The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

CNLP 795 | A 100% Digital Church: What Mark Lutz Learned That Physical Churches Are Missing

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Lutz pastored a regular church for a few years. Then, as a gamer, he opened up Lux Church, a 100% ditigal church created for gamers. He explains ...

CNLP 794 | Overcoming Your Self-Limiting Beliefs and the Science Behind How Prayer Builds Resilience With Nir Eyal

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get past your self-limiting beliefs? Best-selling author Nir Eyal talks about the research on why some leaders see the positive while other...

CNLP 793 | Carl Lentz On Preaching While Having Sex Outside Marriage, How the Pressure of Church Growth Got To Him, And Warning Signs for Other Church Leaders

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz opens up about the factors that led to the collapse of his ministry. He discusses the core issues that led to hi...

CNLP 792 | I Wanted to Quit Everything: Jennie Allen on Suffering, Spiritual Warfare, Lies Leaders Believe, and Not Giving Up

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jennie Allen reflects on a year like no other she's had: an ephocal global event followed by a terribly difficult sabbatical, health scares, and disco...

CNLP 791 | Why Church Dating Advice No Longer Works: JJ and Kait Tomlin on the Realities Single Christians Face

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

JJ and Kait Tomlin join the podcast to give candid advice to church leaders who, um, haven't dated in a while. It's different out there than it used t...

CNLP 790 | Red Flags Driving Women Out of Church (and How to Fix Them) with Kadi Cole

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Recent data shows that while young men are coming to church in record numbers, women are leaving. Why? Kadi Cole shares the #1 reason women are leavin...

CNLP 789 | Beth Moore on Knowing When It's Time to Leave and Proof-Texting Scripture to Keep the Pulpit and Power

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Beth Moore talks about leaving the SBC a decade ago, how to know when it's time to leave, why so many women are leaving the church, and proof-texting ...

CNLP 788 | Are You Marketing Revival? The Problem with Mixed Motives and Social Media in Church Leaders

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Carey asks the question of whether we're selling church growth and marketing revival on social media. As leaders, our motives are alw...

CNLP 787 | Emergency Episode | Pastoring Angry People: When to Speak, When to Stay Silent, and Leading Without Losing Everyone

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The cultural moment we're in isn't just tense — it's a full convulsion, and it's landing in your church every Sunday. In this emergency panel episod...

CNLP 786 | Craig Groeschel and His Therapist Join the Show: What Happens When a Leader Hits a Breaking Point

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel and his therapist, Dr. Wayne Chappelle, join Carey to talk about a wall Craig hit in ministry, that he thoug...

CNLP 785 | Patrick Lencioni Opens Up About His Dark Night of the Soul, How Work Can Heal You, And Leading Next Gen Leaders

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick Lencioni opens up about his dark night of the soul and his recent five-month sabbatical. Plus, we discuss how we go to work to heal and the jo...

CNLP 784 | Leadership is NOT Lonely! Henry Cloud on Founderitis and Why You're More In Control Than You Think

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Henry Cloud explains why leadership is not lonely, or at least, shouldn't be. Plus, we discuss why founders hang on too long and why leaders have far ...

CNLP 783 | Are We Too Critical Of the Church? John Crist Returns to Talk Cynicism, Hope, and Getting the Tonight Show

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian and listener favorite John Crist returns to ask if we're being too critical of the church right now. Has our cynicism gone too far?  Plus, w...

CNLP 782 | The Problem of Mini-Celebrity Pastors: Les McKeown on Growth Barriers for Church Leaders

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Leadership expert Les McKeown talks about the rise of mini-celebrity pastors, the limits that places on church growth and team development, and how to...

CNLP 781 | John Mark Comer Goes to the Desert, Clarifies Where He Stands, and Deep Dives on a Major Challenge for Modern Discipleship

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

John Mark Comer talks about his 21-day venture into the desert and a silence unlike any he's known in his life. Plus, he clarifies where he stands in ...

CNLP 780 | Are You Clear Enough to Reach The Next Generation? The New Rules of Cultural Influence with YouTuber Ruslan KD

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

YouTuber Ruslan KD sits down to explain that ambiguity from preachers on cultural issues is costing them more than they think. He shares how the next ...

CNLP 779 | Preaching at A Rave: Luke LeFevre + Daniel McLeod on Gen Z's Bold Faith and How to Use Gen Z's Gifts at Your Church

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Even as teenagers, Gen Zers Luke LeFevre and Daniel McLeod were preaching at their high school and at raves. They share why Gen Z is so bold, what's c...

CNLP 778 | Tapping the Brakes on The Talk of Revival: David Kinnaman Nuances What's Happening with Christianity in America + Digital Discipleship

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is America in revival? Well, not quite, according to Barna CEO David Kinnaman, who joins Carey to discuss 2026 church trends. New data shows overall A...

CNLP 777 | 2026 Disruptive Church Trends: Gen Z Leading Church Attendance Surge, Women Exiting Faith, + The Impact of Discipleship By Algorithm

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Carey Nieuwhof unveils 7 disruptive church trends to track in 2026. The trends include Gen Z leading a surge in young church attendance and a rise in ...

CNLP 776 | Small Church Dysfunction: David Ashcraft Talks about Growth at LCBC, Succession and Growing the Global Leadership Summit

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Former LCBC Senior Pastor David Ashcraft talks about the small church dysfunction he encountered when he arrived at LCBC when it was just a small chur...

CNLP 775 | When Church Members Break Your Heart and Your Trust: Sharon Hodde Miller on Resilience and Speaking Into the Culture

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sharon Hodde Miller discusses entering ministry with idealism that is crushed when people break your heart and leave your church. Plus, she discusses ...

CNLP 774 | You're Not Ready for Revival: Dom Ruso on a New Kind of Secularism and Reaching UnReachable People

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Theologian and church planter Dom Ruso offers lessons from church planting in Montreal, one of the most secular environments in North America, and how...

CNLP 773 | How To Hijack the Brain of Your Audience: J.R. Briggs on Why the Best Leaders Are the Best Question Askers

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

J.R. Briggs has studied the art of asking questions for ten years. He shares how the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life and...

CNLP 772 | The Making of NT Wright: His Calling, What He Gave Up, His Influences, And His Views on Spiritual Warfare and Demonizing Your Enemies

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the podcast, N.T. Wright discusses the forces that formed him into the scholar, priest, and writer he is today: his early influence...

CNLP 771 | Is Your Marriage Difficult or Destructive? When God Releases You From Marriage with Lysa TerKeurst

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lysa TerKeurst opens up about the end of her marriage and offers insight into the distinction between difficult and destructive relationships. Lysa sh...

CNLP 770 | Social Outrage: J.D. Greear On Charlie Kirk, When to Speak Out, and Culture Wars

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

J.D. Greear shares the tension every pastor feels over when to speak out, how to speak out, and which issues should command a pastor's voice. J.D. als...

CNLP 769 | How AI Is Damaging Your Mind and Brain: Dr. Caroline Leaf on How to Battle Stress, Burnout, and Anxiety

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Caroline Leaf explains her philosophy on the distinction between the mind and the brain, and how to utilize your mind to combat stress, anxiety, a...

CNLP 768 | The Leadership Time Trap: How to Multiply Results Without Adding Hours

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, you'll learn a fresh perspective on exactly where your time goes, how to cut the investments where you're least effective, and multip...

CNLP 767 | Solving the Mental Health Emergency: Shaunti Feldhahn and James Sells on a Better Approach to Pastoral Care

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. James Sells and Shaunti Feldhahn rethink mental health and loneliness. They offer practical steps on how the church can lead healing without burni...

CNLP 766 | Rising Comic Andrew Stanley on Resilience, Bombing, and Finding the Punchline

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Andrew Stanley talks about his journey as a preacher's son who studied finance and accounting to become a rising comic who has performed with...

CNLP 765 | The Real Difference Between Growing and Declining Churches: Thom Rainer on What Reaches The Anxious Generation

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thom Rainer explains the difference he's discovered between what growing churches do and what declining churches do. It's simpler than you think. Plus...

CNLP 764 | Why Christians Can't Trust ChatGPT: Bobby Gruenewald on Scripture and YouVersion's Rise to 1 Billion Installs

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

YouVersion CEO Bobby Gruenewald discusses what's right and wrong with AI, sharing some shocking examples of why Christians should be cautious about tr...

CNLP 763 | When Pastoral Succession Hurts: Tim Timberlake on Leading Through Pain and Finding Momentum

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a wide-ranging interview, Tim Timberlake reflects on a challenging pastoral succession and how he rebuilt momentum. Plus, he discusses getting divo...

CNLP 762 | The Church Model That's Dead: Attractional Church and 3 Shifts Every Leader Must Know

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Carey explores why the attractional church model no longer works, what's replacing it, the three shifts that made it ineffective, and...

CNLP 761 | The Hardest Assignment in Ministry: Tim Stevens on Willow Creek, Firing Well, and Finding Momentum

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Stevens returns to the podcast to discuss the hardest assignment in ministry: his three years at Willow Creek. He also talks about how to spot tal...

CNLP 760 | Your Brain is Lying to You 80% of the Time: Judah Smith and Les Parrot on Why Leaders Self-Sabotage and How to Break the Cycle

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Judah Smith and Dr. Les Parrot, Judah's therapist of 15 years, talk about the unique pressures pastors face. Les and Judah explain why your brain is l...

CNLP 759 | Preaching Through Depression — Faith Eury Cho on Mental Health, the Holy Spirit, and Gen Z

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Preaching is hard, no matter how you approach it. But throw planting a church during lockdown, a life-long struggle with mental health and anxiety, an...

CNLP 758 | Does Simple Church Still Work? Eric Geiger on What Scales and Why Older Church Leaders Need to Die to Themselves

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly twenty years after releasing his groundbreaking book Simple Church, Eric Geiger reflects on why complexity still doesn't scale, how complexity ...

CNLP 757 | The Key To Better Preaching is NOT What You Think: Megan Fate Marshman on Preaching and How to Use Your Voice and Body for More Effective Communication

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Megan Fate Marshman is an incredibly compelling preacher who speaks in many of the largest churches in America. She shares how her preaching has evolv...

CNLP 756 | Preaching Secrets That Actually Work: 90 Minutes of Strategy, Theology, and the Art of Preaching with Mark Clark and Carey Nieuwhof

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

83% of Americans say preaching impacts their decision on a church home. Having just filmed a new 45 video course called the Art of Preaching, Carey Ni...

CNLP 755 | 29 Stress Points in 14 Months and My Health Wake-Up Call: Inside My Hardest Year in Leadership in 20 Years

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty-nine stressful events in 14 months. One major health crisis. Zero sugar-coating. In this flip-the-mic episode, Sean Morgan interviews Carey to ...

CNLP 754 | Rick Warren on What 99% of Churches Don't Do, The Rise of the Global Church, and the Call American Churches Need to Hear

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rick Warren returns to the podcast to explain what 99% of churches don't do. He discusses the extraordinary rise of the global church and how it's out...

CNLP 753 | Why White Christian Men Are Afraid to Preach the Bible — Therapy, Calling, and Comedy with Julian Lowe

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Julian Lowe never expected to be a pastor, which ironically freed him up to become one. He talks about what he learned at the Groundlings, in Music, a...

CNLP 752 | How Do You Fire Staff That Are Like Family? Jon Gordon on Making the Tough Calls on Staffing and Creating Great Teams

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many church leaders think of their staff as family. But if they're family, can you fire them? Jon Gordon has coached hundreds of professional sports t...

CNLP 751 | The 6 Surprising Traits of Sticky Sermons And Why Focusing On The Problem is the Wrong Approach—With Dan Heath

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Heath, author of Made to Stick, The Power of Moments, and other seminal leadership books, talks about the six surprising traits of sticky sermons,...

CNLP 750 | Inside Tim Keller's Mind: Matt Smethurst on Keller's Preaching, DNA, and Rule of Life

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Smethurst has listened to and studied more hours of Tim Keller's preaching and teaching than almost anyone alive. In this conversation, Matt gets...

CNLP 749 | Revival Series Pt. 5 | Why God is Moving So Powerfully Now: JP Pokluda on Gen Z and Gen Alpha Revival and How to Share the Gospel with Your Uber Driver

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 5 of our Revival series, JP Pokluda brings firsthand accounts of how God is moving in college stadiums. He shares the Gospel with your Uber dr...

CNLP 748 | Revival Series Pt. 4 | Gen Z Men Converting—UK Church Revival Lessons for America: Nicky Gumbel, Al Gordon and Stephen Foster on Reversing Generations of Church Decline

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 4 of the Revival series, Nicky Gumbel, Al Gordon, and Stephen Foster explain how and why Gen Z men in the UK are becoming Christians in record...

CNLP 747 | Revival Series Pt. 3 | Revival Broke Out at Saddleback: Andy Wood and Luke LeFevre on How Far the Church In America Has Fallen and the Way Back

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 3 of our Revival series, Andy Wood (Lead Pastor of Saddleback Church) and Luke LeFevre (A Gen Z preacher who works with the Gather movement) d...

CNLP 746 | Revival Series Pt. 2 | Preparing and Preaching For Revival: Jon Tyson on the History, Dynamics and Prep You Need to Be Ready for Revival

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 2 of our Revival series, Jon Tyson does a deep dive on the history of revival, including a detailed account of what happened/is happening in t...

CNLP 745 | Revival Series Pt. 1 | Inside the Asbury Outpouring: Zach Meerkreebs on the Sermon that Sparked Revival, Miracles, and Gen Z's Spiritual Awakening

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our Revival Series opener, Zach Meerkreeb shares the backstory of the Asbury Outpouring sparked by his sermon, which didn't go particularly well. ...

CNLP 744 | This One Thing Separates Ministry Survivors from Ministry Casualties: Ray Johnston's Secret to Lasting Decades In Ministry

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ray Johnston, senior pastor of Bayside Church in Sacramento, CA, reflects on decades of ministry and how to stay encouraged in ministry even when you ...

CNLP 743 | Stuck Under a Bad Boss? Bree Groff on How to Thrive, Lead Up, and Transform Your Job

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One question church leaders keep asking is "what do I do about my boss/lead pastor? Enter Bree Groff, workplace expert who explains what to do when yo...

CNLP 742 | 2025 Church Trends UPDATE: The Gen Z Revival is Real (New Data) + The Mental Health Crisis is Shifting To A Whole New Front

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Major update to Carey's 2025 church trends with stunning new data. Gen Z church attendance has quadrupled (4% to 16%), with young men leading at 21%. ...

CNLP 741 | How To Know When You've Crossed A Moral Line: Max Lucado on Church Leadership, Moral Failure, and How to Tame Your Thoughts

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Max Lucado talks about his new role at Gateway Church, how to carry the trauma and disappointment of a congregation after the senior pastor has breach...

CNLP 740 | Overpoliticized and Undermoralized: David Brooks on the American Church, Culture, Becoming a Christian and Being Pastored By Tim Keller

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if our culture's biggest crisis isn't political, but spiritual and relational? New York Times columnist, bestselling author, and Atlantic columni...

CNLP 739 | Young and Fighting About Money, Sex and Power: Ashley and Jaime Wooldridge on How They Radically Transformed Their Marriage and Went On To Lead One of America's Fastest Growing Churches

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's nothing like honesty when it comes to hearing people's stories. CCV Lead Pastor Ashley Wooldridge returns to the podcast with his wife, Jaime....

CNLP 738 | Don't Make the Pastor the Product: Ashley Wooldridge on Building One of America's Fastest-Growing Churches Through Team Empowerment

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lessons from one of America's fastest-growing and largest churches, Christ Church of the Valley (CCV). Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge talks about les...

CNLP 737 | Toxic Masculinity and the Church: Derwin Gray on Using Ministry to Heal Childhood Wounds, Lessons from the NFL, and The Challenge of Finding the Right Team

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Derwin Gray talks about toxic masculinity and how it plays out in the NFL, the culture, and the church. Plus, insights on using ministry to heal child...

CNLP 736 | Why Dying Churches Need to Give Growing Churches Their Buildings: The Argument and The Main Objections

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fact: Many churches with facilities and money lack people, while churches with people often lack facilities and funds. In this episode, Carey Nieuwhof...

CNLP 735 | 280% More Likely to Come Back: Jason Mitchell on How to Get Visitors To Come Back to Church, The Emotion of Succession and How Preaching Has Changed

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine if your biggest question was, why did our church grow so fast? Jason Mitchell, Lead Pastor of LCBC, talks about what you need to do to see a 2...

CNLP 734 | Is Your Church Overstaffed? Amy Anderson on The Pivotal Differences Between Growing and Declining Churches, and The Legacy of Tony Morgan

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Unstuck Group's Amy Anderson discusses how to know if your church is overstaffed (it probably is), the key differences between growing and declini...

CNLP 733 | You Are Not Your Work: Arianna Molloy's Blueprint for Overcoming Toxic Calling and Boundary Shaming

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has your calling become toxic? Biola Professor Arianna Molloy discusses the identity crisis most church leaders face: identifying with their calling s...

CNLP 732 | When You Want To Punch a Hole in the Wall: Kyle Idleman on Vulnerability, Insecurity and the Spiritual Gift of Disappointing People

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kyle Idleman discusses why it's easier to admit a fault on stage than to a friend in person, the times you feel like you want to punch a hole in the w...

CNLP 731 | Leading With An Inferiority Complex: Chris Hodges Opens Up About Being Bullied, Insecurity, and How to Foster a Successful Succession

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chris Hodges, founding pastor of Church of the Highlands, opens up for the first time about being bullied as a kid, having an inferiority complex, and...

CNLP 730 | Pick My Brain: Are There Limits to Church Growth? Plus, Being Micromanaged and How to Know Who To Fire

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carey answers your questions about whether there are limits to church growth, what to do if your elders try to micromanage you, and how to know who to...

CNLP 729 | Church Growth Unleashed: Adam Mesa on Millennial Pastoring and Viral Podcasting

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Patria Lead Pastor Adam Mesa shares how viral podcasting helped grow his church from 1,100 to 7,500+ in five years, his experience as a millennial tak...

CNLP 728 | The Maniac's Advantage: Ryan Leak on Strategic Preparation, Speaking Success & Meeting Heroes

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan Leak has become one of the most sought-after preachers and leadership speakers today. He explains why he prepares for a three-minute offering tal...

CNLP 727 | Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind: Andrew Mellen's Radical Approach to Personal Organization and Office Communication

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Organizational consultant Andrew Mellen returns to the podcast to discuss the three rules he uses to help leaders organize their work and home life fo...

CNLP 726 | Becoming #1 In Your Field: Mark Faris Brings Lessons on Navigating Rapid Growth and Breaking Through Leadership Ceilings

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Real estate mogul Mark Faris talks about going from being cut from professional hockey to becoming the #1 real estate agent and company in the nation....

CNLP 725 | Too Young to Lead? John Eldredge on Age, Authority, and the Hidden Hunger Success and Marriage Can't Fill

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Eldredge asks whether 30 is too young to be a lead pastor (and what to do if you're in your 20s or 30s and leading a large church). He also talks...

CNLP 724 | Leadership Wounds That Become Ticking Time Bombs: Levi Lusko on Navigating a Mid-Life Crisis in Ministry at 38 and the Mixed Gifting and Motivations of Preachers

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Levi Lusko opens up about navigating a mid-life crisis in ministry at 38 and identifying wounds that become a ticking time bomb. Plus, Levi and Carey ...

CNLP 723 | Pick My Brain: Raw Answers to Your Leadership Questions on Ambition, Being a "Professional" Christian, and Firing People

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carey Nieuwhof takes the top questions young leaders submitted about ambition and how it works for and against you. Plus, he discusses media consumpti...

CNLP 722 | When No One Trust Pastors Anymore: Glenn Packiam on The Nex-Gen Church Leader Mental Health Crisis And The Difference Between Being Weary and Wounded

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Glenn Packiam talks about how to pastor in an age where no one trusts pastors, the church leader mental health crisis (especially among next-gen leade...

CNLP 721 | When Couples Fight About Everything: Gabe and Rebekah Lyons Open Up About Marriage, Sex, and Honest Advice for Two Career Couples

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In an incredibly candid conversation, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons open up about their 28-year marriage. They discuss how they fight about everything, sex, ...

CNLP 720 | Why Woke Broke: Mark Sayers on the Massive Trump-Era Cultural Upheaval and How to Find Hope in New Global Chaos

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Sayers brings astonishing insight to the rapid cultural, economic, and political change we're seeing right now in America and globally. Carey and...

CNLP 719 | Why Teens Don't Trust the Church: Kara Powell on Why Young Women are Dropping Out of Church, And The Keys to Reaching The Next Generation

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Kara Powell discusses why teens and young adults don't trust the church. Plus, Carey and Kara talk about why young women are dropping...

CNLP 718 | When Christians Become the Minority: Warren Bird and Adelle Banks on The Shifts Needed To Make Your Church Future-Ready and the Surprising Reasons People Give for Not Attending Church

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Warren Bird and Adelle Banks share data and case studies on what you need to do to make your church future-ready and to experience church growth. Plus...

CNLP 717 | Does Character Even Matter Any More in Leadership (And Ministry)?

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does character even matter anymore for Christians? If you look at the moral failure happening among pastors and the current culture politically, you'd...

CNLP 716 | A New Model for Funding Churches: Mark Batterson on Visionary Entrepreneurship, and The Gradual and Sudden Pattern of Success

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Batterson unpacks the funding and church planting strategy of National Community Church. He shares how NCC went from 29 people to owning coffee ...

CNLP 715 | The Most Overlooked Group in Your Church: Annie F. Downs on What Many Churches Are Missing in Ministry and the Power of Human Connection On and Offline

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this live interview, Annie F. Downs returns to the podcast and explains what most churches are missing in ministry. Plus, she discusses the most ov...

CNLP 714 | How A Brick and Mortar Bookstore Defied Amazon: Mart Green on The Inner Workings of the Green Family and Navigating the Reaction to the He Gets Us Campaign

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mart Green joins the podcast to share how his retail book chain stayed profitable and growing in the face of the rise of Amazon, defying the odds. Pl...

CNLP 713 | The Decline of the New Atheism: Justin Brierley on The Openness of Thinkers Like Jordan Peterson and How to Have Conversations With Spiritually Open People

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Surprise. The New Atheism of people like Dawkins, Hitchins, and Sam Harris has lost favor over the last few years. Podcaster and author Justin Brierle...

CNLP 712 | The Difference Between Preaching to a Pre-Christian and Post-Christian Culture: Mark Clark on Leveraging Your Unique Personality—Even Tourettes and OCD—and How to Talk to An Anxious Generation

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Clark talks about the difference between preaching to a pre-Christian and post-Christian culture and how to do both effectively so that you can r...

CNLP 711 | A Masterclass on the New Apologetics: Breaking Down What Wesley Huff Got Right with Joe Rogan and Billy Carson

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Apologist Wesley Huff recently debated Billy Carson, which led to an appearance on the Joe Rogan Show. In both cases, Wes demonstrated a pow...

CNLP 710 | Craig Groeschel Breaks Down How He's Adapting His Communication and Preaching for Digital Ministry, AI, and Social Media, The Power of Extreme Habits and Behaviors, and Why People Are Bored With Cool Church

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Craig Groeschel breaks down how he's changing and adapting his preaching and communication style for digital ministry, AI, and social media. Plus, he ...

CNLP 709 | How to Tell Whether Your Culture is Healthy, The Power of Culture in Getting Next Generation Talent, And Discovering Your Blind Spots As a Leader with Jenni Catron

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Culture expert Jenni Catron joins the podcast to discuss the signs to look for that tell you whether your church or company culture is healthy or toxi...

CNLP 708 | John Ortberg on What the Church Can Learn From Alcoholics, The Spiritual Power of Personal Inadequacy, and Why the Church Keeps Producing Elder Brothers

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Ortberg discusses the spiritual power of admitting your personal inadequacy, what the church can learn from alcoholics, and why the church keeps ...

CNLP 707 | Dave Ramsey On How God Broke Him as a Leader, His Top Business Lessons, and Why People Who Think They're Micromanagers Might Not Be

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Ramsey talks about how going broke, broke him as a person and leader and the difference that's made to his leadership today. He also shares his t...

CNLP 706 | Tyler Staton on Lessons From His Cancer Journey, Why He Didn't Pray for Healing, and What Happens When You Can No Longer Lead From Your Strengths

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tyler Staton shares lessons from his journey with cancer, including why he never prayed for healing, the profound transformation of suffering, and wha...

CNLP 705 | Ramit Sethi On How to Teach Couples About Money in Your Church, Why Raising Money for Charity is So Hard, and How to Deal with Cheap Board Members

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ramit Sethi, New York Times Bestselling author, podcaster, and Netflix show host, returns to the podcast. Ramit shares his insight on what couples str...

CNLP 704 | The Dismal State of Evangelism, the Divide Between Church and Culture, and The Missed Opportunity of Unchurched People's Surprising Spiritual Openness with David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Only 1% of pastors say their churches are very effective at evangelism. Yet, 72% of people say they are open spiritually. In this episode, Barna CEO D...

CNLP 703 | Noah Herrin on High Growth Church Planting, Leading with Community over Content, and How a Church With An Average Age of 25 Got Started

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Church planter Noah Herrin continues the 2025 church trends series as he and Carey discuss high-growth church planting. Noah shares how he created a m...

CNLP 702 |The Secrets of High Conversion Growth Churches And the Keys to Evangelism in Today's Culture with Joby Martin and Mike Housholder

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joby Martin and Mike Housholder both lead high-conversion growth churches. That means the growth they're seeing isn't coming from transfer growth. How...

CNLP 701 | College Revival, Gen Z's Confession Movement, and Bridging the Revival to Churches with J.P. Pokluda and Jennie Allen

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

J.P. Pokluda and Jennie Allen join Carey to share their experiences with the college revival happening across the United States.  As the 2025 Church ...

CNLP 700 | 2025 Church Trends: Gen Z Is In Revival and Retreat At the Same Time, Evangelism is on Life Support, and More

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carey Nieuwhof shares the top 5 church trends leaders need to pay attention to in 2025. Carey discusses how Gen Z is in both revival and retreat, evan...

CNLP 699 | Zach Zehnder on What's Wrong in Current Discipleship, Planting a Church In a Mainline Denomination, and How to Know When It's Time to Leave

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's wrong with the current approach to discipleship? Lutheran pastor and author Zach Zehnder talks about what's wrong with the current approach to ...

CNLP 698 | Counterintuitive Advice on How to Attract and Keep High Performers, Getting Better Before Getting Bigger as a Younger Leader, and Thoughts on Paul Graham and Brian Chesky's Founder Mode with Brett Hagler

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do leaders attract and keep high performers? Brett Hagler, Y Combinator grad and New Story Founder, shares a young leader's counterintuitive advic...

CNLP 697 | Decision Fatigue is Bad. Indecision Fatigue is Worse: The Real Cost of Not Deciding

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many leaders understand the cost of decision fatigue, but very few understand the cost of indecision fatigue—the real cost of not deciding.  In thi...

CNLP 696 | Bob Goff on Being More Available as a Leader, Whimsy, What He's Learned from Millions of People Who Have His Phone Number, and How to Infuse Adventure Into an Otherwise Ordinary Life

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bob Goff returns to the podcast and shares what he's learned from millions of people who have had his phone number, how to be more available as a lead...