What a blast to use my podcast to introduce Rick Warren to a church planter who hasn't even launched his first public service yet! Willie Johnson is with REDEFINE CHURCH in St. Louis MO. Rick's project these days is FinishingTheTask.com. I aske

Episode 423 - The Secret Power of Kindness with Greg Atkinson

Jun 16th, 2023 45m 37s

Greg Atkinson was on the 200churches Podcast 10 years ago! Way back in July of 2013 he joined us, when we were only six months old as a podcast - and now, ten years later he is back for the fourth or fifth time - with a great episode about some

Episode 422 - The Necessity of the Neighborhood Church with Sam Rainer

Apr 26th, 2023 54m 44s

Jeff talks with Sam Rainer, Pastor of West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida, the President of Church Answers, and the author of the new book - The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church.Sam is a great example of a 200church pastor who

Episode 421 - Prayer, Evangelism, ChatGPT, and Church Answers with Thom Rainer

Apr 12th, 2023 48m 15s

Thom Rainer is the co-host with his son Sam of the Rainer On Leadership Podcast, and the founder of ChurchAnswers.com and ChurchAnswers.University. Thom is a research guy and a data guy and has studied the church for many years. He has written

Episode 420 - Finally! A Framework For Relational Discipleship with Robby Angle

Apr 5th, 2023 56m 18s

Robby Angle is the CEO of Trueface.org and joins Jeff today to talk about what he and his team are doing with Trueface, about his life and background, and about how Trueface is resourcing churches with training in best practices for discipleshi

Episode 419 - The Art and Heart of a Shepherd with Tony Franklin

Mar 16th, 2023 1h 6m

Pastor Tony is the pastor of Nicholasville United Methodist Church in Nicholasville Kentucky. You are in for a real treat with a humble, godly, 200church pastor from Kentucky. Enjoy!Check out Tony' book, Jesus, The Four Gospels in Politics HERE

Episode 418 - We Talk About David's Book: When Church Stops Working - Meeting With God In Your Living Room

Mar 9th, 2023 1h 1m

David Wentz was a pastor for 38 years, originally an Engineer by vocation, and now an author and equipper of pastors around the world. Lots of kids and grandkids (I've forgotten how many!)David and I speak for a bit about the revival at Asbury,

Episode 417 - She's Writing the 1 Peter Volume of the NICNT - and We Talk About It! A Fascinating Conversation with Dr. Jeannine Brown

Mar 2nd, 2023 1h

She's still writing the 1 Peter volume of the New International Commentary on the New Testament. She is on the NIV Translation Team. She has written three commentaries on Matthew and one on Philippians, as well as a book called Scripture As Com

Episode 416 - Rick Warren Talks Ministry, the SBC, Transition, Finishing Well, and More!

Feb 22nd, 2023 1h 21m

On the eve of Saddleback's ouster from the Southern Baptist Convention, Rick Warren marched through a long conversation with me and Jonny. Rick talks about that in this episode. It's obvious he's not happy about it, but as always he remains gra

Episode 415 - Wondering at the Beauty of God with Steve Dewitt

Feb 15th, 2023 57m 35s

Steve Dewitt is a husband, and father of two daughters, an author, pastor, and Christian leader. This is a conversation about his most recent book, and so much more! You're going to like Steve!Check out a lot (not everything!) of what Steve is

Episode 414 - Leading Your People To Be A Praying Church, Hearing From God, and Following Scripture Not Fads with Jim Cymbala from the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Feb 2nd, 2023 55m 44s

Jim Cymbala for 50 years had pastored the Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn - New York City. He joined Jeff to talk about his approach to ministry, his latest book, his experience through COVID, and him opinions on ministry culture, church growth

Episode 413 - A Conversation on Ministry and Staffing with Todd Rhoades

Jan 25th, 2023 1h 2m

Todd Rhoades has been in the "Connecting Staff to Churches" business since the dawn of the New Millennium, the year 2000! He recently spent 10 years on the team at the Leadership Network, and almost four years ago co-founded ChemistryStaffing.c

Episode 412 - Stop Planning and Start Getting Results with Roger Parrott

Jan 20th, 2023 57m 5s

Roger Parrott is the President of Belhaven University in Jackson Mississippi. He has written a book unlike any book I've ever seen on leadership - it's called Opportunity Leadership - Stop Planning and Start Getting Results. Roger told me "gett

Episode 411 - Could Podcasting Be The New Sunday School For Teaching The Church?

Jan 11th, 2023 55m 3s

Thanks again to Marc for what he's doing to help pastors of small churches! Here’s some links for the show notes:Small Church Media Website: https://smallchurch.media/Link to “Podcasting for Churches” series: https://smallchurch.media/podcasti

Episode 410 - How To Have Enjoyable and Effective Team Meetings

Jan 4th, 2023 59m 43s

This is a supremely practical episode as Dave Jacobs, from SmallChurchPastor.com, and I talk about leadership team meetings, and how to make them both enjoyable and productive. We cover a ton of ground in this episode!You will hear a number of

Episode 409 - Church As A Vibrant Expression - From Stained Glass To Kaleidoscope

Dec 14th, 2022 59m 5s

Kurt Trempert from HarvestDowntown.org in Colorado Springs joins Jeff today for Episode 409. Kurt's book, Kaleidoscope - Keeping the Church from becoming a Museum, was released in 2017, and while they talk about the message of the book, they al

Episode 408 - A Take On Forgiveness That Might Surprise You - with Bruce and Toni Hebel

Dec 7th, 2022 1h 5m

Bruce and Toni Hebel join Jeff to talk about their teaching on Forgiving Forward. They counsel, consult, and coach with individuals, leaders, pastoral couples, and many more every week of the year. What does it look like to actually forgive? Wh

Episode 407 - ChurchOS - An Operating System for Intentional Churches

Dec 1st, 2022 45m 39s

Jeff talks with Doug Parks, CEO of IntentionalChurches.com. Doug tells a little of his own story, and how God led him to what he is currently doing, and how he helped start Intentional Churches.ChurchOS is a theologically and biblically based

Episode 406 - Hop To It! Quick Ministry Coaching with John Finkelde

Nov 9th, 2022 17m 44s

Jeff talked with John Finkelde, founder of GrowAHealthyChurch.com in Perth, Australia about the qualities of a pastor who is emotionally healthy, unhurried, and at peace... among other things.This is a short, quick, effective episode that will

Episode 405 - Leadership In A New Ministry and the Need For Encouragement with Dave Ronan

Nov 2nd, 2022 1h 2m

Dave Ronan Ph.D. is an expert in Intercultural Studies, a pastor, a missionary, a professor, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, and one who has trained Foreign Military Advisors, State Department personnel, and so much more. Dave is cu

Episode 404 - From the Circles of Evangelical Prominence and Political Influence to the Jesus-Centered Local Church - One Pastor's Perspective

Oct 26th, 2022 53m 25s

David Wilson serves as the Executive Pastor at Harvest Downtown in Colorado Springs CO. He has served in para-church organizations that brought him into close proximity with prominent evangelical leaders who wielded political influence national

Episode 403 - What We Learned From A Black Woman Theologian with Christena Cleveland

Oct 19th, 2022 46m 19s

This conversation Jonny and I had with that Jonny and I had with Christena Cleveland was eye opening and enlightening. It helped us to see the world from another person's perspective.Before Tamir Rice, George Floyd, and so many others - we had

Episode 402 - Empowering People Toward Their Highest Calling with Paul Schlieker

Oct 12th, 2022 47m 39s

Paul and Peggy Schlieker are lay people who have never let that status keep them from committed service and ministry for Jesus! They are disciples who make disciples in their church and community, and they challenge and empower regular people t

Episode 401 - This Could Be the Greatest Investment in Youth we rarely talk about!

Oct 5th, 2022 43m 38s

This episode is with Andy Dykhouse, the Executive Director for Camp Rivercrest in Nebraska. If you are not involved in the summer camp world, this episode is for YOU! Enjoy it, and then get your kids involved in something that will be absolutel

Episode 400 - Jeff & Jonny LIVE - Celebrating 400 Episodes

Sep 28th, 2022 1h 9m

Jeff and Jonny are LIVE together on this episode, catching up after a long summer, reminiscing over the last 400 episodes, and recalling some of the very memorable guests over the years, with cameo appearances by John Lynch, Kay Warren, Vinny P