Someone has to be on the lookout for abusive leaders, and it might as well be us. So let's ask ourselves, am I keeping an eye out for threats, not just from the outside, but from the inside? Issues like leaders demanding excessive control, unquestioning obedience, or discouraging independent thinking, well, we have got to address those if we see them.

Has anyone told us that they felt guilty or fearful, abandoned or disconnected in regards to any leader, whether it's a pastor or someone up the chain of command? To create church cultures and communities that are welcoming and safe, we've got to step up to address issues where others remain silent. God entrusted us to guard His flock from all dangers, even those that come from within the fold.

 People in your congregation and in the neighborhoods that you patrol are facing threats you don't even know about. Just like David, they have their own Goliaths. Don't forget that not only was Goliath much taller than David, he was a trained warrior. It was a huge mismatch.

People facing a Goliath in their own lives often feel as Saul did, defeated before the fight even gets started. Sometimes we just need a David. Somebody needs you to be their David. It wasn't by chance that God had David trained as a shepherd and not a warrior, and it's not by chance that you're training to be a safe person for your flock or your community.

 David didn't panic. He just took care of business. While it's obviously impossible to predict every threat, we can enhance security, establish solid emergency procedures, and nurture a culture of preparedness. Just as David used his shepherding skills to protect his flock, we're called on to use our skills to be vigilant shepherds in our own congregations and neighborhoods.

Have you ever left a church service feeling hurt, confused, or wondering if what you heard was really from God? In this episode, I share a personal experience that changed how I view spiritual discernment. After hearing a pastor make an incredibly hurtful statement, my husband and I quietly made the decision to never return. That moment reminded me that the words spoken from a church platform carry tremendous weight.

Drawing from 1 John Chapter 4, we'll explore why Scripture tells us to "test the spirits" instead of automatically accepting every message that begins with, "God told me." Discernment isn't about being cynical or critical—it's about faithfully filtering truth from error. Just as church safety teams and law enforcement officers are trained to stay alert to physical dangers, Christians are called to stay spiritually alert as well.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why spiritual discernment is essential for every believer.
• What it means to "test the spirits" according to Scripture.
• How harmful teaching can wound people who are already hurting.
• Why claiming "God told me" doesn't automatically make a message true.

Whether you're a church leader, ministry volunteer, church safety advocate, or a law enforcement officer, this conversation will encourage you to anchor your faith in God's Word rather than human opinion.

If this episode encourages you, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who wants to help build churches that are physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe.