Craft & Character

Erwin McManus has spent decades honing his skill as a communicator, at Mosaic (the church he founded in Hollywood, CA), at conferences around the world, and in living rooms filled with a handful of friends. Wherever he goes一even in places where he doesn’t speak the native language一he’s able to communicate in a profound way. Why?Erwin explains to Steve Carter that it’s all about “frequencies,” a concept he unpacks in his recent MasterClass titled “The Art of Communication.” Frequencies are the key to understanding your own voice, as well as intuitively sensing the needs of your audience in real-time. Until you develop this awareness of self and listener, you’re likely to communicate as ineffectively as “the loneliest whale in the world.”Want to know what that means? Listen to the episode!EPISODE LINKSErwin’s books: The Genius of Jesus, The Last ArrowHis masterclass: The Art of CommunicationWebsite: thegeniusof.comChurch: Mosaic@erwinmcmanus@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is packed with insights from Luke Norsworthy, pastor of Westover Hills Church in Austin, Texas, and author of God Over Good and Befriending Your Monsters. His conversation with Steve Carter meanders through all sorts of topics: How to put yourself into sermons without being narcissistic. Why Luke uses a checkmark system to track sermon writing progress. How the sobering but hope-filled journey of an Afghan family is shaping Luke’s church. How Luke receives sermon feedback before Sunday, and why he’s a better preacher because of it.  Luke’s final advice? Be grateful every time you preach, regardless of how you feel it went. There will always be another goal to reach, criticism to field, or growth area to explore. For today, be content with where you’re at, trusting grace to carry you wherever you need to go.EPISODE LINKS Luke’s books: God Over Good, Befriending Your MonstersPodcast: NorsworthyWebsite: www.lukenorsworthy.comHis Church: Westover Hills Church@lukeanorsworthy@steveryancarter@craft_characterCheck out the book that inspired Luke to write 500 words a day: The War of Art Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I can’t do another meeting. I don’t want to preach another sermon. Lord, help me!”Two years into his pastorate, Max Lucado offered this prayer as a last-ditch effort to stay in ministry. God answered him, and now decades later, he’s written a new book that offers hope and wisdom to others feeling burned out and wiped out.The book is called Help Is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Like all of Max’s writing, this book masterfully tills the hardened soil of the heart, so that more of God’s grace can be sown there. This book calls us to trade independence for Spirit-reliance. It’s a reminder that, because He dwells in us, we never walk alone.The church often struggles with the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit, but this, says Max, is part of the point: the Spirit can’t be fully explained or contained. He is unpredictable, yet totally dependable. He is the unfailing friend of every saint. He is our helper. That’s good news in our world of unprecedented anxiety. When we receive from the Spirit, not only can our souls be refreshed, but our character can be formed into the people God made us to be.EPISODE LINKSMax newest books: Help Is HereWebsite: https://maxlucado.com/Church: oakhillschurch.com@maxlucado@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Christian circles, thinking about yourself is often labeled selfish. Psychologist and theologian Dr. Alison Cook pushes back on this assumption, explaining why caring for yourself is actually the best way to care for others. It’s the oxygen mask principle you always see in airplane safety videos: Put on your own mask so you can assist those around you.With jolting clarity, Dr. Cook debunks the narratives we use to justify self-neglect: We tell ourselves it’s all about them, but actually we just want to be needed. We tell ourselves we’re being sacrificial, but actually we lack healthy boundaries. We tell ourselves they are the problem, but actually we’ve trained them to be codependent. We tell ourselves we must solve every issue, but sometimes it’s ok to walk away. Many of us want to care for ourselves, but years of bad habits have atrophied our self-awareness and self-care. Dr. Cook offers a simple, yet profound model called “the MEPS,” which involves taking a regular inventory of your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual condition.This episode is a must-listen for every preacher, spouse, parent, friend一every human!EPISODE LINKSDr. Cook’s new book: The Best Of YouOther books: Boundaries For Your SoulDr. Cook’s website.@dralisoncook@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Steve Carter chops it up with four recipients of the 2022 Preaching Today Biblical Preaching Award: Ryan Roach (Western Seminary, Portland, OR), Abby Stuckle (George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor, TX), Rachel Koch (Denver Seminary, Denver, CO), and Christian Schmitt (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA). This award is given on the basis of faithful biblical exposition, clear and simple structure, creativity, pastoral application to daily life, and urgency in delivery.These students beautifully embody not just the excellence of world-class theological education, but also the humility of Jesus. They tackle some hard-hitting homiletics topics like: How to preach in a multiethnic church. Why preachers should know their passage AND their people well. Why expository preaching is a gift to the preacher and congregation. How to preach in a way your audience can absorb and process. The pros and cons of Haddon Robinson’s legendary “big idea” preaching model. This episode will add tools to your belt as a preacher, while infusing you with hope about the quality of today’s rising expositors.EPISODE LINKSYou can read each guest’s award-winning sermon here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of Craft and Character, Steve Carter shares why humility is the key to growing as a preacher一a reflection sparked by a conversation he had with Nancy Beach.Communicators give many reasons for neglecting their own development, but as 1 Timothy 4:14-15 reveals, honing our craft is a matter of stewardship, not just excellence.Steve gives three practical ways to embrace humility and grow as a preacher: Development Coaching Feedback This is a timely reminder that, to give ourselves wholly to the task of preaching, we must showcase a relentless consistency to get better each day as people, disciples, and preachers.Don’t forget to sign up for Steve’s epic book giveaway, featuring titles from past guests on the show!EPISODE LINKSSteve’s books: The Thing Beneath the Thing, This Invitational LifeWebsite: stevecarter.orgChurch: forestcitychurch.comPreaching Cohorts: theascentleader.org@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Like many of us, Jay Kim often feels that involuntary urge to reach for his phone. As the lead pastor at Westgate Church in San Jose, CA, he knows firsthand that modern people crave guidance for using devices well. Jay’s new book, Analog Christian, explains how Christians can respond to the values of the digital world一not by abandoning technology一but by faithfully stewarding it.Jay also shares with Steve Carter some valuable leadership practices, like pausing email while he’s on vacation, resisting the pressure to respond to every headline immediately, and honestly admitting when he needs more time to hear from God. He paints a practical and compelling picture of life that’s peaceful, not frenetic一intentional, not aimless. And in our overstimulated world, that’s a vision we desperately need.EPISODE LINKSJay’s new book: Analog ChristianJay’s other book: Analog ChurchWebsite: jaykimthinks.comChurch: Westgate Church@jaykimthinks@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Ken, if the ship sinks now, everyone will blame you.”It wasn’t the ideal pep talk for a pastor in his first few days on the job, especially at a church that had gone through 20 pastors in 20 years. But when someone spoke those words to Ken Shigematsu, he stuck it out. 25 years later, he’s still leading Tenth Church in Vancouver, Canada.Steve Carter asks about his sermon prep process, and Ken explains how a tidbit from preaching legend Haddon Robinson transformed his method from anxiety-laden to prayerful一from crammed to creative.Ken shares why he’s thankful for his Japanese heritage, and how he’s learned to surrender outcomes to God through Father Thomas Keating’s “The Welcoming Prayer,” and practicing sabbath. He also uses an app called Centering Prayer that pings him throughout the day, reminding him to receive from God, not just achieve for God.EPISODE LINKSKen’s books: Survival Guide for the Soul, God In My EverythingChurch: https://www.tenth.ca@KenShigematsu@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The modern world is a relentless waterfall of information一sound bytes and images flood our minds and trouble our hearts. Enter Jeanne Stevens, whose recent book, What’s Here Now?, unpacks the power of presence and how it offers peace so many ache for in our frenzied age.Steve Carter asks Jeanne to unpack her book’s punchy tagline: How to stop rehashing the past, and rehearsing the future, and start receiving the present. Presence begins with an awareness of your body, emotions, and thoughts一aspects of our God-created existence that have been neglected in the church.Jeanne also shares some preparation hacks she’s honed through the years: the vital role of eliminating content, how to speak to the soul, the urgency to touch on tension in the first five minutes of a talk, and how to share stories that showcase her humanity rather than airbrush it. EPISODE LINKSJeanne’s book: What’s Here Now?Website: jeannestevens.comChurch: soulcitychurch.com@jeannestevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Hall’s mission is to raise up the next generation of evangelists. In our anxiety-filled age, Nick boldly models how the gospel offers the exact hope and comfort the world craves. His voice is prophetically challenging一pointing out the ease with which apathy creeps into the church. But he’s also relentlessly hopeful that God is stirring the next generation to share Jesus and transform the world.Steve Carter talks with Nick about the upcoming Together ‘22 conference, which seeks to empower the next generation of Christians to make Jesus known. Significantly, it will take place on the 50th anniversary of Explo ‘72一a historic evangelistic conference that transformed the lives of many people in Nick’s life, including his dad.Nick’s call to evangelism is bursting with zeal, yet rooted in reality. He says the goal is not arrival, but growth: all of us can take the next step in obedience. By God’s grace, the character of our lives will open people’s hearts to the gospel on our lips.EPISODE LINKSHall’s book: Reset: Jesus Changes EverythingWebsite: https://pulse.org/Register for Together ‘22 here.@nickhallpulse@pulse.movement@steveryancarter@craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices