The Cost of Carrying Responsibility - Dr. Matt Carter, Pastor Joby Martin, and Denny Thompson

Dr. Matt Carter, pastor, church planter, and now part of the teaching team at The Church of Eleven22, joins Denny Thompson and Pastor Joby Martin for a powerful conversation on what it truly costs to carry responsibility. From discipling Colt McCoy through a Heisman run at Texas to planting one of the fastest growing churches in the country, Matt’s story is one of calling, surrender, and learning the hard way that success always comes with weight. He opens up about his time building The Austin Stone from scratch, the growth, the pressure, and the unseen spiritual toll that comes with leading something big for God. Then he shares the moment everything changed, a 99% heart blockage that forced him to slow down, reevaluate his purpose, and finally let go of being “the guy.”

This episode dives deep into the difference between confidence and dependence, between a quarterback’s mindset and a pastor’s calling. Matt and Joby talk about how leadership isn’t about control, it’s about obedience. They break down how to build teams that raise the lid instead of holding it, how to live in rhythms that fill instead of drain, and how to keep your soul healthy when the responsibility feels heavier than you imagined. The conversation turns toward faith, Christmas, and the reminder that even when life doesn’t go as planned, God’s still in control, just like He was when He chose a teenage girl in Nazareth to carry the Savior of the world.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure of leading, building, or providing, this episode will hit home. It’s about surrendering your plans, trusting God’s hand in the middle of the unknown, and remembering that real strength is found in dependence, not in doing it all yourself.