The Discerning Leader Podcast

Co-hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott "We must be honest and embrace our brokenness on the way to wholeness." — Steve Macchia By embracing and befriending our own brokenness, we can find true wholeness in God's strength. Season 34 takes a chapter-by-chapter look at Stephen Macchia's Broken and Whole: A Leader's Path to Spiritual Transformation. In episode 01, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott offer a candid conversation about what it looks like to befriend the broken and blessed reality of our lives. 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.

Matt Scott joins co-host Steve Macchia to explore the significance of spiritual discernment, especially during year-end reflections. They dive into the ancient practice of the Examen, highlighting its power to foster gratitude and awareness of God's presence in daily life. The conversation emphasizes personal ownership in relationships and the importance of acknowledging past experiences. As they transition into the new year, they encourage listeners to embrace a mindset of hope, forgiveness, and grace while reflecting on their journeys.

"I'm so grateful for how He redeems. Sometimes we have to wait a long, long time for His redemptive work to come to reality. But it's worth the wait." —Steve Macchia In the final episode of Season 33, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott discuss the names of Jesus and the comfort we find in knowing that God became flesh and lived among us. This conversation looks at the fulfillment of prophetic promises and the way Jesus' life on earth showed us the fullness of God in human form. 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.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott "A glimpse of light shines in the darkness, a future reality for us to hang our hats on. And it's called hope." —Steve Macchia With all the joyous anticipation of the Advent season, we're still faced with the reality of surrounding darkness and despair. This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast features a conversation that offers practical and intentional ways to anchor our souls in the hope and light that is Emmanuel, God with us. 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.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott "We want his healing, his strength, his comfort, his mercy. We want the gifts that only he can provide for us as we find ourselves hurting and sometimes, hopeless." —Steve Macchia Healing for others. Healing from sickness. Healing in our communities. We long to see the healing power of God in our lives and in the lives of those whom we love. What does it look like to pray for healing? Episode 02 of Season 33 invites you to lift your eyes heavenward and look to Christ for healing in our bodies, minds, and souls. 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.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott "Everybody has a bucket of tears right next to them, and we need to acknowledge for each of us, there's heartache, pain, suffering, and sorrow. And those don't come to an end just because it's Christmas." —Steve Macchia Season 33 begins with an invitation to notice this Advent season what often goes unattended: our heartache and hunger. Are you facing overwhelming grief? Do you have unmet longings and desires? Have you lifted up prayers that seemingly remain unanswered? In this conversation, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott invite you to consider the hopeful reality that God is with us and lovingly meets us in the deepest longings of our soul. 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.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rich Villodas "The greatest gift we offer the world around us is our ongoing transformation in Jesus Christ." - Rich Villodas In this special edition episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve Macchia sits down with author, speaker, and pastor Rich Villodas. Their conversation explores how to order our lives around a particular pace, grow a capacity for interior examination, and live a deeply formed life through spiritual practices. You don't want to miss this conversation! 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.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: A.J. Swoboda "The invitation to sabbath offends just about everything we value as Americans." - AJ Swoboda In this special edition episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve Macchia has a conversation with AJ Swoboda, writer, professor and pastor. AJ shares about the subversive power of sabbath, how we can care for creation, and the formative power of our daily patterns and habits. 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.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott, Guest: Suz Skinner "A good gardener listens and watches and wants to work with what God is already doing" - Suz Skinner Suz Skinner is a member of the Emmaus Faculty, Abide Faculty, and a Spiritual Formation Associate for Leadership Transformations Inc. and the Pierce Fellowship at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Suz joins Steve and Matt to talk about what it means for God to be the gardener of our souls. Using the garden as a motif, Suz shares how the big story throughout the Bible is of God's desire to dwell with humanity. Reflecting upon the parable of the fig tree, Suz reminds us that the Gardener has a heart of mercy. Finally, Suz shares how wise gardeners are aware of what is already happening in the garden. 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.

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott, Guest: Fyfe Blair "Understanding the pruning that is happening with Christ. Yes, it's hard, but there's deep soul care work here going on. It's about your fruitfulness" - Fyfe Blair Fyfe Blair is a faculty member of LTI's Selah Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction (Europe cohort). Fyfe is also the Project Lead for "The Caim" - a large garden in the small village in rural Scotland where he resides. With hands-on knowledge of horticulture, Fyfe joins Steve and Matt to share reflections between tending to a garden and tending to the garden of the soul. 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.