In this episode of Conversations, I explore the difference between building crowds and making disciples. While many churches measure success by attendance and engagement, Jesus’ mission in Matthew 28 was clear: make disciples.

We talk about why Sunday services cannot carry the full weight of spiritual formation, how Jesus modeled relational discipleship, and why proximity, accountability, and shared life are essential for real growth. This conversation challenges pastors and church leaders to rethink how discipleship actually happens and how churches can prioritize formation over attendance.

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

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🔗 Website: https://joshandrew.org

More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I sit down with Al Gordon, pastor of SAINT Church and author of Spark, to talk about the lie many people believe: “I’m not creative.”

We explore why creativity is central to being made in the image of God, how the Church has lost its edge in this area, and what it looks like to rediscover imagination, execution, and collaboration in today’s world.

If you’re a pastor, leader, or creative, this conversation will help you unlock your God-given creativity and take your next step with clarity and confidence.

If this conversation resonates with you, I’d strongly encourage you to pick up Al’s book Spark: https://algordon.co/

In this episode of Conversations, I answer 10 real questions submitted through Instagram about leadership, church planting, marriage, and navigating seasons of change. This is an honest, unfiltered conversation where I process out loud about calling, uncertainty, emotional health, and what leadership looks like behind the scenes.

We discuss how to discern when God is leading you into a new season, leaving what is familiar to build something new, leading without a clear roadmap, and handling disappointment when leadership decisions affect people. I also share practical thoughts on protecting marriage during transitions, healthy boundaries, emotional resilience, leadership availability, and what it means to feel called but unqualified.

If you are a pastor, church leader, church planter, or someone navigating change, this episode will encourage you to lead with faithfulness, humility, and clarity rather than pressure or comparison.

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew TikTok: @joshnandrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I sit down with Andrew Matrone to discuss pastoral burnout, ministry leadership, marriage, and sustainable health in church leadership.

Andrew shares his transition after 13 years at Red Rocks Church, a season of uncertainty, deleting social media for a year, and rebuilding rhythms of rest and restoration before stepping into a new pastoral role in Florida. We discuss the Barna statistic that only 7% of pastors under 45 say they are flourishing and why traditional ministry models often neglect emotional, physical, and relational health.

This conversation explores boundaries in ministry, the difference between calling and career, leading your home before leading your church, and how pastors can build health in body, mind, and spirit. Andrew also shares practical encouragement for young pastors, including small consistent changes that create long-term sustainability.

If you are a pastor, church leader, ministry couple, or someone navigating leadership burnout, this episode will help you rethink rest, redefine success, and learn how to lead from overflow rather than depletion.

👉 Connect with Andrew: Instagram: @andrewmatrone_ The Fit Pastor Co: @thefitpastorco

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew TikTok: @joshnandrew Website: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I talk about the leadership trap of seeking approval instead of leading with conviction. We explore how people pleasing quietly replaces clarity, why delayed obedience damages trust and culture, and what it takes to lead with courage and faithfulness. If you are a pastor or leader navigating pressure to be liked while making difficult decisions, this conversation will help you return to conviction rooted in obedience rather than applause.

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew

Website: https://joshandrew.org More links:https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I talk about one of the most misunderstood topics in church leadership: church growth. While growth is often celebrated as success, unexamined growth can actually be unhealthy and even harmful if it outpaces discipleship, repentance, and spiritual formation. We look at how attendance, momentum, and numbers have slowly replaced biblical measures of faithfulness and fruitfulness. I walk through Jesus’ perspective on crowds, the difference between growth and health, and why transfer growth can give leaders a false sense of effectiveness. This conversation challenges church leaders to rethink how they measure success and to prioritize maturity, Christ-likeness, and long-term spiritual health over simply attracting larger crowds. If you’re a pastor or church leader wrestling with metrics, pressure to grow, or questions about what healthy ministry really looks like, this episode is an invitation to slow down and return to biblical foundations.

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew TikTok: @joshnandrew Website: https://joshandrew.org

More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I sit down with my longtime friend Ty Headley to talk about creativity, ambition, rest, and what it looks like to live a spirit-led life in a chaotic world. Ty shares his journey from aspiring dancer to creative strategist and reflects on how embracing his story, identity, and limitations shaped who he is today. We talk about navigating feedback and criticism as a creative, the pressure to produce, and the tension between ambition and rest. Ty offers honest insight on discouragement, lost time, God’s timing, alignment, and why rest and self-love are not optional if you want to live and lead well. This conversation is especially for young leaders, creatives, and anyone feeling stretched thin by expectations. If you’re trying to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process, this episode will help you slow down, refocus, and lead from a healthier place.

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free monthly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew TikTok: @joshnandrew Website: https://joshandrew.org

More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I talk about one of the most subtle leadership traps: leading for approval instead of conviction. Over time, the desire to be liked, affirmed, or accepted can quietly replace obedience and integrity, even in well-meaning leaders. I break down three common ways approval replaces conviction, including editing yourself, delaying obedience, and confusing peace with popularity. We also look at the real cost of approval-driven leadership and walk through four marks of leaders who lead from conviction rather than crowd response. If you’re a pastor, church leader, entrepreneur, or anyone carrying responsibility for others, this conversation will help you identify where approval may be shaping your decisions and how to return to conviction-led leadership that is faithful, clear, and healthy.

📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/

🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2

🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew TikTok: @joshnandrew Website: https://joshandrew.org

More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew