The catalyst for mission isn't found in strategy, resources, or technical knowledge—it's rooted in prayer. But not just any prayer. In this refreshingly honest conversation, Pastor Chris Paavola shares how his journey from worship director to church planter to established church pastor led him to a profound revelation: most Christians don't know how to pray conversationally with God.

• Prayer is the catalyst for mission and church transformation
• The Global South practices prayer with more desperation and dependency
• Scripted prayers are good but insufficient for developing a prayer culture
• The "prayers for" method creates natural, conversational prayer times
• Prayer walking transforms both churches and communities
• Most church members freeze when asked to pray publicly
• Creating systems for teaching conversational prayer is essential
• Prayer services and intercessory prayer teams build prayer culture
• Prayer reveals our desperation and need for God's intervention
• New churches reach new people, and different churches reach different people

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What grounds us when everything seems to be in constant flux? Dr. John Nordling, Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, brings refreshing clarity to this question through his unique lens as both a classicist and Lutheran theologian.

*Disclaimer* - this episode was recorded prior to the Apology Video by Pastor Tim which you can find here

• Understanding the Word of God and Lutheran Confessions as our constant "pole star" amid cultural changes
• The importance of viewing current challenges through the lens of eternity
• How classical education provides deep insights into human nature that complement biblical understanding
• The critical value of learning biblical Greek for pastors to properly handle Scripture
• Making Greek instruction active rather than passive through composition exercises and daily quizzing
• Why pastors should be "professorial" and professors should be "pastoral" in their approaches
• The Christ hymn of Philippians 2 as the ultimate model of humility and service
• Exploring Jesus's often-overlooked sense of humor and wit in the Gospels
• The exciting growth of classical Lutheran education through organizations like CCLE
• Growing opportunities for international Lutheran theological education, particularly in Africa

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What if developing youth leaders wasn't about having the coolest, most relatable youth pastor? What if the most effective behaviors for nurturing young servant leaders were actually accessible to anyone willing to show up consistently?

Jonathan Kopecky and Jackie Druckhammer share findings from their Youth Leadership Initiative research project, revealing vital behaviors that help develop young leaders in the church. Their data shows that anyone can effectively mentor youth regardless of age or "coolness factor" when they focus on showing up consistently and seeing the whole person.

Visit nowlcms.org/YLI to download the full report and access the tools they've developed for implementing these findings in your ministry.

• Looking for "positive deviants" to identify behaviors that disproportionately affect youth leadership development
• Discovering the importance of "I see you" before "I see in you" - valuing the person before their gifts
• The vital behavior of "showing up" - youth remember who was present more than what was said
• Creating a posture of hearing and listening as a safe space for youth
• The "power of yes" - changing from "why not" to "how can we make this happen"
• Finding something for every youth to do by identifying doors to open
• Moving youth "further up and further in" through progressive involvement
• Creating tools like the "no name journal" to help adults track and nurture youth development
• Building a ministry culture that sees youth as current leaders, not just future ones

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The Shroud of Turin contains mysteries that have baffled scientists for decades, offering compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus through radiation signatures that cannot be explained by conventional science.

• A detailed exploration of the Shroud of Turin's physical characteristics, including the negative image containing 3D information
• Scientific evidence showing the image is not a painting, scorch, liquid, or photograph as determined by the Shroud of Turin Research Project
• Explanation of how the 1988 carbon dating (suggesting 1260-1390 AD) was affected by neutron absorption from radiation
• Evidence dating the Shroud to the first century, including ancient stitching patterns and new dating methodologies
• Nuclear engineer Bob Rucker's "Vertically Collimated Radiation Burst" hypothesis explaining image formation
• Discussion on how the Shroud provides scientific evidence for dimensional transition during resurrection
• Connection between current physics theories about higher dimensions and the resurrection event
• Detailed examination of the crucifixion evidence on the Shroud, including accurate anatomical details not known in medieval times

The Shroud of Turin represents a convergence of faith and science - physical evidence of the resurrection that continues to challenge our understanding of physics and provide a powerful testimony to Jesus' victory over death.

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Through honest conversation about modern parenting challenges, Adam Griffin shares how Christian families can create a discipleship-centered home culture that nurtures genuine faith in children while freeing parents from perfectionistic anxiety.

• Anxiety in middle-class American parenting stems from making everything important and measurable
• The gospel offers freedom from perfectionism without lowering standards
• Family discipleship doesn't require theological expertise—just willingness to grow alongside your children
• Modeling faith requires being both reliable (consistent) and relatable (connected)
• Creating intentional rhythms (daily Bible reading, prayer, special monthly one-on-ones) builds discipleship culture
• Biblical patience means resilience and tenacity, not just waiting quietly
• True discipleship happens in relationship, not through programs or mere information transfer
• Raising up leaders in local churches should mirror Jesus' relational approach to developing disciples

Explore more resources at familydiscipleship.com, including the Family Discipleship Podcast and Adam's upcoming book "Good News for Parents."

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Pastor Gabe Kasper explores how our networked, globalized world has fractured into competing narratives about meaning and purpose—and why the gospel offers the transcendent perspective we desperately need.

• Aiming for happiness directly will never work; we must aim for something greater
• Modern culture offers four primary narratives: moralism, hedonism, therapeutic mindset, and nihilism
• Leaders grow through the books they read and the people they meet
• Pastor as curator—reading widely to serve people in an information-saturated age
• We weren't designed to know everything happening globally, which creates unmanageable anxiety
• Seeking identity in political tribes leads to moralism rather than gospel freedom
• Our deepest longing is to be fully seen yet fully loved—something only Christ offers
• The revolutionary concept that God cares about individuals, not just collective groups
• Finding the "second naïveté"—returning to simple gospel truths with deeper understanding
• In our extremes: to the hedonist, "you will die"; to the nihilist, "you will live"

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Pastor Jason Schleicher shares insights from his new book "Good Lord: A Not So Shocking Look at the Goodness of God," exploring how we can recognize divine goodness even amid life's struggles and pain.

• God's goodness is visible throughout creation—from breathtaking landscapes to the intricacy of our bodies
• Starting with listening is crucial when people question God's goodness during difficult seasons
• Peter's story demonstrates how God's goodness includes redemption for our failures and shortcomings
• Color reveals God's artistry—from Hawaiian landscapes to everyday beauty that we often overlook
• We are literally "made of light" at our cellular level, reflecting our creator in profound ways
• Encouraging words build relational safety and allow difficult conversations to happen productively
• Rest is essential for experiencing God's goodness—we should work from rest, not work to rest
• Maintaining boundaries and systems helps church leaders balance ministry demands with family needs

Find Jason's book at goodlordbook.com or contact him at jason@goodlordbook.com

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Kim Marxhausen shares invaluable insights on caring for caregivers, drawing from her personal experience with in-laws who had dementia and her professional background in educational psychology. She explores how brain science, emotional intelligence, and faith-based practices create sustainable patterns for those supporting others through illness or aging.

• Understanding primary vs secondary emotions helps caregivers respond appropriately in stressful situations
• The "superhero syndrome" can trap caregivers in feeling solely responsible for outcomes
• Jesus modeled self-care through retreating for prayer, accepting care from others, and even napping
• Morning routines that include spiritual practices create a foundation for resilience
• Research confirms Bible reading four or more times weekly significantly improves mental health
• The framework "feed your faith, find your fellowship" provides practical wisdom for caregiver wellness
• Reorienting your thinking from being the superhero to doing the small tasks before you relieves pressure
• Looking for people who want to help relieves the burden of trying to do everything alone

Find Kim's book "Weary Joy: The Caregiver's Journey"

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