The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “Fasting is not an opportunity for us to enter into a diet experience. If we are giving up something hoping that at the end of the fast we might also be down five pounds, that seems to miss the heart of what Jesus is talking about.” – Matt Scott Prayer and fasting go together. This is to realign your heart with God’s heart. In episode seven, we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of fasting. Fasting welcomes and invites discomfort and suffering into our physical body. We practice fasting because it is biblical, important and Jesus gave His followers instructions for fasting, saying “When you fast.” Steve admits that even though he knows how good fasting is for the soul, he still struggles with it. We may fast along with the church calendar, in repentance, for discernment, or dependence on God. All of these reorder our attachments and realign our priorities around God’s priorities which deepens our relationship with God and with others. This episode includes a guided reflection to help you start the practice of fasting. 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: Matt Scott  “We truly are as sick as our secrets.” – Steve Macchia  Discerning leaders need to understand the importance of saying “I'm sorry I was wrong. Please forgive me. In episode six, we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of confession. In confession, we are given the opportunity to be honest, and truthful, and speak of the reality of our given life experience. Confession breaks us out of hiding and living a shame-filled life. The invitation to confession is light and life. Confession is not limited to our sin but also includes our confession of our faith in God. This episode includes a guided reflection to help you practice confession. 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.

In this insightful conversation, Matt Scott, a creative director and minister of spiritual formation, dives deep into the transformative practice of examen. He and host Steve Macchia explore how daily reflection can help keep the soul in tune with God's presence. They discuss the roots of examen in confession and forgiveness, share personal experiences, and emphasize its adaptability in daily life. The episode culminates with a guided reflective practice, encouraging listeners to enhance their spiritual awareness and connection with God.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “The practice of journaling really helps you to notice.” – Steve Macchia The discipline of journaling is as old as the Bible. In episode four (Journaling), we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of journaling. Matt shares the value has found in simply writing things down as it has enabled him to process what he thinks, feels, experiences, and the ways in which God feels near or absent. Steve shares recent insights about journaling and five pieces of practical advice to help us journal well. 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: Matt Scott “We are a forgetful bunch; if we’re not doing something that helps us record, remember, and come back to the goodness of God on a regular basis, we will forget. When we forget, our hearts get hardened.” - Steve Macchia In episode three (Reflection), we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of reflection. Matt shares how gratitude is the antidote to the voice of the enemy and our secular culture that strikes our hearts early in the morning. Steve shares that “reflection is remembering, giving thanks, marking the faithfulness of God.” Reflection looks back upon both joyous times and hard times. Reflection can include meditating on a single verse, journaling, photography, creative arts, holy conversations, noticing, and pondering, it may be alone and in quiet or together with loved ones. Reflection keeps our hearts soft towards the Lord. This episode concludes with a guided experience to help you practice reflection today. 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: Matt Scott  “Listening is the primary skill to develop in life. Particularly if you are a leader.” - Steve Macchia In episode two, we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of listening prayer. Steve says “Listening is the primary skill to develop in life. Particularly if you are a leader.” Matt shares his prayer journey, moving from sharing a list of requests with God to recognizing and paying attention to the voice of God. Matt and Steve talk about listening prayer as letting go of the desire to control the conversation with God. Matt and Steve share practical suggestions to start practicing listening prayer. This episode concludes with a guided reflective experience to help you grow in listening prayer. 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.  

In this engaging conversation, Matt Scott, a creative director and minister of spiritual formation, discusses the transformative practice of Lectio Divina. He emphasizes that Scripture should evoke deep experiences rather than mere intellectual mastery. Matt introduces 'Silencio,' a vital reflective practice, and delves into the six layers of Lectio Divina, encouraging a deeper connection with God's Word through slow, repetitive reading. This dialogue invites listeners to embrace silence and contemplation for spiritual growth and personal insights.

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 7 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.  Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Margery Kennelly “We always think about waiting on God but God spends a long time waiting on us.” – Margery Kennelly Margery serves as Associate Rector at St George's Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN. Margery joins Steve to share pastoral reflections on Epiphany - the bright clear revelation of Christ’s kingship over the whole world. For Christians, this time reminds us to manifest who Jesus is in the world through our testimony and work in the world. As we think about waiting on God, we are reminded that God spends time waiting on us. Margery shares that patience is the ally of waiting and encourages us to demonstrate this fruit of the spirit while we wait. Finally, we are invited to Ignatian Examen, asking, “Does my life glorify God?”  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.

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 6 of The Discerning Leader Podcast. 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, serving as Teaching Pastor and Elder at Hope Christian Church in Winchester, MA. He grew up in Louisville, KY, attended the University of Louisville, and received his M. Div in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Todd and his wife Alisa have three adult children and enjoy hosting international students, totaling more than 60 students from 16 different countries. Todd joins Steve to share about personal and pastoral practices in the week after Christmas. We are encouraged to reflect back upon the year and give voice to the way God has been at work in our lives. We are invited to continue being attentive to God; bringing what we think out to happen into alignment with what we know God wants to happen. 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.    

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 5 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.  Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Bryan Wilkerson “Believe that the Lord had something fresh for you this Christmas” – Bryan Wilkerson Bryan Wilkerson serves as Senior Pastor at Grace Chapel, authored Living God’s Story, is a graduate of Wheaton College and Denver Seminary, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bryan’s life mission statement is “to lead as many people as possible to a joyful and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.” He and his wife, Karen, have four married children and a growing number of grandchildren. Brian shares with Steve that as he enters his thirty-ninth year of ministry, Christmas is his favorite time of year to preach and minister. He believes that the Lord can bring something new in our spirit as we wait expectantly. His pastoral counsel to us is to be quiet for five minutes – to sit in front of the Christmas tree or fireplace, go for a walk, and allow the Lord to meet us in those moments. 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.