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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Gordon MacDonald Part 2 | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 6

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gordon MacDonald

Expect to reorganize your interior life every 7-10 years.” –Gordon MacDonald

Gordon MacDonald’s “View From Eighty” continues in this episode with the following issues and ideas:

  1. Live modestly, stay free of debt, be generous, develop a financial plan, and be wary of those who try to buy your favor;
  2. Expect to reorganize your interior life every 7-10 years;
  3. Receive complements, criticism and counsel with humility and appreciation, avoid whining, complaining, self-pity and making excuses;
  4. Stay alert for the evils and confusions imbedded in organizational life;
  5. Be quick to say (with sincerity and put into writing too) thank you, well done, I’m sorry, I forgive you, and how can I help?;
  6. When you prepare a sermon or teaching, always ask yourself, “What difference will this presentation make to those who will hear you?”;
  7. Be alert for the sensual “triggers” that sometimes follow intense spiritual ministry; and
  8. Return to the cross regularly: express your gratitude, name your sins and resentments, pray for the world, and listen for God’s calls to do mighty things.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Steve Macchia (Podcast Host)
Founder and President of Leadership Transformations
Steve is the author of The Discerning Life,  Becoming a Healthy ChurchBroken and WholeCrafting a Rule of Life and several other titles. Steve has over 40 years in ministry and two postgraduate degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Gordon Macdonald (Season Eighteen Episode 5 & 6 Guest)
Author and Chancellor of Denver Seminary
For nearly 60 years, Gordon Macdonald has served as a pastor, author, and organizational leader. He is formerly the Chancellor and previously the President of Denver Seminary, as well as Pastor Emeritus of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts where he was a pastor for over 40 years. He has written 20 books and co-authored additional titles with his wife Gail, including Ordering Your Private World, which won the Gold Medallion and the Platinum Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association. Gordon and Gail have two children and five grandchildren.

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Steve Macchia

Founder & President

Steve is a graduate of Northwestern College (IA) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.). His prior ministry includes serving on the pastoral staff at Grace Chapel (Lexington, MA) and as president of Vision New England. Since July 1, 2003 Steve has served as founder and president of Leadership Transformations, director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building, and adjunct faculty in the Doctor of Ministry department at Gordon-Conwell. He is the author of sixteen books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective),  Baker bestseller Becoming a Healthy Church, and Crafting a Rule of Life (IVP). He lives in the Boston area with his wife Ruth and is the proud father of two grown children, Rebekah and Nathan, daughter in-love Ashley, and papa to his beloved granddaughter, Brenna Lynn and twin grandsons, Aiden Joseph and Carson Stephen. “My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.

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Articles by Stephen Macchia
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