The iDisciple Podcast: Inspirational Conversations with Christian Leaders

Not Forsaken   In today’s episode of the iDisciple podcast, David sits down with Louie Giglio to discuss his new book, Not Forsaken. David and Louie talk about what led Louie to write this book, statistics on the epidemic of fatherlessness in America, and what Louie hopes people will come to know as they read this book.    Louie Giglio is Pastor of Passion City Church and the Founder of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus. Since 1997, Passion has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the US and around the world. Notably, in 2017, more than 55,000 students gathered for Passion 2017 in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome for one of the largest Jesus-focused collegiate events in history. Each year, Passion continues to see 18-25 year olds fill venues across the nation in pursuit of lives lived for God's glory. In addition to the collegiate gatherings of Passion Conferences, Louie and his wife Shelley lead the teams at Passion City Church, sixstepsrecords and the Passion Global Institute. Louie is the author of national-bestseller Goliath Must Fall, The Comeback, The Air I Breathe, I Am Not But I Know I Am, and Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science, his first children's book. Louie and Shelley make their home in Atlanta, Georgia.     Key Take Aways:   Louie talks about what prompted him to write in the “Not Forsaken” David & Louie important statistics in American culture regarding the family structure and why it is crucial that the Church gain a deeper understanding of God as Father. Louie talks about a fun, little known, amazing fact about his dad. Louie tells a beautiful story about the first time his dad watched him preach.    

Our guest on today’s podcast is Robert Noland, author of iDisciple Publishing’s latest release Sword & Shield, a 40-day journey designed to encourage, inspire, and challenge men to be leaders for Christ in their families, workplaces, and circles of influence. David and Robert talk about Robert’s passion and history with men’s ministry, some amazing projects that Robert has had a chance to be a part of, and what he loved about writing Sword & Shield. Robert walks us through the practicalities of engaging with the new book both individually, or as a part of a group. Robert began his writing career as a songwriter in 1983, then spent the next 10 years as a touring musician, songwriter, and producer, penning lyrics for artists such as Glen Campbell, Babbie Mason, and Gabriel. He wrote his first series of Bible studies in 1988 and in 1991 wrote his first Christian devotional book. Noland has since authored over 50 titles spanning across children, youth, and adult audiences. He blogs weekly through The Sword & Shield. Since 2011 after relocating to Franklin, TN, Noland has been a freelance author for faith-based organizations, ministries, and Christian publishers. Regardless of the target audience or mode of delivery via paper or digital, Robert Noland is at home, writing what he calls, “practical application of Biblical truth.” Robert speaks at men’s events as well as church, ministry, benefits, university, and corporate events. Robert has written 100+ titles from memoirs, Christian Living, study guides, and devotionals spanning adult, student, and children’s audiences. Since 2009, Robert has been involved in men’s ministry on a national level, including his own conference. Robert’s non-profit ministry, 517 Resources, works to spread the Gospel and meet needs from local to international projects. Key TakeAways David and Robert talk about Robert’s journey to men’s mentorship through leading a local church. Robert helps the audience see the Scriptures as a gift to be enjoyed rather than a duty to be completed. Robert tells us stories about how he’s been connected throughout the years to the various people he’s authored books with. Robert talks about the conference that he hosts for men, and the passion that he has for helping churches start men’s ministry. Robert lets us in on some future projects that he’s only announced on this podcast!

Christians in the Age of Outrage   In today’s episode of the iDisciple podcast, David sits down with Ed Stetzer to discuss his new book, Christians in the Age of Outrage. The two discuss one of the biggest challenges the Church faces today and how Christians can (and are called to) respond in a way that best represents the heart of the Father.   Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., holds the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, serves as Dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership at Wheaton College, and serves as Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches, trained pastors and church planters on six continents, has earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates, and has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America and publishes research through Mission Group. Stetzer is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, a columnist for Outreach Magazine, and is frequently cited in, interviewed by, and writes for news outlets such as USAToday and CNN. He is the Founding Editor of The Gospel Project, a curriculum used by more than 1.7 million individuals each week for bible story. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays. He also serves as Visiting Professor of Research and Missiology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Visiting Research Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has taught at many other colleges and seminaries. He serves as interim teaching pastor of Moody Churchin Chicago and as teaching pastor at Highpoint Church.     Key Take Aways:   Ed talks about what prompted him to begin researching culture in the “age of outrage” David & Ed discuss two stories very prominent in the news that enraged Christian communities, and how that prompted the writing of Ed’s new book, Christians in the Age of Outrage. Ed talks about how Christians should approach that which they disagree with. Ed pulls the lens back to help people see how all people are feeling marginalized, not just certain groups. Ed speaks specifically to the technology gap in discipleship and how it is shaping our culture.

Our guest on today’s podcast, Jonathan Pitts, along with his late wife Wynter Pitts invite you on a journey to explore a different approach to your happily-ever-after marriage in their new book, Emptied. Emptiedis a way of life. It's not about trying harder; it's about thinking differently. Only when you are emptied of your own self-focused motivations can God pour new life into you for the abundant marriage and satisfying relationship you long for.   Jonathan Pitts is an author, speaker, and the executive pastor at Church of the City in Franklin, Tennessee. He previously served as the executive director at the Urban Alternative, the national ministry of Dr. Tony Evans.  Jonathan has co-authored two books alongside his late wife, Wynter Pitts.  He is also president and co-founder of For Girls Like You Ministries, an equipping and resourcing ministry for tween girls and their parents.  Jonathan is the father of four daughters and was blessed with fifteen intentional years of marriage to Wynter.     Take Aways:   Jonathan and David speak briefly about Jonathan and Wynter’s marriage and relationship and their journey towards writing their new book, “Emptied.” Jonathan talks about the differences in their backgrounds and what that looked like in conflict. Jonathan talks about reading a chapter that Wynter had written about expectations that she realized she had brought into the marriage that he never knew about, and how that realization opened his eyes to how unmet expectation in marriage can be a source of contention, and about he and Wynter worked through that. Jonathan tells a funny story about their beautiful wedding picture that holds a much deeper meaning for him. David touches on the part in the book where Jonathan mentions Romans 12:12, and Jonathan expands on how renewing our mind by investing in pursuit of the Lord helps to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your lives and ultimately express them toward your spouse.

As a child growing up in a church that didn’t encourage Bible reading, Skip was thrilled to learn that he truly could read and understand the Bible. Skip tells us why he wrote Bloodline and what blessings he hopes it will bring into the lives of it’s readers.   Today’s guest on the iDisciple podcast, Skip Heitzig ministers to over 15,000 people as senior pastor of Calvary Albuquerque. He reaches out to thousands across the nation and throughout the world through his multimedia ministry including a nationwide half-hour radio program, Connect with Skip Heitzig. He is the author of several books including Defying Normal, You Can Understand the Book of Revelation, and How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It. He has also published over two dozen booklets in the Lifestyle series, covering aspects of Christian living. He serves on several boards, including Samaritan's Purse and Harvest.  Skip and his wife, Lenya, and son and daughter-in-law, Nathan and Janaé, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Skip and Lenya are the proud grandparents of Seth Nathaniel and Kaydence Joy.       Key Takeaways Skip talks about his conversion experience through a Billy Graham Television Crusade. Skip’s passion for the word of God and the message of salvation as explained through his new book, Bloodline. Throughout the book, Skip traces God’s foreshadowing of Jesus from Genesis through the entire Bible in order to unfold God’s rescue mission from Eden to Eternity. Skip talks about why looking for Jesus in every story of the Bible is so important. Skip and David unpack how the lineage of Jesus and the redemptive story of scripture wind together to tell the redemptive story of God. Skip highlights the importance of the identity of the reader as an adopted royal child and how that revelation has the opportunity completely change our outlook on life. Skip ends the interview talking about the tender heart of the Father that set it in his heart before time began to rescue his children.     Resources Skip’s Instagram Connectwithskip.com    

Have you ever walked through a spiritually dry season and wondered where God was and why He felt so far away? Maybe the better question is, “Who hasn’t?” The wilderness seasons can be characterized by spiritual dryness, frustration, and the feeling that God has “turned up the heat,” per say. As frustrating as these seasons are, their purpose is only ever for our development and preparation.   Today’s guest on the iDisciple podcast, John Bevere, helps us uncover the purpose, strength, and sacred beauty in seasons where nothing feels sacred OR beautiful. In his conversation with David about his latest book, “God, where are you?,” he tells pieces of his wilderness stories that both challenge and encourage listeners who find themselves in their own wilderness season.   John Bevere is an internationally sought-after speaker known for his bold and uncompromising approach to God’s Word. As a best-selling author, his messages position believers to know God intimately and live empowered by His grace.He and his wife Lisa have been married for over thirty years and are the founders of Messenger International—a ministry committed to developing uncompromising followers of Christ who transform our world. John’s heart to strengthen the local church has led to more than ten million translated resources being placed in the hands of pastors and leaders in developing nations.     Key Takeaways   John tells us his stories of the wilderness seasons John equips us with key biblical insights and profound stories that will help us navigate our dry or difficult seasons and step into all that God has for us He draws our attention to the purpose of the wilderness, helps us find strength in the journey from scriptural truth, and encourages us to take an active role in moving through these difficult seasons. Resources John’s Instagram Messenger International Instagram God, Where Are You?  

Have you ever felt misunderstood by the ones you love the most? Our guess is, the answer is a resounding, “yes!” Us too. The words we say and the words we hear have the power to shape our entire life, and the more sobering thing is that our words have the power to shape other people's lives too. Today’s guest on the iDisciple podcast is Kathleen Edelman. Kathleen is a Christian counselor and life coach specializing in personality temperaments. After earning her doctorate in Christian counseling psychology, Kathleen had the privilege of serving as the personal assistant to Florence Littauer, author of Personality Plus for Parents. She also has a published vignette in one of Florence's books, The Blue Plate Special. Kathleen loves encouraging families to understand their individual temperaments. Her mission is for each of us to believe in and be comfortable with who God has made us to be. When not coaching, Kathleen enjoys spending time with Brad, her husband of 27 years, and their two children. Key Takeaways Kathleen tells us her story of how she got to where she is today. Her story of becoming that led her to develop her latest study, “I Said This, You Heard That.” Kathleen talks about the importance of choosing our words well and in ways that give life to ourselves and others. Kathleen and David talk about the difference of personality temperaments and how inter-temperamental relationships typically function. They also touch on what a typical response looks like for each personality type and how they can overcome their typical response with a gospel centered response. And many more! Resources  Find Kathleen on Instagram Purchase “I Said This. You Heard That”  

One could argue that we live in the most connected yet disconnected time in history. We have access to more information right at our fingertips than ever before, and the temptation to give in to the busy lifestyle makes it difficult for believers to experience and engage with God.   Today’s guest on the iDisciple podcast, Craig Denison, has a heart for helping people experience God in a practical way every day. Craig Denison is the author of First15, a daily devotional guiding tens of thousands of believers into a fresh experience with God’s presence every day. He writes, speaks, and he and his wife, Rachel lead worship to help believers establish a more tangible, meaningful connection with God. You can check out his work by signing up to receive First15 every morning for free, and by engaging with First15 on social media.       Key Takeaways Craig Denison gives his testimony about growing up as a pastors kid, how that shaped him, and ultimately about how he learned to develop his own personal relationship with the Lord. What prompted Craig to start First 15, and how it has impacted many people. How seeing what God could do through their obedience lead to them saying yes to going all in with First 15. The ways that God has blessed and established the works of their hands. Craig talks about how the goal of First 15 is truly to be experiential, not informational. How the Biblical principal of “First Fruits” informed the creation and name of First 15. Craig talks about how allowing ourselves to be filled first with the love of God, we begin our day in the overflow of God’s love rather than feeling as though we are operating out of a deficit. Craig’s book 28 Days expands the First 15 content from digital media into print. He talks about the heart behind developing a 28-day devotional, their hope to resource people with practical ways to engage their faith, and the ways they see God using that resource. And many more!     Resources  Find First15 on Instagram  Purchase 28 Day Catalyst  

We live in divisive times. Age, socioeconomic status, race, religion, gender, and much more can be used to split us apart, even within the church. Believers in Jesus should be the first to seek unity over division, but often the enemy tries to divide us. Today’s guest on the iDisciple Podcast, Grant Skeldon, is setting out to fight that division. Grant is a gifted young author and speaker with an incredible heart for the role millennials play in the Great Commission. As a response to the negative labels that millennials receive, Grant started the Initiative Network. The Initiative Network set out to shift the culture of Dallas by training millennials to be Christ-loving, city-changing, church-investing, disciple-making, local missionaries. Grant recently released a brand-new book, The Passion Generation. The Passion Generation shares stories and studies drawn from Grant’s years of working to bridge generational gaps and is an excellent guide to understanding millennials and the role they can play in the church. With wit, compassion, and insight, Grant tackles some of the issues that the church can often ignore and fills readers with hope for the future. In this episode, Grant introduces us to The Passion Generation and shares timeless wisdom about how to bridge the divides that have slowly been forming within the church. We are excited to introduce our listeners to Grant and pray that his wisdom changes the way you view people who might act or think differently than you! Key Takeaways Grant gives his testimony about how he became a believer in high school, and how the man who discipled and mentored him drastically changed the direction of his life. What prompted Grant to write The Passion Generation, and how he has seen so many people talk and write about millennials without actually understanding them. Why he believes a lot of the brokenness in the world comes from a lack of fathers, not just biological fathers but also a lack of “father-like” mentorship and discipleship. The difference between older generations view of work and millennials view of work, and why it isn’t an indicator that millennials are lazy but instead shows a shifting in priorities between generations. Why disasters and tragedies in our world often bring people together the most, and how the church can learn from that unity. How the enemy seeks to divide the church in place of outright destroying it, and what we can do to cease those divisions. Grant explains why churches have to start measuring by budgets and buildings, but instead measure by how much discipleship is happening. And many more! Resources https://www.instagram.com/grantskeldon http://www.initiativenetwork.org/ http://grantskeldon.com/passiongeneration/ http://bit.ly/2B1RlGx If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

Leadership is all about wisdom. A mature leader knows how to take the examined experiences from their life and apply the wisdom they’ve learned in every situation. Are you looking to grow in wisdom, and become a greater leader for your workplace, family, or organization? Today’s guest has turned decades of leadership wisdom into a devotional that can radically change your life! On this episode, David is joined by a great friend and partner of Giving Company, Radical Mentoring founder Regi Campbell. Regi is an entrepreneur by trade, having been involved in founding 15 companies. He has served as a CEO four times, in companies from startup to $100m in sales. He was also involved in the launch of North Point Community Church, serving on the long-range planning team and as an elder. He has also written several books and devotionals, including the brand-new Radical Wisdom devotional.  Radical Wisdom is a daily journey toward wisdom and insight from someone who’s already been where you’re going. The daily readings in Radical Wisdom not only provide you with practical wisdom and principles but guide you as you examine your life experience and develop your own wisdom. Whether you’re leading a business, a family, or just leading yourself, you will become a better leader through Radical Wisdom, one day at a time. We pray that David and Regi’s discussion takes your further on your leadership journey! Key Takeaways Regi shares his testimony of letting his career ambitions nearly ruin his family and his faith and explains how surrendering to the Lord drastically changed his fate. How a Tim Elmore quote, “More time with fewer people equals greater kingdom impact,” inspired Regi to begin mentoring in smaller group settings. Why it’s important for a mentor to share their story and be an open book with their mentees. Regi breaks down the difference between experience and examined experience, and why it’s important for us to analyze our actions and make changes in our lives based on self-examination. Why Regi thinks the number one thing men struggle with is how to love and serve their wives. David and Regi break down some of the different devotionals and lessons from Radical Wisdom. How “believing” in Jesus often begins with feeling like you “belong” with other believers. And many more!  Resources https://regicampbell.com/ https://radicalmentoring.com/radical-wisdom/ http://bit.ly/2TeawE7 Thank you so much for joining us! We hope and pray that this episode of the iDisciple Podcast has a profound impact on your walk with Christ. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast. While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! Do you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation? Please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more life-changing content about leadership, download the iDisciple app for your preferred mobile device today! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!  

We’re all broken people, born to broken parents in broken families. Often, we feel ashamed by our brokenness and try to cover up the ways we fall short. But God wants us to find beauty and hope in the messiness of our lives. Today’s guest knows first-hand how it feels to find God’s grace in the midst of her family’s brokenness. Elisa Morgan was named by Christianity Today as one of the top fifty women influencing today’s church and culture and is one of today’s most sought-after authors, speakers, and leaders. She has authored more than twenty-five books on mothering, spiritual formation, and evangelism, including The Beauty of Broken, Hello, Beauty Full, She Did What She Could: Five Words of Jesus That Will Change Your Life, the NIV Mom’s Devotional Bible, and her newest release The Prayer Coin.  For twenty years, she served as CEO of MOPS International, one of the premier ministries for serving mothers across the world. Under her leadership MOPS grew from 350 to over 4,000 groups throughout the United States and in thirty other countries, influencing over 100,000 moms every year. Elisa now serves as President Emerita. Elisa is joining us on the iDisciple Podcast today to walk us through The Beauty of Broken, her personal story of her family’s brokenness and how she found beauty in God in the worst situations. Her story is an inspiring look at how to trust the Lord in difficult times, and a beautiful reminder that we’re all broken but God is bigger than our flaws. We hope and pray that this conversation brings you comfort in difficult times and shows you how to thrive no matter your circumstances. Key Takeaways The reality that the brokenness in the family we are born into is not our fault, and we can only be responsible for our responses to that brokenness. How all of the different broken families in the Old and New Testaments, including Jesus’ own family, show how normal it is to have flawed people around us. Elisa takes David and our listeners through some of the hardest moments of brokenness in her family life, including alcoholism, abuse, miscarriages, and other difficult times. Why we often feel responsible for the wounded and hurting people around us, and how we should approach them with love as believers instead of condemning them for their flaws. The way that Elisa dealt with her private family struggles during her time in charge of MOPS, and how she would’ve done certain things differently. What she means by “hope grows in the soil of forgiveness” and how we should go about forgiving the people who have wronged us. Elisa highlights her newest book, The Prayer Coin, and how we should model Jesus’ prayer in the garden of “not my will but Yours be done.” And many more! Resources http://www.elisamorgan.com/ https://www.facebook.com/elisamorganauthor/ https://www.mops.org/ If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources on God’s promises, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!  

Do you have a passion, a job, or an ability that you are only using for yourself? Today’s guest on the iDisciple Podcast, Michael Belk, has a powerful story of how God used his talents as a photographer to teach people about Jesus’ love for us. For more than 30 years, Michael’s photographs appeared in fashion publications like Vogue, Elle, GQ, and Vanity Fair for clients that included Nautica, J. Crew, and several other major fashion brands. In addition to his job behind the camera, he serves as the creative director and account executive for his own successful fashion-advertising agency.  In 2008, Michael sensed that God was calling him to do something more with the talent he had been given. He and his wife, Cheryl, began to invest their savings, abilities, and creativity into a photography project that would show the modern-day relevance of the centuries-old message of Jesus. This resulted into the beautiful and thought-provoking Journeys with the Messiah. The images have been interpreted into fine art, a coffee table book, a DVD, and more. In this conversation, we’ll learn more about interesting journey that Michael has been on throughout his career in the fashion industry and hear about how God can use our talents and passions to bring himself glory. We hope and pray that this conversation blesses you in times of uncertainty and teaches you how to live a spirit-filled life just like our Lord and Savior!  Key Takeaways Michael explains to us a little bit about his career as a photographer and running an advertising agency and explains how he was able to gain so much success in the industry. How burnout started to creep in as he began to realize how unfair it was that he was living a successful life while others didn’t even have enough to eat. The reason he thinks God used the earlier days of his career to train him up as a writer, photographer, director, and producer so that when the time came to create Journeys with the Messiah, he was ready. Michael gives us the backstory behind the project and tells us stories behind the production and why they made the decisions they made. Explanations for some of the images they created and how those images are connected to various parables throughout the scriptures. Why it is so important for us to find a God-given purpose within our work and talents instead of only using them for personal gain. And many more! Resources https://journeyswiththemessiah.org/ https://www.michaelbelk.com/ http://bit.ly/2EjqwAq If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

At Giving Company we fully believe that we are more blessed to give than to receive, as Jesus says in Acts 20:35. Because of that mission, we partner with organizations that give back to underprivileged and marginalized women and children all over the globe.  On this special episode of the iDisciple Podcast, we want to introduce our listeners to one of Giving Company’s valued Giving Partners: World Vision. David is being joined by Steve Haas from World Vision, and Alex Kondratev, a member of the Giving Company team. The trio will be spending some time hearing from Steve about what World Vision is and what kind of work they do across the world, and hearing from Alex and David about an opportunity they had to travel to Ethiopia with World Vision last spring. We hope this conversation gives you a deeper look at how your support for Giving Company and the iDisciple Podcast is taking people from death to life through initiatives like the World Vision Water Fund, and we pray that it will move you use your time and resources to help provide for those less fortunate. Key Takeaways How World Vision gets involved with the Hood to Race Relay in Oregon, and how they’ve used the race to raise funds for problems in South Sudan and clean water initiatives. Steve explains the breadth of the World Vision organization and its projects and gives us a look into why World Vision does projects the way that they do. The importance of empowering locals and teaching them how to provide for themselves instead of simply relying on World Vision for their needs. What it means when Steve says God is a “divine host” in some of the dangerous countries World Vision works in, and how that impacts their decision making. Alex and David explain Giving Company’s involvement with World Vision and the Water Fund and highlight how many lives have already been changed by our support. How being in Ethiopia and seeing firsthand the difference between a community with water and one without it affected Alex and showed her how important it was to support World Vision’s work. The trio gives an in depth explanation for how it’s more important than simply giving people clean water, and break down for our listeners how clean water can completely change the lives of women and children in impoverished countries. And many more!   Resources https://givingcompany.com/giving/ https://www.worldvision.org/our-work/clean-water https://www.facebook.com/worldvision/ If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast. While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you would like to financially support World Vision, or any of our Giving Partners, check out the links above to find out more ways to help. If you would like even more life-changing content, download the iDisciple app for your preferred mobile device today! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! A portion of proceeds from the Giving Membership support our mission partners. Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

At Giving Company we fully believe that we are more blessed to give than to receive, as Jesus says in Acts 20:35. Because of that mission, we partner with organizations that give back to underprivileged and marginalized women and children all over the globe.  On this special episode of the iDisciple Podcast, we want to introduce our listeners to one of Giving Company’s valued Giving Partners: Crisis Aid International. Pat Bradley, founder and CEO of Crisis Aid, and Emma Lieblich, a member of the Giving Company team, are joining David to talk about the work Crisis Aid does in East Africa and how their lives have been impacted by experiences on the mission field. We hope this conversation gives you a deeper look at how your support for Giving Company and the iDisciple Podcast is permanently changing the lives of people in some of the most war-torn and poverty-stricken parts of the world, and we pray that it will move you to get more involved in Crisis Aid’s mission! Key Takeaways Pat shares the story of his struggle with alcoholism and how his brokenness eventually leads him to a church service that changed his life forever. How Pat’s heart for missions started on the second night he was a Christian and would eventually grow into what it is today.   The true story behind Pat’s first mission trip smuggling bibles into the Soviet Union, and how he spent the next 10 years using his vacation time to go out on the mission field. Pat explains the scope of what Crisis Aid does and how it has evolved from when it was launched, highlighting their work fighting sex trafficking, creating education programs, and building water wells. Emma talks about her experience being able to go as a member of our team to see the work Crisis Aid does in East Africa and how it changed her life. Why her experience in the red-light district was so jarring to Emma, and how encouraging it was to see some of the women who had been freed from sex trafficking. David and Emma explain how Giving Company supports Crisis Aid through movie rentals with Christian Cinema and iDisciple Publishing purchases. And many more! Resources https://givingcompany.com/giving/ https://www.crisisaid.org/ https://www.facebook.com/crisisaid/ If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast. While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you would like to financially support Crisis Aid, or any of our Giving Partners, check out the links above to find out more ways to help. If you would like even more life-changing content, download the iDisciple app for your preferred mobile device today! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! A portion of proceeds from the Giving Membership support our mission partners. Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

Jesus didn’t just die to save you from your sins, he died to give you a brand-new life – free from worry, fear, shame, and condemnation. Today’s guest is joining us to share how the promises of God can help reshape our lives and re-energize our faith.  Jud Wilhite serves as senior pastor of Central Church in Las Vegas. Central is dedicated to introducing people to Jesus and helping them follow Him. Jud is also a best-selling author who has written several books including The God of Yes, Pursued, a bible study for new believers called The Uncensored Truth Bible for New Beginnings, and his newest book Uncaged. Jud is known for his conversational approach to teaching the bible, and hs heard nationally on KLOVE radio Jud is joining us on the iDisciple Podcast to walk us through his story and introduce us to his brand-new book Uncaged. Jud gives us a candid look at some of the struggles he has dealt with over the years and teaches us some of the biblical promises that Jesus has in store for us during our time on earth. We hope and pray that this conversation reminds you of God’s unwavering promises and encourages you to pursue him fully! Key Takeaways Jud talks about how his struggle with burnout lead to diving into the promises of God and eventually writing Uncaged. How forgiveness is a crucial part of establishing our relationship with God. Different ways that the presence of God relates to his people throughout the bible, and how his presence is in us today. The difference between being a cul-de-sac and a bridge, and how God can use us as a bridge to bless other people. Jud spends some time talking about how we continually struggle with identity in our lives, no matter what age we are, and how we must rest in who God says we are. How we often read Jeremiah 29:11 without remembering the context of the verse, and how that ties into God’s promise that we will prosper. Why it is important for us as believers to delight in the Lord instead of pursuing our own desires. And many more! Resources http://www.judwilhite.com/uncaged/ https://www.centralonline.tv/ https://www.instagram.com/judwilhite http://bit.ly/2DokEGq If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources on God’s promises, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!  

Leadership is hard, but important. How do we learn to lead in our homes, our workplaces, and in the world around us? Today’s guest is a wise leader in his own right but is joining us to talk about the greatest leadership example of them all: Jesus. On this episode, David is joined by a great friend of Giving Company and one of our first ever guests on the iDisciple Podcast, Wisdom Hunters founder Boyd Bailey. Boyd is the writer of the Wisdom Hunters Daily Devotional, which reaches over 100,000 readers every day with God’s wisdom. In addition, he’s written over a dozen of books, co-founded Ministry Ventures, and is currently the president of the Georgia National Christian Foundation. Boyd recently released his latest book, Learning to Lead Like Jesus, which takes readers through a series of principles Jesus demonstrated in his own ministry that we can apply to our lives today. These 11 principles will show all of us how to serve, inspire, and equip others exactly how Jesus did thousands of years ago. We pray that David and Boyd’s discussion teaches you how to be the best leader you can be, and how the wisdom of Jesus and radically change your perspective on leadership. Key Takeaways Boyd expands on why humility is such an important trait to have, and why it’s important to give up whatever we believe is ours in order to be a servant. What Boyd means when he says Jesus was accountable, and why his submission to God is something we should replicate. The reason gratitude is a character trait that links multiple other great character traits. Boyd explains how Jesus’ leadership has affected him and shares anecdotes for how it helped in his relationship with his father, his children, and his wife. Why suffering is a reality check for us as believers and how God used Boyd’s cancer diagnosis to change his thinking. Boyd shares stories about his time as a leader and what wisdom he needed to utilize in those different phases of his leadership. What it meant for Boyd to focus on the depth of his relationship with God, and how God took care of the breadth of his ministry. And many more! Resources http://www.wisdomhunters.com/ https://www.ncfgiving.com/georgia/ http://bit.ly/2EV4VQL Thank you so much for joining us! We hope and pray that this episode of the iDisciple Podcast has a profound impact on your walk with Christ. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast. While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! Do you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation? Please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more life-changing content about Jesus and leadership, download the iDisciple app for your preferred mobile device today! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

As believers, we know that God is big, loving, and good. But sometimes when our circumstances are difficult, and things aren’t working out how we hoped, it’s hard to believe God is kind. How do we embrace that truth about God in our uncertainty? Today’s guest on the iDisciple Podcast, Annie Downs, knows exactly how it feels to wrestle with that frustration. Annie is a bestselling author, nationally known speaker, and host of the popular “That Sounds Fun” podcast. Despite all of her success, in recent years Annie has found herself struggling to believe God was kind when things weren’t turning out the way she hoped. In this episode, Annie introduces us to her personal walk of faith and the story behind her newest book, Remember God. With infectious joy and candor, Annie takes us on a personal journey through some of the highs and lows of her life in the past few years and explains how she found God’s kindness and love in the midst of difficult times. We are thrilled to introduce our listeners to Annie and pray that her humor and wisdom will shine a light on anyone struggling to truly feel the truth of who God is! Key Takeaways Annie shares the story of how she felt God directly calling her to pack up and move to Nashville, and why she is “less comfortable and more confident than she has ever been” because of it. How her time as a teacher showed her what it means to impact people’s lives without being able to directly talk about God. Annie’s unusual path to being an author, and how self-publishing her first book after being rejected by publishers eventually lead to the career she has now. Why “Remember God” is the book she never wanted to have to write, because she had to ask herself hard questions about whether or not God was actually kind to her, and why the black cover is a visual representation for what she was dealing with when writing the book. The juxtaposition between the career success she was getting and the personal frustration she was living in, and how her desire for a relationship and happiness felt so fleeting. Annie gives rapid-fire explanations behind some of the most meaningful things in her life, including fasting, her bible, and her group of girls. A little bit of backstory behind the prayer that changed her life, and why she is praying that over everyone who reads her book. And many more! Resources https://www.instagram.com/anniefdowns http://www.anniefdowns.com/podcast/ https://twitter.com/anniefdowns http://bit.ly/2A0XmmT If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources about who God really is in your life, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

When Jesus needed help, he relied on the Holy Spirit. What do you rely on in times of confusion, suffering, and helplessness? Pastor Mark Driscoll is joining the iDisciple Podcast today to teach us how we, like Jesus, can rely on the spirit in times of need. Mark Driscoll is a Jesus-following, mission-leading, church-serving, people-loving, Bible-preaching pastor and the author of many books, including “Real Marriage” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” With a skillful mix of bold presentation, accessible teaching, and unrelenting compassion for those who are hurting the most, Pastor Mark has taken Christianity into cultural corners rarely explored by Evangelicals. He is the pastor of The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Pastor Mark’s latest book, Spirit-Filled Jesus, takes a deep look at Jesus’ reliance on the holy spirit. The book is packed with wisdom from Mark’s thirty years of studying and teaching the bible and is a vital read for believers looking to learn more about Jesus and the holy spirit. In this conversation, we’ll walk through some of the topics in the new book and get a better look at how we can tap into the power of the spirit just like Jesus did thousands of years ago. We hope and pray that this conversation blesses you in times of uncertainty and teaches you how to live a spirit-filled life just like our Lord and Savior!  Key Takeaways Mark explains the connection between the book of Luke and the book of Acts, and how it connects Jesus relationship to the spirit with our relationship. How Jesus was able to suffer and be human like us while still maintaining his divine attributes. The comparison between our finite energy and the enemy, and why it’s crucial that we lean into the spirit to fight off the enemy. Why there’s a difference between making mistakes and sinning, and why we shouldn’t be paralyzed by a fear of messing up. Practical ways for us to get “in tune” with the holy spirit in our own lives. Mark explains how prominent suffering is in the life of Jesus, and what we can learn from his response to change the way we endure suffering. How Jesus forgave by the power of the holy spirit, and why it’s important for us to forgive in the same way to free ourselves from the enemy’s grasp. And many more!   Resources https://markdriscoll.org/ https://twitter.com/PastorMark https://spiritfilledjesus.com/ https://idisciple.christianbook.com/spirit-filled-jesus-live-his-power/mark-driscoll/9781629995229/pd/995229?p=1202008&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Shownotes If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources on the holy spirit, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

The bible is filled with incredible stories and life-changing truth, but often we struggle as believers to understand how it affects our lives today. How radically would our lives change if we had a firmer grasp on all of the wisdom God offers us? This week’s guest on the iDisciple Podcast is setting out to do just that: help believers and non-believers alike dive deeper into the word of God. On this episode, David is joined by pastor and speaker Skip Heitzig. Skip ministers to over 15,000 people as senior pastor of Calvary Albuquerque, and thousands more across the globe with his multimedia ministry. In addition to that, Skip is the prolific author of several books, including Defying Normal, The Bible From 30,000 Feet, and a series of books about how to better understand the bible. Skip is joining us today to share his personal faith story, and to take us deeper into his latest book, “You Can Understand the Book of Genesis.” The conversation is a powerful reminder of how much the word of God can change our lives, if we take the time to understand it. We pray that David and Skip’s discussion inspires you to open up your bible and seek out the truth that the Lord has for you, and helps you see the scriptures in an entirely different light! Key Takeaways Skip tells us the story behind his faith journey growing up in Southern California and how watching a Billy Graham broadcast finally lead him to Christ. Why Skip’s mentality when he started planting his church was that if God was calling him, He would show him what to do. The reason why ministry has to constantly evolve with new technologies to help reach the lost. The connection between the New Testament and the Book of Genesis, and how Jesus highlights the importance for understanding what happened before. How God is continuing to reveal himself more and more from Genesis through Revelation.   Skip shares his life verse and one of his favorite themes in scripture: how God is using broken and sinful people to do His work. David and Skip highlight some of the important people in Genesis and why their stories matter. And many more! Resources https://connectwithskip.com/ https://www.facebook.com/skipheitzig/ http://bit.ly/2CF5GMu Thank you so much for joining us! We hope and pray that this episode of the iDisciple Podcast has a profound impact on your walk with Christ. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast. While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! Do you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation? Please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more life-changing content about the word of God, download the iDisciple app for your preferred mobile device today! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!

Is it easy for you to live in the moment and enjoy the life you have, or do you constantly find yourself anxious and dissatisfied with your current situation? Today’s guest knows firsthand how it feels to always be searching for something else. After a successful start in her career as an author and speaker, Hannah Brencher moved to Atlanta and found herself in a state of anxiety and deep depression. It was during this season of her life that Hannah learned what it meant to find purpose in the present and to stop chasing after the next big thing. Hannah is joining us on this week’s episode to introduce our listeners to “Come Matter Here”, her new book chronicling her struggles with anxiety and identity. We’re thrilled to have Hannah on the show to have a candid and powerful conversation about mental health, living in the moment, and what it means to seek God’s purpose no matter our circumstances. We hope and pray that this conversation inspires you to pause and reflect on where you’re at in life and encourages you to seek God’s purpose even when things aren’t working out how you hope! Key Takeaways Hannah tells the story behind her first book and the TED Talk that helped launch her career, and why she’s concerned with the disconnect generations are starting to have when they focus entirely on the digital world. What it means to “be where your feet are”, and how it relates to pursuing what God has for us in life. How God refines us through the difficult seasons much like the way gold is stripped of impurities in fire. The connection between her story and the biblical story of Job, and why our listeners should find the reason and purpose in our pain. Hannah shares the candid truth about how anxiety and depression took over her life out of nowhere, and how it taught her the importance of talking about mental health issues. How she was able to embrace the fact that God was good even if she was not healed. Why it’s easier to “flush the fish” instead of committing to take care of it, and how she learned to take responsibility in her life. And many more!     Resources http://comematterhere.hannahbrencher.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HannahBrencherSheats/ https://www.instagram.com/hannahbrencher/ https://twitter.com/hannahbrencher https://www.ted.com/talks/hannah_brencher_love_letters_to_strangers https://idisciple.christianbook.com/matter-your-invitation-getting-there-world/hannah-brencher/9780310350842/pd/350842?p=1201707&utm_source=Show%20Notes&utm_medium=Email If you enjoy this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher Radio and subscribe to the iDisciple Podcast! While you’re there, please leave us a rating and a review. We love to hear feedback from all of our subscribers! If you know somebody in your life who could benefit from hearing God’s truth in this latest conversation, please share this episode on your social networks. If you would like even more resources on finding your purpose or dealing with mental health struggles, download the iDisciple app! Since 2013, iDisciple has been leading people into a closer relationship with God through music, sermons, and devotionals, all in the palm of your hand! Check out www.idisciple.org to learn more, and sign-up for iDisciple today. Thanks again for tuning in. God bless!