Steve Carter interviews Westgate Lead Teaching Pastor and Analog Church author Jay Kim about his sermon prep process. Jay is hands down one of the most thoughtful communicators on and off the stage. The process that Jay uses is deeply inspired by his story, his love for music and learning the spiritual gift of lingering. Too often we rush an idea; but Jay will help you see how sitting with an idea and truly lingering on a verse or theme can bring about deep revelation. Jay also talks about his award-winning book Analog...
2021-06-0151 minCraft & CharacterImage Management with PreachersNSneakers creator Ben KirbyIn the latest Craft & Character Podcast episode, Steve Carter interviews Ben Kirby - author and creator of the PreachersNSneakers Instagram account. Steve and Ben talk openly about the pressure of image management, the power that can come from the pulpit, and what truly motivates what we wear, post on social media, and communicate. Ben opens up about what led him to start the account, the criticism he received, and what he ultimately hopes it will accomplish - especially for pastors. Ben’s love for Christ and the Church is apparent in this episode and it’s a must-listen for any prea...
2021-05-1847 minCraft & CharacterA Burning in my Bones with Winn CollierOn the latest Craft & Character Episode, Steve Carter interviews author Winn Collier about the life and legacy of Eugene Peterson. Winn unpacks stories from his latest book, A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson, Translator of The Message. The stories he shares detail how Eugene understood the calling to be a pastor, how his geography shaped his theology, how he fought to have his character lead the way, and what made Eugene such an important pastoral voice.
Winn Collier was the founding pastor of All Souls Charlottesville. He now serves at Western Theological Seminary as...
2021-05-0450 minCraft & CharacterTry Softer with Aundi KolberIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews therapist and author Aundi Kolber about the importance of language and tone as a counselor or a preacher. Aundi unpacks the heart behind the message of Try Softer and discusses how pastors can return power to the congregation through their lives and sermons. Aundi’s deep, kind, and thoughtful voice provides insight on what to look for in a pastor and church community.
Aundi Kolber is an author and licensed professional counselor in Castle Rock, CO. Her work has been featured on Relevant, CT Women, The Huffington Post, The Mudroom, Happy Son...
2021-04-2044 minCraft & CharacterSpirit + Word with Kevin QueenIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews Cross Point Church lead pastor Kevin Queen about the important role prayer plays in the preparation and delivery of a sermon. One of the keys Kevin brings to everyday life and the stage is his ability to walk in the Spirit, and talk about the Scriptures in practical and accessible ways while keeping an ear tuned to heaven. Kevin shares how living this way helps him in his sermon prep, in loving his family well, and in his role as lead pastor.
Kevin Queen is a husband, father, pastor, and communicator...
2021-04-0652 minCraft & CharacterIdentifying the Trap with Darren WhiteheadIn the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter talks with Church of the City lead minister Darren Whitehead about identifying the traps that often take senior leaders down. Of the 14 transformational practices offered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, 11 of them deal with sex, money, or power. From there, Darren employs years of research to help us begin to identify the potential traps in our own lives. On the local church front, Darren reveals what the Church of the City is planning for Easter and how his team approaches telling the Resurrection story creatively each year.
In 2013 when...
2021-03-1654 minCraft & CharacterThe Power of Verbal Precision with Ashlee EilandIn the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews Mars Hill teaching pastor and author Ashlee Eiland about how she writes and rewrites each of her messages, fighting to find the perfect words. Ashlee is a gifted and accomplished author, and she shares her process of journaling, studying, and freewriting to capture the heart and essence of a talk.
Ashlee exists to join God in His redemptive work here on earth. Her purpose is to help humanity build bridges back to the truth of who God is and between one another in redemptive, healing relationship. Her passions for Scripture, family...
2021-03-021h 06Craft & CharacterDisciple Out Racism with Albert Tate
In the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter talks with Fellowship Church Monrovia senior pastor Albert Tate about how preaching racial reconciliation is an act of spiritual formation. “Racism was discipled into the church,” he says, “and it must now be discipled out of the church.” As church leaders, we cannot avoid this conversation, and Albert offers great wisdom and insight.
Who is Albert Tate?
Albert Tate is the founding pastor of Fellowship Church Monrovia, a gospel-centered, multiethnic, intergenerational church that has established a solid foothold for life transformation to the glory and honor of Christ. Albert is passionate about sharing t...
2021-02-0232 minCraft & CharacterManaging Leadership Anxiety with Steve Cuss
For most pastors, there has never been a year filled with more turmoil, tension, criticism, and anxiety than 2020. Our congregations were divided by politics, masks, in-person gatherings, and the appropriate reactions to racism in our country. Pastors struggled with preaching through cameras to invisible congregations while making impossible decisions, where any choice would disrupt half the church. 2020 was filled with leadership anxiety, and many of us were never fully equipped to manage it well. In this episode of Craft & Character, author and pastor Steve Cuss talks with Steve Carter about his book Managing Leadership Anxiety. They review what anxiety actually...
2021-01-1957 minCraft & CharacterLeading through Preaching with Gene AppelIn the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter talks with Eastside Christian Church senior pastor Gene Appel about effective leadership through preaching. Gene is an incredible mix of strategic leader and kind pastor, and he leads with integrity. He refers to this mix of strategy as “directional leadership” and explains that his goal of shepherding his congregation influences both his message preparation and his sermon calendar. Gene’s clarity of mission plays a key role in moving the church forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2021-01-0554 minCraft & CharacterChuck DeGroat on Narcissism in the ChurchIn this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews Western Theological Seminary pastoral care professor Dr. Chuck DeGroat about narcissism in the local church. Chuck explains the narcissism spectrum and discusses how pastors can demonstrate characteristics that lead to unhealthy and toxic narcissistic actions. This might be the most important Craft & Character podcast to date. If you’re a church or ministry leader, Chuck’s wisdom will help you recognize and combat unhealthy narcissism within yourself, your ministry, and Church culture as a whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2020-12-1546 minCraft & CharacterCarlos Whittaker on the Art of StorytellingFor over a decade, Carlos Whittaker was one of the leading worship voices in the church, but he began to feel a stirring toward preaching and teaching. A little over 4 years ago, he took that brave step and hasn’t looked back. In this latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter asks Carlos about the process of obedience to move into the communicator’s space and the keys that Carlos uses for effective storytelling. His comments are pure gold for anyone desiring to master this craft. Finally, Steve and Carlos discuss the importance of consecrating your day and how doing this regu...
2020-12-0144 minCraft & CharacterA Church Called Tov with Scot McKnight & Laura BarringerIn this latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews New Testament scholar Scot McKnight and author Laura Barringer about their latest book, A Church Called Tov. Scot and Laura unpack the stories of abuse at Willow Creek, Harvest, and the SBC that led them to write these words.
This is a different kind of episode than we have ever done—but we feel it is paramount to talk honestly as pastors, preachers, and teachers about our burden to do whatever we can to create cultures of goodness and not abuse. This episode will teach you about the Hebrew word “tov” and ho...
2020-10-201h 07Craft & CharacterInto Me You See with Derwin GrayIn this episode, Steve Carter interviews Pastor Derwin Gray about the importance of personal discipleship, intimacy with Christ, and helping people truly discover what the gospel is all about. Derwin dives into everything from discipleship vs. leadership in the Bible, and how the church has forsaken one for the other, to the most pastoral and compelling way one can experience deep intimacy (or “into-me-you-see”) with Christ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2020-09-2951 minCraft & CharacterIn the Beginning Was a Conversation with AJ SherrillIn this episode Steve Carter talks with AJ Sherrill about his process for crafting messages and six the values that drive each talk he creates to be a transformative preacher. These six (character, identity, cultivation, authenticity, confidence, and teachable) will help your posture be open to all God wants to do within you and through you. One of the highlights of this episode is hearing AJ’s honesty regarding what he must say no to in order to truly live the life God desires for him. We also talk about AJ's latest book, The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation. ...
2020-09-1554 minCraft & CharacterWhen the Pastoral and Prophetic Intersect—with Tara Beth LeachIn this Craft & Character podcast Steve Carter interviews Tara Beth Leach, Senior Pastor at First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena (“PazNaz”) in Southern California. Tara Beth discusses her prep process, how she invites the pastoral and the prophetic to intersect, the importance of preaching live via video during this COVID season, and the critical spiritual exercises that help her character lead the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2020-08-181h 03Craft & CharacterRich Villodas on Desiring One Thing as a PreacherSteve Carter and Rich Villodas have a lively conversation about how to stay both prophetic and pastoral as a preacher. The two will dig into Rich's sermon “Desiring One Thing” that he delivered last September after returning from sabbatical. Rich shares openly and honestly from moments in his leadership when he has spoken out and what practices have shaped him and propelled him to do so. Rich also discusses practices that are crucial for him and the heart behind his forthcoming book, The Deeply Formed Life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2020-07-071h 01Craft & CharacterDigging New Wells with Dr. Glenn PackiamIn this episode, Dr. Glenn Packiam and Steve Carter unpack Glenn's teaching "Blessed," which was part 1 of a 3-week series based on his book Blessed, Broken, Given. Glenn and Steve talk about the importance and struggle of making a message theologically weighty yet accessible for the congregation.
Glenn Packiam is Associate Senior Pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Lead Pastor of New Life Downtown.
To learn more about Glenn, head to his website: www.glennpackiam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2020-06-1649 minCraft & CharacterJohn Mark Comer on Telling the Story and the Importance of TherapyIn the first ever episode of The Craft & Character Podcast, Steve Carter and John Mark Comer talk about a sermon John Mark preached in early May entitled “Holy Uncertainty.” John Mark shares some specifics around how he builds a talk and opens up about his story, the importance of therapy, and specific practices that are helping guide him through the liminal space of 2020.
John Mark Comer lives in Portland, Oregon and pastors Bridgetown Church, right in the center of the city. Bridgetown is built on the idea of practicing the way of Jesus together. John Mark has authored several books, incl...
2020-06-0258 minCraft & CharacterTrailer: Introducing Craft & CharacterWe are so pleased to announce one of the most pivotal partnerships CDF Capital is a part of: Craft & Character with Steve Carter. Steve is a nationally renowned pastor and communicator and will be leading our efforts to serve local church leaders with their public speaking craft and their personal character development. No one can preach God’s Word well without first being personally transformed by it.
You can find out more at craftandcharacter.org (http://craftandcharacter.org/). We’d like to invite you to be a part of a live online event called “The Craft & Character Backroom Conversation,” where Dharius...
2020-05-1904 min