Introduction | The Discerning Life Episode 00
“Discernment is a lifestyle of noticing God in everything, practicing a preference for God in all aspects of our life and service to others.” –Steve Macchia
The Discerning Leader podcast is for Christian leaders who are interested in discovering the joy of “practicing a preference for God” in all aspects of their personal lives and relationships, their leadership and service to others.
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Current Season
Season 17: The Discerning Life
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Matt Scott
In season seventeen Steve Macchia and Matt Scott dialogue together about the important themes found in Steve’s new book, The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything published by Zondervan Reflective. We will cover what it means to practice a preference for God in all aspects of our personal lives, relationships, and service to others.
Previous Seasons
Season 16: Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide
Season 16: Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Curtis Almquist, Anna Friedrich, Susan Currie, Rick Anderson, Jeremy Stefano, and Matt Scott, and David Currie
In season sixteen, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Curtis Almquist, Anna Friedrich, Susan Currie, Rick Anderson, Jeremy Stefano, and Matt Scott, and David Currie to the podcast to discuss discerning God in Advent and Christmastide in the following episodes:
Gifts of Advent | Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide Episode 01
“Advent invites us to slow down and create space in order to receive Christ in the fullness of our being.” – Curtis Almquist, SSJE
Blessings of Advent | Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide Episode 02
“Learning the value of waiting has largely been removed from our vocabulary. Advent gives us the gift of waiting.” –Curtis Almquist, SSJE
Christmas Eve | Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide Episode 03
“I love Christmas because, with the resurrection in view, its obscure beginning and its incredible beauty strengthens my trust in God.” –Anna Friedrich
New Year’s Eve | Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide Episode 04
“Four words have been my focus this past year: silence, slowing, simplicity, and Sabbath.” –Matt Scott
Epiphany | Discerning God in Advent and Christmastide Episode 05
“Epiphany was our main missions conference in the local church, when we invited the children to bring offerings to Jesus as we sought to share the light of Jesus to the far corners of the earth.” –Dave Currie
Season 15: Discerning God at the Pace of Your Soul
Season 15: Discerning God at the Pace of Your Soul
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Alan Fadling, Tara Owens, Steve Smith, Barbara Peacock, and Kyle Strobel
In season fifteen, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Alan Fadling, Tara Owens, Steve Smith, Barbara Peacock, and Kyle Strobel to the podcast to discuss discerning God at the pace of your soul in the following episodes:
Unhurried Living | Discerning God at the Pace of your Soul Episode 01
“We have a cultural assumption that fast is good and slow is bad…how might slow be good for your soul?” – Alan Fadling
Creative Expressions | Discerning God at the Pace of your Soul Episode 02
“As much as we think we’re not, we’re heavily defended against God; we have a lot of walls up, but creativity sneaks around those walls and opens us up to God.” – Tara Owens
Going Solo | Discerning God as the Pace of your Soul Episode 03
“We can experience hitting the wall, burnout, and exhaustion, all the while working to build up the Kingdom.” – Steve Smith
Spiritual Rhythms | Discerning God at the Pace of your Soul Episode 04
“As Africans were being transported across the Middle Passage to America in slave ships, their formation was practiced while in chains.” – Barbara Peacock
Real Prayer | Discerning God at the Pace of your Soul Episode 05
“The Lord’s Prayer is at the very heart of what prayer is supposed to be, as we pray with and in Jesus.” – Kyle Strobel
Season 14: Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally
Season 14: Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Adele Calhoun, Gary Thomas, Alison Cook, Amy Murgatroyd, and Alice Fryling
In season fourteen, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Adele Calhoun, Gary Thomas, Alison Cook, Amy Murgatroyd, and Alice Fryling to the podcast to discuss discerning God emotionally and relationally in the following episodes:
“Shaming voices have the power to cripple us. They isolate us from the truth about ourselves and others.” – Adele Calhoun
Boundaries for the Soul | Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally Episode 02
“In my own personal story, I found it easy to love God, but very challenging to know and love myself.” – Alison Cook
Sacred Marriage | Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally Episode 03
“What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” – Gary Thomas
Capturing Emotive Images | Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally Episode 04
“When you live as if you’re dying, you begin to see the world in a much different way.” – Amy Murgatroyd
Toxic Relationships | Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally Episode 05
“The Christian life is about an abundance of good fruit. We must walk away from toxic people in order to preserve that good fruit.” – Gary Thomas
Aging Faithfully | Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally Episode 06
“I want to look back on my life to see what I’ve learned about God and apply it to my life now and in the future.” – Alice Fryling
Season 13: Discerning God in Friendship and Direction
Season 13: Discerning God in Friendship and Direction
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Richard Plass, Rick Anderson, Gayle Heaslip, and Susan Currie
In season thirteen, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Richard Plass, Rick Anderson, Gayle Heaslip, and Susan Currie to the podcast to discuss discerning God in friendship and direction in the following episodes:
Spiritual Friendship | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 01
“Our long-standing spiritual friendship has been a tapestry woven together by the grace of God.” —Rich Plass
Relational Soul | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 02
“At the core of who we are, we are relational beings, created by a relational God. Many leaders today, however, don’t have anyone to share their story.” —Rich Plass
Male Friendships | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 03
“Friendship among men is elusive, but incredibly important.” —Rick Anderson
Female Friendships | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 04
“We create hospitable space, non-judgmental, gentle, supportive, deeply attentive to God’s work in our lives and our midst.” —Gayle Heaslip
Spiritual Direction | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 05
“In spiritual direction, one person is being present to another for the sake of being attentive to the voice of God.“ – Susan Currie
Group Spiritual Direction | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 06
“Providing an hospitable presence helps us to notice God together.” —Susan Currie
Season 12: Discerning God in Community
Season 12: Discerning God in Community
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: David Vryhof
In season twelve, Steve Macchia welcomes back guest David Vryhof to the podcast to discuss discerning God in Community in the following episodes:
Jesus Discerns | Discerning God in Community Episode 01
“Most of us have a stained-glass image of Jesus and it’s hard for us to grasp his daily life as a beloved son of God.” David Vryhof, SSJE
God’s Yearnings | Discerning God in Community Episode 02
“In order for us to hear the voice of God, it’s not about our ears, but much more about our hearts.” —David Vryhof, SSJE
Ignatian Discernment | Discerning God in Community Episode 03
“God enters our lives in unusual ways, often in places where we are weakest and most vulnerable, where he delights to bring change to our lives.” —David Vryhof, SSJE
Group Discernment: When and Why | Discerning God in Community Episode 04
“Prayerful listening together is essential for us to know what we are to do and who we are to become in this season of life and ministry.” –David Vryhof, SSJE
Group Discernment: How | Discerning God in Community Episode 05
“We’re all trying to listen deeply to what God wants of us throughout the entire prayerful process.” – David Vryhof, SSJE
Season 11: Discerning God at His Pace
Season 11: Discerning God at His Pace
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Mark Buchanan
In season eleven, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Mark Buchanan to the podcast to discuss discerning God at His Pace in the following episodes:
Sabbath Rest: What and Why | Discerning God at His Pace Episode 01
“Jesus saved me and then the Sabbath saved my relationship with Jesus.” –Mark Buchanan
Sabbath Rest: How | Discerning God at His Pace Episode 02
“Our Sabbath practices began by taking one do-nothing day each week…and it changed everything.” –Mark Buchanan
Setting Out: God Walk 1 | Discerning God at His Pace Episode 03
“I’ve always been in a rush and it’s not served me well for my deeper formation.” –Mark Buchanan
Making Tracks: God Walk 2 | Discerning God at His Pace Episode 04
“Walking with a friend is soul formative and nurturing, especially among God’s creation as we walk and pause in awe together.” –Mark Buchanan
Pressing On: God Walk 3 | Discerning God at His Pace Episode 05
“Endurance. All walking eventually gets hard, lonely, tedious. All start with exhilaration, but end with some level of perseverance.” – Mark Buchanan
Season 10: Discerning God in Song
Season 10: Discerning God in Song
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Dave Currie
In season ten, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Dave Currie to the podcast to discuss discerning God in song in the following episodes:
Old Testament Songs | Discerning God in Song Episode 01
“A song is the quickest route on the longest journey – 18 inches from the head to the heart and then back again.” –Dave Currie
New Testament Songs | Discerning God in Song Episode 02
“When Jesus shows up, we want to sing!” – Dave Currie
Songs in Church History | Discerning God in Song Episode 03
“Singing the songs of those who have come before us, especially from other cultures and times, enhances our discernment as leaders.” – Dave Currie
Effects of Singing | Discerning God in Song Episode 04
“Do everything for the glory of God – and with a song in your heart!” – Dave Currie
Evaluate a Good Song | Discerning God in Song Episode 05
“A living church always needs new expressions in song to meet the immediacy of current and particular circumstances.” – Dave Currie
Season 9: Discerning God in our Brokenness
Season 9: Discerning God in our Brokenness
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Susan Currie, Jeremy Stefano, Genalin Niere-Metcalf, Kimberly Alexander
In season nine, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Susan Currie, Jeremy Stefano, Genalin Niere-Metcalf, and Kimberly Alexander to the podcast to discuss discerning God in our brokenness in the following episodes:
Broken and Whole | Discerning God in our Brokenness Episode 01
“We are to receive the love of God if we are to ever dispense the love of God to others.” – Steve Macchia
Physical Brokenness | Discerning God in our Brokenness Episode 02
“On the night we learned the news about my cancer, my husband and I went to a concert in Boston and I wondered, ‘Surely, I’m not the only one in this vast hall who has cancer.’” – Susan Currie
Spiritual Brokenness | Discerning God in our Brokenness Episode 03
“Jesus comes to tend to the broken. No need to feel disqualified or set aside by the Lord because of our brokenness. He longs to rescue us and bring us closer to his heart.” – Jeremy Stefano
Emotional Brokenness| Discerning God in our Brokenness Episode 04
“Emotional brokenness is our sense of not being whole, which is all a part of being alive.” – Genalin Niere-Metcalf
Relational Brokenness | Discerning God in our Brokenness Episode 05
“The more you know your own story, the more you will know your own brokenness and what triggers you relationally.” –Genalin Niere-Metcalf
Racial Brokenness | Discerning God in our Brokenness Episode 06
“It’s hard to consider racial reconciliation when we’ve never really had a right relationship to reconcile.” – Kim Nash Alexander
Season 8: Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life
Season 8: Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Tom Griffith, Justin Whitmel Earley, and Ken Shigematsu
In season eight, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Tom Griffith, Justin Earley, and Ken Shigematsu to the podcast to discuss discerning God in our personal rule of life in the following episodes:
Introduction | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 01
“Rule of life helps me to be present, not always looking to the past or projecting ahead to the future. The treasure is right here, right now, in God’s presence.” – Tom Griffith
Framing | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 02
“There is no arrival in this world, but to have a great relationship with God the Father, and when we listen to God, we begin to meaningfully live our rule of life.” –Tom Griffith
Forming | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 03
“As Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man, so shall we as ones created by God and accountable to him to steward and share our lives.” –Tom Griffith
Fulfilling | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 04
“When there’s something important expressed to us from a member of the body of Christ we are to receive it as an expression of grace that has both inspiration and conviction from the Father.” –Tom Griffith
Process and Examples | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 05
“Your rule of life is designed to help you frame the intentionality of life that uniquely fits and sets you free in Christ!” –Tom Griffith
God In My Everything | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 06
“People are so busy and anxious today; turning to things that give a temporary lift but not a lasting contentment. A rule of life can give us a longer term of abiding peace and a deeper trust in God.” –Ken Shigematsu
The Common Rule | Discerning Our Personal Rule of Life Episode 07
“From being totally overwhelmed by my schedule, the house of my life was decorated by my Christian calling but the architecture of my life was built like everyone else, on an unsteady foundation…simple habits radically changed my life.” – Justin Whitmel Earley
Season 7: Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat
Season 7: Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Jeremy Stefano
In season seven, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Jeremy Stefano back to the podcast to discuss discerning God on spiritual retreat in the following episodes:
Why retreat? | Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat Episode 01
“A holy place to draw away to a space and time dedicated solely to God, to be present to God.” – Jeremy Stefano…
When to retreat? | Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat Episode 02
“Turn away from other things that pretend to satisfy the soul and find rest in the Lord…in repentance, quietness and trust.” – Jeremy Stefano…
What to do on retreat? | Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat Episode 03
“Spiritual retreats place us in a position to receive what Jesus is already doing in our behalf.” – Jeremy Stefano
Who and Where to Retreat? | Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat Episode 04
“Sometimes people think we need to be all put together in order to come into the presence of God, but that’s simply not true.” – Jeremy Stefano
How to Prepare for Retreat? | Discerning God on Spiritual Retreat Episode 05
“ The Lord has his way of weaning us from our attachments or affections in this world, and cleanse the air, helping me face the dilemmas of my heart on retreat.”– Jeremy Stefano
Season 6: Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering
Season 6: Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Cynthia Fantasia and Ted Wueste
In season six, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Cynthia Fantasia and Ted Wueste to the podcast to discuss discerning God in seasons of suffering in the following episodes:
Suffering and Surviving | Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering Episode 01
“I determined to live on the other side of eternity as a caregiver for my beloved husband as he suffered through his terminal Alzheimer’s… disease. My goal was to preserve his dignity and my sanity.” – Cynthia Fantasia…
In The Lingering Light | Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering Episode 02
“Remember that the present loss doesn’t override the richness of the past. We had 45 years of amazing memories and 3 years of sickness and suffering.” – Cynthia Fantasia…
Courage and Hope for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver| Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering Episode 03
“When we choose to trust God, then we find him, and begin to see his fingerprints on everything.” – Cynthia Fantasia…
In His Grip | Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering Episode 04
“The Lord prepares us for our times of suffering so we can walk with Him through our suffering. With God we can walk through anything.” – Ted Wueste…
A Powerful Grace | Discerning God in Seasons of Suffering Episode 05
“The ways of God are mysterious, but the person of God is reliable, trustworthy – even and especially in times of suffering.” – Ted Wueste…
Season 5: Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church
Season 5: Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Rick Anderson (Episode 5)
In season five, Steve Macchia discusses discerning the spiritual health of the church in the following episodes:
The Church Today | Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church Episode 01
“I want to caution us against being so enveloped by the culture that we forget the real purpose of the Church. What does it mean to be a spiritually healthy family of God today?” – Steve Macchia…
Life of Worship | Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church Episode 02
“How are you contributing to the health of the Church today? We are oaks of righteousness called of God to display his splendor!” – Steve Macchia…
Life of Love | Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church Episode 03
“What does it mean to love one another, to be the body of Christ, the family of God, preferring one another in Christ?” – Steve Macchia…
Life of Service | Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church Episode 04
“We as the people of God, his dearly loved ones, are to be like salt and light in the world we are called to love and serve in Jesus’ name.” – Steve Macchia…
Assessing Spiritual Vitality | Discerning the Spiritual Health of the Church Episode 05
“An honest diagnosis and a hopeful prognosis is needed for local congregations today. The Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) will help you get there.” – Rick Anderson…
Season 4: Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity
Season 4: Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Suz Skinner
In season four, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Suz Skinner to the podcast to discuss discerning and celebrating God in creativity in the following episodes:
Created to be Creative | Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity Episode 01
“We are creative beings, reflecting the creative God who made us in his image.” – Suz Skinner…
Seeing God in Scripture and Imagination | Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity Episode 02
“It’s important that we are in the Word in order to see how God makes himself known to us.” – Suz Skinner
Beauty and Creation | Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity Episode 03
“Seeing the sunrise and sunset never gets old. They are the fingerprints of God each and every day.” – Suz Skinner…
Images in Prayer | Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity Episode 04
“How can we pay greater attention when God uses images, metaphors, parables, stories, songs, and poetry in his Word that invite us to pray and respond?” – Suz Skinner…
Cultivating Creativity | Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity Episode 05
“We need to give ourselves permission to become childlike and enjoy the wonder, awe, and joy of playfulness.” – Suz Skinner…
Season 3: Discerning God in Sabbath Rest
Season 3: Discerning God in Sabbath Rest
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Susan Currie
In season three, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Susan Currie to the podcast to discuss discerning God in sabbath rest in the following episodes:
God’s Priority | Discerning God in Sabbath Rest Episode 01
“Discernment is about being with God, paying attention to God, letting our every word and effort come from attentiveness to God. Sabbath is the place that nurtures that attentiveness.” – Susan Currie…
Ceasing | Discerning God in Sabbath Rest Episode 02
“Sabbath ceasing is meant for everyone and every living creature our lives touch: our children, our animals, all in our household. God rests in order to delight in his creation. So too are we made to rest in order to engage our creational identity.” – Susan Currie…
Resting | Discerning God in Sabbath Rest Episode 03
“You have been set free (in God), so keep the Sabbath! This is what Sabbath rest is all about. We don’t want to lose our memory for tasting the goodness of God.” – Susan Currie…
Embracing | Discerning God in Sabbath Rest Episode 04
“We realize our deepest, truest, eternal part of us as God’s dearly loved children when we rest. What God does in us when we rest is carried into all aspects of life.” – Susan Currie…
Celebrating | Discerning God in Sabbath Rest Episode 05
“In the celebration of Sabbath, we explore the command and accept the invitation to dwell with God with a deep, resounding yes – with gusto!” – Susan Currie…
Season 2: Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices
Season 2: Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: David Vryhof
In season two, Steve Macchia welcomes guest David Vryhof to the podcast to discuss discerning God in the spiritual practices in the following episodes:
Relationship with God | Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices Episode 01
A discerning leader understands that service to others is based upon a relationship with God and thereby prioritizes the nurture of the soul…
Silence and Solitude | Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices Episode 02
We live in an incredibly noisy world. Distractions abound, vying for our attention all throughout our days. Choosing a subversive, counter-cultural pursuit of exterior and interior silence is what separates a discerning leader from society’s norm…
Lectio Divina | Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices Episode 03
Instead of studying the Word to preach or teach it, Lectio Divina invites us to simply listen and receive the Word as a gift of love from God to us, his beloved children…
Listening Prayer | Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices Episode 04
Prayer is a huge, somewhat daunting subject. No one has mastered prayer. In fact, if we’re honest, we are all simply beginners…
Reflection and Examen | Discerning God in the Spiritual Practices Episode 05
Reflection is an important spiritual discipline, inviting us to notice, remember, and give thanks. It is practiced in a variety of ways, from journaling to photography, and especially in the ancient practice of Examen…
Season 1: Discernment as a Way of Life
Season 1: Discernment as a Way of Life
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Jeremy Stefano
In this first season of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve Macchia and Jeremy Stefano explore discernment as a way of life through the following episodes:
The Road to Emmaus | Discernment as a Way of Life Episode 01
On this inaugural episode, Steve and Jeremy recount one of the pinnacle accounts of discernment in Luke 24. The Road to Emmaus is a wonderful example of discernment as a way of life, and not simply a way to make decisions…
Recognizing Jesus | Discernment as a Way of Life Episode 02
Continuing the conversation about spiritual discernment, Steve and Jeremy look at how Jesus’ mother and disciples were either kept from or open to his presence and mission…
Love Abounding | Discernment as a Way of Life Episode 03
Beginning with the prayer of the Apostle Paul to the Church in Philippi and ending with his prayer to the Colossians, Steve and Jeremy unpack some of the most essential ingredients of prayerful discernment…
God-Attentiveness | Discernment as a Way of Life Episode 04
Psalm 139 reminds us that God discerns all of our ways out of his abundant and unconditional love for us. His attentiveness toward us evokes a response of attentiveness to him…
Transformed Leaders | Discernment as a Way of Life Episode 05
Imagining what it would be like if the Church were filled with discerning leaders, Steve and Jeremy dream together about a Church filled with those who regularly turn to God…
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