Barbara Peacock | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 1
“I believe the foundation of effective leadership is understanding and embracing and living out the discipline of love.” – Barbara Peacock
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.
Listen & Subscribe:
Current Season
Season 27: The Heart of a Discerning Leader
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Barbara Peacock, Philip Yancey, KeumJu Jewel Hyun, Jeff Crosby, Winn Collier, Jeremy Stefano, Trent Casto, Brandon Moore, and the LTI Lead Team.
In Season 27, Steve Macchia invites guests to discuss the heart of the discerning leader through the following episodes:
Philip Yancey | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 2
“Nature, beauty, love, these are good things. They must have been given to us by God. That’s what grace is. It’s a free gift we didn’t deserve. That’s my story, being drawn back to God, not by fearsome threats, but by the experience of God’s grace.” – Philip Yancey
KeumJu Jewel Hyun | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 3
“Whether you like it or not, you are in the leadership position. Who do you think you work for?” – KeumJu Jewel Hyun
Jeff Crosby | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 4
“Embracing the mystery is good enough” – Jeff Crosby
Ken Shigematsu | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 5
“If you can put yourself in a pathway of beauty every day, it can awaken you to God’s love for you and it leaves less room for shame to work so that you can become your truest self.” – Ken Shigematsu
Winn Collier | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 6
“You had this sense that you were with someone who knew Jesus.” – Winn Collier
Jeremy Stefano (Attributes 1-5) | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 7
“As a leader, we often love people who we need in our leadership. The love has to be unconditional, not measured out in increments to those we see as more deserving.” – Jeremy Stefano
Jeremy Stefano (Attributes 6-10) | The Heart of a Discerning Leader Episode 8
“Jesus is gentle. Surely those who lead in His name must be typified especially by gentleness also.” – Jeremy Stefano
Jeremy Stefano (Attributes 11-15) | The Heart of a Discerning Leader Episode 9
“Paying attention to the people we are serving is crucial, otherwise it’s all me.” – Jeremy Stefano
Jeremy Stefano (Attributes 16-20) | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 10
“Everyone knows whether they are living a spacious or a cluttered life. The question is, are we tapping into our longings that those quiet hours feed in our soul” – Steve Macchia
Trent Casto | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 11
“It’s incredible what a man who is united to Jesus and weak in the eyes of the world can accomplish” – Trent Casto
Brandon Moore | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 12
“When you are dealing with the worst of the world, how do we begin to nurture our souls and then in doing that nurture the souls of others.” – Brandon Moore
LTI Lead Team | The Heart of a Discerning Leader, Episode 13
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136: 1
Previous Seasons
Season 26: Discerning the Presence, Power, and Peace of God
Season 26: Discerning the Presence, Power, and Peace of God
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Rowena Day, Gayle Heaslip, Iain Whitfield, Abigail Carroll, and Gary Franklin
In Season 26, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Rowena Day and Gayle Heaslip to the podcast to discuss discerning the presence, power, and peace of God.
Rowena Day | Discerning the Presence, Power and Peace of God, Episode 1
“There are so many ways that our attention is pulled, and we are divorced from our own bodies which make it really hard to notice God.” – Rowena Day
Gayle Heaslip | Discerning the Presence, Power and Peace of God, Episode 2
“How can I carry Christ with me throughout the day?”– Gayle Heaslip
Iain Whitfield | Discerning the Presence, Power and Peace of God, Episode 3
“He knew the timing would be best if it were radically different from what I understood it to be.” – Iain Whitfield
Abigail Carroll | Discerning the Presence, Power and Peace of God, Episode 4
“Poetry starts with submitting myself to beauty.” – Abigail Carroll
Gary Franklin | Discerning the Presence, Power and Peace of God, Episode 5
“For the first twenty years of my ministry, discernment wasn’t a part of my way of life – it was just busyness and activity.” – Gary Franklin
Holy Week Interlude (2023)
Holy Week Interlude
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: David Vryhof
For a 2-week Holy Week Interlude, Steve Macchia welcomes Brother David Vryhof to the podcast to discuss the Holy Week journey to Easter Sunday.
Preparing for Holy Week | Holy Week Interlude, Episode 1
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof “We are offering ourselves in fresh new ways to God in Lent.” – David Vryhof, SSJE Holy week has the potential to invite us
“Death gives way to life. Not only lived out by Jesus but meant to be lived out by each of us.” – David Vryhof, SSJE
Season 25: A Process for Discernment
Season 25: A Process for Discernment
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: John Pearson, Matt Scott
In season twenty-five, Steve Macchia welcomes guests John Pearson and Matt Scott to the podcast to discuss a process for discernment from Chapter 8 of Steve’s latest book, The Discerning Life.
The Big Question (Phase 1) | A Process for Discernment, Episode 1
“The why question is a gutsy question. There’s a lot of people who need more guts as lead ministers.” – John Pearson
The Open-Hearted Approach (Phases 2, 3) | A Process for Discernment, Episode 2
“I think we shortchange the Holy Spirit by not asking, ‘Lord, who do you want on this discernment team?’ It makes a world of difference.” – John Pearson
The Prayerful Process (Phases 4, 5, 6, and 7) | A Process for Discernment, Episode 3
“Clarity and consolation are big words in the discernment process.” – Steve Macchia
The Faith-filled Conclusions (Phases 8, 9, 10) | A Process for Discernment, Episode 4
“If we don’t do deliberation well, we torpedo all the good work we’ve done so far” – John Pearson
Pastoral Reflections | A Process for Discernment, Episode 5
“We get into conflict related to discernment because there are those around the table of discernment who don’t want to be patient with the process.” – Steve Macchia
Season 24: 40 Days of Discernment
Season 24: 40 Days of Discernment
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Matt Scott
In season twenty-four, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Matt Scott to the podcast to discuss a forty-day prayer and reflection resource from Steve’s latest book, The Discerning Life.
A Listening Community | 40 Days of Discernment, Episode 1
“In the discerning life, we have to take everything we have and hold it more loosely.” – Steve Macchia
A Broken World | 40 Days of Discernment, Episode 2
“In the midst of pain and suffering and sorrow, what is God inviting us to do about it?” – Steve Macchia
A Broken Body | 40 Days of Discernment, Episode 3
“We are to be peculiar people in our grace, our mercy, our kindness, our love, our forgiveness, our reconciliation – that’s the peculiarity of the church.” – Steve Macchia
God Made Visible | 40 Days of Discernment, Episode 4
“Is this really God speaking or is it any of those other voices pulling me off course?” – Matt Scott
A Time of Hope | 40 Days of Discernment, Episode 5
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “Leaders plant seeds of hope, even when the situation is dire.” – Steve Macchia We live in a world that is constantly disappointing us.
A Living Companionship | 40 Days of Discernment, Episode 6
“How powerful it is for people to let each other emote and not get in the way of what the Spirit of God is doing and let God do His work” – Steve Macchia
Season 23: Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting - Advent & Christmastide
Season 23: Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent & Christmastide
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Susan Currie, Dave Ripper, Dave Friedrich, Mark Booker, Bryan Wilkerson, Todd Cravens, and Margery Kennelly
In season twenty-three, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Susan Currie, Dave Ripper, Dave Friedrich, Mark Booker, Bryan Wilkerson, Todd Cravens, and Margery Kennelly to the podcast to discuss discerning God in seasons of waiting.
Susan Currie | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 1
“During Advent, we give space to the waiting. All of us are waiting for something.” – Susan Currie
Dave Ripper | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 2
“We suffer from a severe depletion of spiritual expectancy. Moments of waiting can actually rekindle the flames of hope.” – Dave Ripper
Dave Friedrich | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 3
“Waiting in the Bible is not just looking at the clock. It is about anticipation. It’s about cultivating hope and joy. ” – Dave Friedrich
Mark Booker | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 4
“Waiting on God is resisting the impulse to take matters into my own hands.” – Mark Booker
Bryan Wilkerson | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 5
“Believe that the Lord had something fresh for you this Christmas” – Bryan Wilkerson
Todd Cravens | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 6
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Todd Cravens “What do I need to do now? Waiting is not an absence of activity.” – Todd Cravens Todd Cravens is in his 16th year,
Margery Kennelly | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 7
“We always think about waiting on God but God spends a long time waiting on us.” – Margery Kennelly
Season 22: Discerning God in Our Stories
Season 22: Discerning God in Our Stories
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Trevor Hudson, Carolyn Arends, Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, Molly Shafferman, Cindy Bunch, James Bryan Smith, and Cindy Foley
In season twenty-two, Steve Macchia welcomes guests Trevor Hudson, Carolyn Arends, Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, Molly Shafferman, Cindy Bunch, James Bryan Smith, and Cindy Foley to the podcast to discuss discerning God in their stories.
Trevor Hudson | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 1
“I thought to myself, ‘God, did I really get all this wrong? I thought you were leading me in this direction.’” – Trevor Hudson
Carolyn Arends | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 2
“The promise we always have is not no pain – it’s no wasted pain. There’s nothing that He can’t redeem.” – Carolyn Arends
Molly Shafferman | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 3
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Molly Shafferman “‘I thought you were going to teach me to pray.’ ‘We are. We are listening a little bit.’” – Molly Shafferman Molly Shafferman lives
Cindy Bunch | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 4
“When we develop self-compassion, we cultivate greater empathy towards others.” – Cindy Bunch
James Bryan Smith | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 5
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Bryan Smith “Every need that my soul has, Jesus meets them – every single one of them.” – James Bryan Smith James Bryan Smith is
Bill and Kristi Gaultiere | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 6
Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Bill and Kristi Gaultiere “Ohh, I need to do some more inner journey work. This is an invitation.” –Kristi Gaultiere Bill and Kristi Gaultiere are Drs
Cindy Foley | Discerning God in Our Stories, Episode 7
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Cindy Foley “If my chief thing is to look for God, and look for His goodness in people, it makes me less critical.” – Cindy Foley
Season 21: Discerning God's Heart for the World
Season 21: Discerning God’s Heart for the World
Host: Steve Macchia | Guest: Paul Borthwick
In season twenty-one, Steve Macchia welcomes guest Paul Borthwick to the podcast to discuss discerning God’s heart for the world.
Discerning God’s Love for All People | Discerning God’s Heart for the World, Episode 1
“The thing that God is using to help me be a person of love is the phrase that comes to my mind whenever I see a person; ‘this is a human being created in the image of God and worthy of love and respect.’ ” – Paul Borthwick
Discerning God at Work in the World | Discerning God’s Heart for the World, Episode 2
“I think that we are living in the most exciting time in Christian history since Jesus walked the earth.” – Paul Borthwick
Discovering the Family of God Globally | Discerning God’s Heart for the World, Episode 3
“There is a family of God to get to know globally.” – Steve Macchia
Practices that Fuel Global Discernment | Discerning God’s Heart for the World, Episode 4
“Prayer is our response to the global amount of information.” – Paul Borthwick
Discerning Where We Fit In the Great Commission | Discerning God’s Heart for the World, Episode 5
Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Paul Borthwick “You might be praying for someone who’s never been prayed for before in Jesus’ name.” – Paul Borthwick As we conclude season 21, Paul
Season 20: Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices
Season 20: Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices
Host: Steve Macchia
In season twenty, Steve Macchia will discuss four spiritual practices to help you practice a preference for God on your spiritual journey.
Lectio Divina | Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices, Episode 1
“We need to be biblically centered in our personal spiritual practices.” – Steve Macchia
Listening Prayer | Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices, Episode 2
“How is it with your soul today, dear friend?” – Steve Macchia
Reflective Journaling | Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices, Episode 3
“Remembering and giving thanks are good for your soul.” – Steve Macchia
Daily Examen | Spiritual Praxis, Episode 4
“In order for us to be watchful and waiting, we need to be patient.” – Steve Macchia
Season 19: The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind
Season 19: The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Gary Thomas, Adele Calhoun, David Vryhof, and Matt Scott
In season nineteen while Steve Macchia takes a brief sabbatical, we will be re-airing 4 of our premier episodes from the past 18 seasons.
Toxic Relationships | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 1
“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
Shame on You: The Power of Shame Upon the Soul | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 2
“Shaming voices have the power to cripple us. They isolate us from the truth about ourselves and others.” – Adele Calhoun
Jesus Discerns | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 3
“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
What is Spiritual Discernment? | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 4
“Look what social media has done to our ‘notice me’ inclinations today and how that self-centeredness keeps us from preferring God instead.” – Steve Macchia
Season 18: Your Discerning Life Story
Season 18: Your Discerning Life Story
Host: Steve Macchia | Guests: Matt Scott, Eric Peterson, Nate Foster, John Pearson, Gordon Macdonald, Sara Singleton, Debby Mills, Cheryl Buchanan, Mindy Caliguire, Al Lopus, Jenn Giles Kempner, Michelle Sanchez, and the LTI Lead Team
In season eighteen Steve Macchia welcomes various guests to talk about life stories shaped around spiritual discernment as a lifestyle.
The LTI Story | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 1
“Formation, discernment, and renewal are threads woven into everything we do at Leadership Transformations.” – Matt Scott
Eric Peterson | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 2
“God is in everything, in all the details of life, and not just the pleasant ones.” –Eric Peterson
Nate Foster | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 3
“The Jesus way is clear: hang out with 12 nobodies and then give them the keys.” –Nathan Foster
John Pearson | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 4
“Once you taste spiritual discernment, you won’t want to go back to the old way of decision-making.” –John Pearson
Gordon MacDonald Part 1 | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 5
“Your number one priority in the Lord’s work is your family.” –Gordon MacDonald
Gordon MacDonald Part 2 | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 6
“Expect to reorganize your interior life every 7-10 years.” –Gordon MacDonald
Sara Singleton | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 7
“In my painful disappointments, I learned how to be content, and I learned of God’s love and sufficiency.” – Sara Singleton
Debby Mills | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 8
“Debby, you are a peacemaker, but you are deeply troubled.” – Debby Mills
Cheryl Buchanan | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 9
“It was me that needing saving from my prejudice, judgments, and ignorance. It was me that needed to grow.” – Cheryl Buchanan
Mindy Caliguire | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 10
“Everything I believe about soul care came about because of the collapse of my interior life.” – Mindy Caliguire
Al Lopus | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 11
“Divine providence called me and I answered the phone.” – Al Lopus
Jenn Giles Kemper | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 12
“What if the things that bring you joy are an arrow pointing you to God?” – Jenn Giles Kemper
Michelle Sanchez | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 13
“In a racially broken world, what we need for disciples to be is not color-blind, but color-courageous.” – Michelle Sanchez
LTI Lead Team | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 14
“Giving space to our relationships and decisions describes well our discernment processes for Selah and for LTI overall.” – Susan Currie
Season 17: The Discerning Life
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.
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
What is Spiritual Discernment? | The Discerning Life Episode 01
“Look what social media has done to our ‘notice me’ inclinations today and how that self-centeredness keeps us from preferring God instead.” – Steve Macchia
Biblical Attentiveness | The Discerning Life Episode 02
“Pay attention to God who takes great delight in you, rejoices over you with a song, and has an extravagant affection for you.” –Steve Macchia
Prayerful Listening | The Discerning Life Episode 03
“Unless I learn how to live a contemplative life, I will continue to live a manipulative life.” – Steve Macchia
Relational Presence | The Discerning Life Episode 04
“The discerning life is relational and based primarily in a listening presence.” –Steve Macchia
Communal Hospitality | The Discerning Life Episode 05
“Practicing biblical hospitality is first and foremost toward the lost, the least, the lonely, and the left behind.” – Steve Macchia
Contextual Empathy | The Discerning Life Episode 06
“All spiritual discernment happens within a story-laced context.” – Steve Macchia
Intentional Focus | The Discerning Life Episode 07
“The discerning life requires a radical and renewed change of heart and mind.” – Steve Macchia
Practical Process | The Discerning Life Episode 08
“Asking ‘Why?’ is the hardest and most important question to consider in virtually every circumstance of life.” – Steve Macchia
Radical Lifestyle | The Discerning Life Episode 09
“My true home is in Christ’s heart and Christ’s home is my heart. That’s radical!” – Steve Macchia
40-Day Guide | The Discerning Life Episode 10
“We need a common language and experience for how best to live a discerning life individually and collectively.” –Steve Macchia
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…
