Explore every episode of the podcast The Christian Leader Made Simple Show
Dive into the complete episode list for The Christian Leader Made Simple Show. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Short Clip: Why I Gave Up a $48K Job to Make $13K in Ministry | Scott Graham
24 Jul 2025
00:10:49
Link to the full podcast: https://youtu.be/LFZ8go_axgc?si=wMUVDx_cdEjWF_8y
Description: In this powerful and deeply personal testimony, Scott Graham recounts his life-changing call to ministry, sparked by a sermon at youth camp and affirmed by a final, prophetic moment with his dying grandfather. He shares the emotional cost of leaving a secure future to follow God’s calling and emphasizes the importance of anchor moments that affirm one’s purpose during difficult times. Graham reflects on the challenges of early ministry, particularly impatience in studying scripture, and stresses that spiritual depth and anointing are often born from personal sacrifice, suffering, and lived experience—not instant results.
Purchase The Christian Leader Blueprint book today: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprintbook
Download The Christian Leader Blueprint – Short Guide (Free): https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprint
Take the Christian Leader™ Self-Assessment (Free): https://www.ryanfranklin.org/clselfassessment
Learn more about Christian Leader™ Community Coaching: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/communitycoaching
YouTube and Audio Podcast: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/leaderpodcast
In this episode of The Christian Leader Made Simple Show, Pastor Luke St.Clair joins us to explore what it means to pray as a whole man—spirit, soul, and body. Drawing from his book The Whole Man, Pastor St. Clair unpacks a powerful framework of praying Scripture, hearing God’s voice clearly, and creating a consistent rhythm of prayer in the middle of leadership demands. We talk about everything from the Tabernacle model of prayer to renewing strength through prayer over the body—and how leaders can carry the right burdens while laying down the wrong ones. If you’ve ever felt spiritually dry, overwhelmed, or just stuck in your prayer life, this conversation will point you back to clarity and connection with God.
Short Clip: Why I Take Two Weeks Off Every 6 Months (And You Should Too) | Dr. Brent Coltharp
19 Jun 2025
00:10:05
Link to the full podcast: https://youtu.be/I8lWZ11RO8s?si=uKYCO5zIt3PQtdO8
Description: Dr. Brent Coltharp shares his honest journey of learning to rest, play, and prioritize family while leading in multiple demanding roles. He emphasizes the importance of intentionality—blocking vacation time, setting weekly family rhythms, and adjusting expectations with changing seasons of life. From gym time with his teenage son to structured family dinners with conversation starters, Dr. Coltharp highlights how presence, even in simple moments, fosters meaningful connection and balance in leadership and life.
Purchase The Christian Leader Blueprint book today: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprintbook
Download The Christian Leader Blueprint – Short Guide (Free): https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprint
Take the Christian Leader™ Self-Assessment (Free): https://www.ryanfranklin.org/clselfassessment
Learn more about Christian Leader™ Community Coaching: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/communitycoaching
YouTube and Audio Podcast: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/leaderpodcast
What are you looking for? That is the question Jesus asked His disciples in John Chapter 1. In other words, He asked, “What are you looking for in life? What is motivating you to do what you do?” This is a tough question, but it is a question we should ask ourselves periodically. Today, I want to examine this question and discuss why it is so important to our lives and ministries.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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One of the most common things I see in even the strongest and most effective leaders is the fear of failure. It doesn’t matter how competitive or self-confident a person is, the fear of failure can still be debilitating. When the fear of failure is overwhelming, people can lack motivation to move forward. In fact, the fear of failure can cause a person to give up their entire career or ministry.
Today, I want to discuss the fear of failure and share with you how it can actually become one of your greatest motivators when you learn to balance it correctly.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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I have personally struggled with my energy levels for most of my life. It's amazing to me that some people seem to have no problems with energy or motivation while I wrestle with these issues often. Sometimes, I run out of fuel and can't push ahead; you may be able to relate. Since experiencing a severe case of COVID last year, lately, I've had more low energy days than not. Thankfully, though, I’ve been recently feeling like old myself again.
Because I struggle with energy levels, I've had to experiment with activities that affect my motivation and mental clarity, such as my diet, sleep, exercise. One thing I've learned over the past few years is that my emotional energy has an enormous effect on my motivation. Amazingly, my motivation for life and work improves drastically when my emotional energy is in check. In this session, I want to share with you some tips on how to increase your personal energy so that you will feel motivated to move forward in life and accomplish big things.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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How to STOP Your Relational Triggers in the Moment
29 Aug 2022
00:13:04
Have you ever felt triggered? Of course, you have; we have all felt provoked at some point in our lives. We can easily become frustrated, angry, or defensive by something someone says or does. These actions trigger us to say and do things in the moment that we later regret. Our responses can be very harmful to our relationships, even to those relationships that mean the most to us, such as those with our spouses, kids, or the important team members who are vital to the success of our organizations. In this post, I want share with you a few steps you can take to help you stop your relational triggers and avoid doing or saying things that will damage your influence.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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In my last post, I shared some of the deep-rooted insecurities that I’ve had to work hard to minimize in my life and leadership. Insecurities are a reality for most of us. In fact, I don’t know of any truly authentic and transparent person who hasn’t admitted to having insecurities. It’s easy for these insecurities to drain the emotional energy of a leader and even stifle the progress of an entire team. Insecurities can derail a leader more quickly than anything else.
In my last post, I discussed where these insecurities come from and gave the first step to overcoming them. In this post, we’ll go a little deeper and discuss the four steps on how to overcome those insecurities.
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Honestly, I’ve felt insecure more days of my life than I’ve felt secure. That’s the reality for most of us. Anyone who is truly authentic and transparent will admit to having some insecurities. It’s easy for insecurities to drain the emotional energy of a leader and even stifle the progress of a team. Insecurities can derail a leader’s potential more quickly than most things. In this post, I want to discuss where these insecurities come from and give you the first step to overcoming them.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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How do you act when you’re hurt, frustrated, or embarrassed? How do you respond to people when you’re exhausted or stressed? Do you lash out in anger? Do you shut down and detach from people, or do you smile through the difficulties and try to act like nothing’s wrong?
Most people have internal, relational risks that manifest when life gets tough or certain triggers are released. In this post, I want to explore the dynamics of leadership risks and highlight three things you can do to minimize the effects they have on your influence.
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Generally, I don’t recommend that people focus on their weaknesses. Focusing on improving your strengths allows you to maximize your God-given abilities; however, there are exceptions to this rule. There are a set of particular weaknesses that can derail your ministry and hinder your influence with others if you do not give them adequate attention.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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Six Things I’ve Learned About Calling in Twenty-Six Years of Ministry
06 Jun 2022
00:10:18
Honestly, I’ve never really struggled with my calling. I knew at sixteen that I wanted to serve the Kingdom of God with my time, energy, talents, finances, and every fiber of my being. I even had a clear idea of where I wanted to work. Though I’ve never really struggled in these areas, there are some important lessons I’ve learned over the last twenty-six years of ministry. Today, I want to share some of those insights with you.
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Have you ever grappled with the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I know that there are probably many who have struggled with that question. In fact, some of you are still struggling to determine what you are called to do, and there are many people who are halfway through their careers or even nearing retirement who have never found the answer to that question.
The question is innocent when you're a child and there is time ahead of you; but the older you get, the more serious and important that question becomes. If you’re struggling in this area, I want to suggest you make a small shift in the way you approach the idea of what you want to be. Instead of thinking about what you want to be, think about who you want to be. Thinking about who you want to be is much more impactful. When we decide who we want to be, we can begin to understand the calling of God on our lives.
Work with me (1:1 Executive Coaching): ryanfranklin.org
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Short Clip: How to Believe in God’s Love When You Feel Unworthy | Pastor Juan Lopez
16 Jun 2025
00:10:43
Link to the full podcast: https://youtu.be/F_-pdEzsicI?si=QtkY5ze2rfpeU6dD
Description: In this powerful testimony, Juan Lopez shares how the unwavering love and mentorship of Jim Sliva helped lead him from a life of addiction, crime, and prison to transformation through Christ. Despite taking advantage of Jim’s kindness, Juan was moved by his consistent love and support. He recounts how prison became a turning point, where mentorship and God's grace reshaped his life. Today, Juan passionately mentors others, driven by his experiences and the redemptive power of God's love.
Purchase The Christian Leader Blueprint book today: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprintbook
Download The Christian Leader Blueprint – Short Guide (Free): https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprint
Take the Christian Leader™ Self-Assessment (Free): https://www.ryanfranklin.org/clselfassessment
Learn more about Christian Leader™ Community Coaching: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/communitycoaching
YouTube and Audio Podcast: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/leaderpodcast
Do You Have the Right Mindset Concerning Your Calling?
23 May 2022
00:10:41
Though I may not know who is listening to this podcast, I do know that you were created on purpose with a purpose. YOU have a calling on your life. Though we are each called by God, this is a subject that many people wrestle with. Most Christians feel a strong desire to do something great for the Lord, yet they struggle to know what that is exactly. I want to help bring clarity to this subject.
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I don’t really like to focus on my weaknesses. I want to be aware of them, and I want to give them enough attention so that I don’t drive people crazy, but I don't want to spend a great deal of time and energy improving those things that I'm not naturally good at.
I really want to pour my time, energy, and growth opportunities into my strengths and the tasks that I do naturally well. Doing these things will help get the most out of my limited resources and maximize my efforts for the Kingdom of God. It will also help me be a good steward of what God has given me. I imagine that you feel the same way, and I have some great advice to help you maximize your unique giftings.
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One of my greatest natural gifts is prudence; I have a natural inclination for structure and organization as well as an ability to get things done. My other greatest natural gift is leadership energy which is manifested in my competitive nature, ability to take charge, and expectation for success. I’ve known these things about myself for most of my life, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I began using these strengths to bring growth to certain areas of my life, helping me thrive in the environment and role the Lord has placed me in. It feels great to operate in the ministries the Lord has designed me for.
Even if you’re not sure about your own natural gifts, there is still probably a part of you that wants to thrive in this same manner. I believe the Lord puts the desire to understand our own natural abilities within us so we’ll work to maximize the talents that He’s given us. In today’s post, I want to share some tips with you to help you discover your natural gifts and talents.
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Your Unique Gifts and Talents… What’s the Difference?
02 May 2022
00:12:32
Have you ever been charged with a task or duty that felt awkward and energy draining for you? Perhaps other tasks you’ve been assigned felt easy to accomplish. You know that if you could practice the easy tasks and separate them from the awkward responsibilities, life would be so much easier, right? Absolutely, life would definitely be easier!
When the people in your church or organization are doing things they enjoy, things that are easy for them to accomplish, your organization will thrive. Romans 12:6 says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. . .” The word differing in this scripture means “different” or “excellent.” We all have unique gifts that we excel at, gifts that are needed for the Kingdom of God. Learning to maximize these giftings is what helps people and organizations thrive.
I want to start this three-part series on gifts by explaining what gifts are and discussing the differences between spiritual gifts and natural gifts. Before we get started, I want to mention that I have a great product called The Christian Leader Blueprint. This resource is a solid model for leadership development. If you've been looking for something that can help you or your team members develop in leadership, look no further than this resource. I want to give it away as my gift to you. Simply visit ChristianLeaderMadeSimple.com to download it for free today.
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How to Argue the Right Way with Social Intelligence
25 Apr 2022
00:08:55
I don’t have strong opinions about anything. Yeah, right. Actually, I know exactly what this world needs. It needs fewer people who know exactly what the world needs. Opinions are everywhere, and technology has made it even easier to share our opinions with the world.
I’m not against opinions. I’m not even against the tough discussions that different opinions sometimes create. I think conflict is healthy; it creates boundaries, and it holds people accountable. What I am against is people not dealing with conflict in a healthy way. When the tensions rise, it’s easy for our emotions to get out of control. I want to give you some suggestions that will help you argue and deal with conflict in the right way.
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How to Overcome Social Insecurity with Social Intelligence
11 Apr 2022
00:12:11
I am naturally very introverted. On a personality assessment I took a few years ago, I scored a 7 out of 100 in the area of sociability. I’d like to say that I was surprised by these results, but I really wasn’t. The rest of my scores only further revealed how introverted I am. I scored a 15 out of 100 for social events; I really struggle in social events. I scored a 40 out of 100 for crowds; the only reason my score was this high in this area is because I can blend into crowds. I scored a 19 for exhibitionist, which means I try to avoid the limelight; and I scored a 36 for entertaining, which means I’m usually direct. If I’m going to use humor, I will probably use dry humor.
I tell you all of this so that you know how stressful social settings usually are for me. Yet, I help lead many people; I’m a pastor, and I speak in pulpits regularly. It’s not that I can’t engage in social settings or don’t even enjoy them occasionally, it just means that they are usually stressful and energy-draining for me.
I used to struggle with social intelligence. Imagine my introversion coupled with a lack of social intelligence; it created the perfect internal storm. I didn’t know how to manage social settings, and I found myself feeling very insecure in groups of people, even early in my life. Many people struggle with managing social situations, and I assume you’ve struggled with insecurities in your life as well. Keep reading, and I’ll share with you how I’ve worked to overcome this struggle.
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Social Intelligence: Learning to Manage Relationships
04 Apr 2022
00:10:40
When the world shut down in 2020, it was initially a good thing for many of our relationships. Suddenly, we all had more time for each other, but it wasn’t long before many people started to realize that the extra time created new and unusual stress in their relationships. After all, we weren’t accustomed to spending that much time together. Many struggled to manage the closeness of their relationships. Why did this happen? What was the problem? I suspect that many people began exercising social intelligence, something they had created very little time for previously. Many lacked understanding of social intelligence and competency in knowing how to navigate their relationships. In this blog post, I want to give you some insight into social intelligence so that you can avoid relational issues. I want to help you improve all relationships in your life.
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You probably know people who are extremely talented but can’t seem to succeed in leadership roles. You also probably know people who are not quite as gifted but thrive in leadership roles. What makes the difference in leaders who are effective and leaders who are ineffective? Aside of spiritual reasons, the difference is most definitely higher emotional intelligence.
At some point in the last few years, you've probably heard of emotional intelligence. It’s often referred to as EI or EQ. This topic has taken the business world by storm, and many people are beginning to realize its impact on leadership and life in general. Today, I want to share with you my perspective on this topic as well as what research has to say on what emotional intelligence is all about.
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Understanding the Value of Acceptance in Leadership
14 Mar 2022
00:13:07
The single greatest relational need in life is acceptance. Acceptance can easily make or break a team or organization. Many times, acceptance is at the center of the struggle for those who comes to me seeking clarity in life or ministry. Many people don’t feel accepted or valued in the way that they believe they should be. Sometimes these feelings originate from insecurities within the individual, but many times these issues come when leaders do not understand the value of showing acceptance to those they lead.
People who feel accepted will follow even the weakest of visions. People who don’t feel accepted can quickly become derailed from pursuing the greatest vision. I believe acceptance is the greatest relational need within each of us.
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Short Clip: What the Early Church Had That We’ve Lost | Dr. Clay Jackson
12 Jun 2025
00:09:52
Link to the full podcast: https://youtu.be/8Dy-E7dyeWE?si=S5szRZCfjROrEIi7
Description: In this heartfelt and insightful discussion, Dr. Clay Jackson reflects on the dynamic between Spirit-led living and institutionalized church structures. He emphasizes the balance of word and work in Christian ministry, the importance of walking with people through life, and the challenge of restoring apostolic momentum. Jackson critiques the historical shift from Spirit-empowered leadership to hierarchical control and calls for a renewed embrace of diverse spiritual giftings, authentic discipleship, and Spirit-led leadership in the modern church.
Purchase The Christian Leader Blueprint book today: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/blueprintbook
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YouTube and Audio Podcast: https://www.ryanfranklin.org/leaderpodcast
I once took a very powerful assessment that said I possess an extremely low level of compassion. In other words, empathy is a struggle for me. I literally argued with this assessment. How could I be a pastor and an executive coach but have so little empathy? It was ludicrous for me to think about and, honestly, very disappointing. I didn’t feel as if I could be an effective minister without a high level of empathy.
As my executive coach examined the results of the assessment with me, we concluded that the evaluation was correct; I am naturally cold toward people’s issues. There is nothing wrong with me; this is just my personality. Thankfully, I’ve worked to overcome this inadequacy, and I want to share what I’ve learned with you today. I feel as if this information could help you in a tremendous way.
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How to Use The Christian Leader Blueprint to Develop Leaders
28 Feb 2022
00:12:28
I've had a few people ask me how I use The Christian Leader Blueprint for one-on-one development of others. In this post, I want to provide a simple approach for how you can take this resource and make a lasting difference in the lives of the people you lead.
If you’re not familiar with The Christian Leader Blueprint, I encourage you to go to my website ChristianLeaderMadeSimple.com and download it for free today. The blueprint is a practical manual for leadership clarity and effectiveness. This resource offers specific guidance on how to increase your effectiveness as a leader while helping you gain clarity in the leadership growth process. The Christian Leader Blueprint is also for anyone who wants those in their circle of influence to receive clarity and learn how to lead effectively.
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Not every organization spends time developing leaders. I’m sure almost everyone thinks the process is a good idea, but most organizations don’t do it or don’t do it well. Developing leaders is a hard task, but organizations that have leaders who are supported and developed get things done.
An organization that has developed leaders thrives; its future is bright. Development creates growth, promotion, and longevity for the organization that chooses to embrace it. Developing others is critical for the life of your organization, but how do you go about the process of developing leaders within your organization? That’s the question many people wrestle with.
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Final Thoughts About Character | Grow Your Character
14 Feb 2022
00:10:29
If you’ve followed my Leader Podcast for the past few weeks, you know that we’ve been in a series called Grow Your Character. This is the fifth and final lesson, and in full disclosure, I really hesitated to even do this series. I realize that there have been some heavy topics and content, but I chose to do this series anyway because this subject is that important.
Most people think that character is merely good morals. As simply as I possibly could, I wanted to show you that it is much more than what you may think. In fact, character is the foundation of everything we do, whether good or bad. Character is the soil of our lives. It is the place where the fruit we produce, whether good or bad, originates. So, I encourage you to keep reading; I’m going give you my final thoughts on the subject of character as we wrap up this Grow Your Character series.
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Increase Your Emotional Capacity | Grow Your Character
07 Feb 2022
00:14:36
I wrote some in my last post about my unhealthy desire to seek approval from certain influencers in my life. Though those unhealthy attachments had a great deal to do with my lack of ability to embrace reality, essentially, they represented my issues with emotional capacity.
Dr. John Townsend calls this issue “the adulthood character structure.” Others may simply call it maturity, and I also refer to it as emotional capacity. Truthfully, however, as adults, we have the freedom to make our own decisions without permission from other adults. We can judge our own abilities. We can choose what we value. We can have opinions of our own. We can disagree with other people, including people who are important to us and those we respect. We also have the responsibility to approach other adults with the same mutual respect and freedom.
Why can we do all of these things? Here’s the simple answer: We’re adults. I think you would be shocked at how many people struggle with this particular part of their character. I hope this post really opens your eyes to some important aspects of emotional capacity.
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Learn How to Embrace Reality | Grow Your Character
31 Jan 2022
00:07:34
A few years ago, one of my clients was struggling to settle into his ministry role. He would spend a short time working in one place before becoming bored with that job and moving on to the next, often uncovering some sort of "issue" that would make him want to consider changing positions and locations. In reality, he was simply running from some internal struggles.
He continually wrestled with the same problems. As we worked to uncover the cause for his discontentment, we realized he was struggling with integration and the reality that there is no perfect situation or environment. He was continually dissatisfied with his inability to achieve perfection. He was also frustrated with the lack of perfection from those around him.
The reality is that we live in a fallen world, a world that's sinful and flawed. We are all flawed. I really think we know this, but sometimes it's hard for us to accept this truth, especially when it comes to our own lives. Integration has been one of the greatest opportunities for growth in my own character. In this post, I want to give you some insight on how to embrace the truth that there are both positive and negative realities in your life.
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Learn How to Establish Healthy Boundaries | Grow Your Character
24 Jan 2022
00:08:41
The opportunity was exciting for the first few months, but then it started to become work, a great deal of work. He was also working a full-time secular job as well as fulfilling a full-time ministry role. There weren’t enough people involved in the small church to spread the load. There were Bible studies to teach, staff meetings to lead, new members’ classes to instruct, youth ministry to organize as well as preaching, service organization, ministry work, and counseling. Before long, this young assistant pastor found every minute of his time devoted to his obligations with little time left for the things he enjoyed. A little bit of resentment began to creep into his heart and mind. So much was demanded of him, but he didn’t feel as appreciated as he thought he deserved.
This young man was me, and the situation I found myself in was no one’s fault but my own. I was struggling with boundaries in my life; but at the time, I didn’t even know what a boundary was. As we continue the series on Grow Your Character, I want to give you a picture of what healthy boundaries should really look like in a leader’s life.
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How to Have a Healthy Relational Connection | Grow Your Character
17 Jan 2022
00:10:26
I had just gone through several stressful days at work, and I wasn’t feeling well physically. I’d helped counsel someone through a crisis in his life, and I was mentally exhausted. On top of these challenges, someone with good intentions had given me some “constructive criticism.” Though this normally wouldn’t have bothered me, for some reason, this time it caused me to spiral emotionally. Under normal circumstances, not one of these things alone would have drained me emotionally; but, since they all happened together, it created a perfect storm. In years past, this spiral could have negatively affected me for two or three days. Perhaps you can relate to this sort of experience.
This was actually only a few months ago, but this scenario was much different from experiences I’ve had in the past. This time, I had exactly what I needed to quickly make it through this situation and still remain emotionally healthy. One thing that helped me make it through this negative experience was the healthy relational connections I have in my life. I’ve invested the time needed to create those healthy attachments with people I can trust, people I can be vulnerable with and bond to during critical times.
Learning how to have healthy relational connections is an enormous part of growing your character. In this blog post, I’ll give insight on how to have those healthy relational connections.
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There's More to Character Than What You Think | Grow Your Character
10 Jan 2022
00:12:24
Character is the point where emotional health, leadership, and discipleship converge. I'm curious, have you ever noticed that life is really hard at times? Of course, you have. Everyone experiences hard life. There are many challenges and painful circumstances that come at us, and it's usually during the toughest of times that the worst comes out of us. I know that I've witnessed this in my own life.
Scripture is very clear: Following Christ doesn't make all of the hard things go away. Consider what Paul said about some of his hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:23, "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Paul graciously suffered these many difficulties even while taking care of the New Testament churches.
Paul endured much as a leader and a minister of the Gospel, yet he still retained his love for Christ (2 Corinthians 11:31). How could he respond to these amazingly difficult circumstances and still maintain such a good and healthy response? How could he struggle in life and in service to Christ and still express his love for Christ and others? What did he know that we don’t? What is the solution to going through the tough stuff in life and leadership and continuing to produce phenomenal fruit? I'll give you a hint: Most of Paul’s success has to do with his character.
Most people think that character is about morality, but there is quite a bit more to character than that. In this series called “Grow Your Character,” I’m going to share some insight with you about character that has the potential to change your life. Specifically, in today's post, I'll introduce the topic of character, but I'm going show you that there’s so much more to character than what you may think.
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1.33 Believe it or not, rest is a difficult concept for many of us to grasp. I have struggled with the idea of rest for most of my life. Even though the Lord established a pattern of work and rest throughout scripture, many leaders who are driven to succeed do not adequately maintain a healthy work-rest balance.
God initiated a pattern for work and rest when He rested on the seventh day at Creation. Rest remains a great need in us even today. Mark 6:31 says, “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” Occasionally, we need to be able to step back and remember that we are designed to take a break; we are designed to rest.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
Find Your God-Given Vision For life https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/find-your-god-given-vision-for-life
How To Give Vision For Your Week https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/learn-how-to-give-vision-to-your-week-the-productive-leader
How To Create Margin In Your Life https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/the-productive-leader-how-to-create-margin-in-your-life
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In this episode, Ryan sits down with Kristen Ellis, pastor, teacher, and FBI chaplain. Kristen shares her remarkable journey into chaplaincy, including her firsthand experience supporting federal agents during the tragic 8/11 event. She unpacks the life-changing principle of the "ministry of presence" and offers wisdom on leading with empathy, especially in times of crisis. Kristen also speaks to the vital role of community involvement in leadership and provides practical advice for leaders who feel disconnected or overwhelmed. Tune in to be inspired by Kristen’s story and to discover how simply showing up can make all the difference in your leadership impact.
Why The Christian Leader Blueprint is DRASTICALLY Improving Lives
22 Nov 2021
00:10:46
1.32 I'm so excited to introduce the new tool I’ve created, The Christian Leader Blueprint! This resource is something that I've been working on for years. It's not so much the guide that I'm excited about but the model, the concept, the big picture that this tool creates. It has taken me years of personal experience, education, self-study, and trial and error (what most people refer to as blood, sweat, and tears) to put this concept together. I’ve received coaching from an executive coach, gone through counseling, coached and counseled others, and worked through many mistakes to create this tool.
The Christian Leader Blueprint concept is now available in the form of a short guide on my website christianleadermadesimple.com. At almost thirty pages, the document is loaded with phenomenal information, and I’m giving it to you for FREE. Visit christianleadermadesimple.com to get this free guide. Through this blog post, I'll share more about how this blueprint can change your life.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
Find Your God-Given Vision For life https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/find-your-god-given-vision-for-life
How To Give Vision For Your Week https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/learn-how-to-give-vision-to-your-week-the-productive-leader
How To Create Margin In Your Life https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/the-productive-leader-how-to-create-margin-in-your-life
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1.31 I am a forward-looking person. I love to dream about the future. I like to envision goals and then work hard to pursue them. I love to put wheels on a dream; that’s fun for me. I really think that’s a healthy part of my personality. It’s a gift that God gave me, but sometimes even our greatest gifts can become hindrances when we use them in unhealthy ways.
My problem is that I get so focused on what is to come while working to make my dreams a reality that I sometimes forget to enjoy the moment. We have to be intentional about living in the present. Read until the end, and I will give you three steps to follow that will help you enjoy living in the present.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
Find Your God-Given Vision For life https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/find-your-god-given-vision-for-life
How To Give Vision For Your Week https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/learn-how-to-give-vision-to-your-week-the-productive-leader
How To Create Margin In Your Life https://www.ryanfranklin.org/post/the-productive-leader-how-to-create-margin-in-your-life
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1.30 I want you to close your eyes (unless you’re driving, of course). Imagine that you’re ninety years old sitting in your recliner thinking about all of the years you’ve lived. You ask yourself, “Did I do anything significant? Did my life really matter? What did I live for? Did I fulfill what the Lord wanted me to do? Why was it important that I lived my life?”
The Lord isn't going to force you to find your calling or His vision for your life. He’s not going to twist your arm or stand over you until you make a move, waiting for you to fulfill His will. In my final years, I hope I can look back on a life well-lived. There's a drive within me that pushes me toward a cause. I'm driven to see the will of the Lord accomplished in the hearts of people. I hope at the end of my life I will have responded to that cause and fulfilled the will of God. Hopefully, this session will give you some insight and practical tips on how to find your God-given vision while living your life devoted to accomplishing God’s will.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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1.29 As human beings and especially as leaders, we’re often required to tell people difficult things. The only way to avoid having tough conversations is to live in seclusion, which is not really healthy or possible. We may not want to have these difficult conversations because our natural inclination is to avoid conflict; we know the news we’re delivering is hard to hear, or we want to escape delegating a difficult task.
I don’t know about you, but I find it really difficult to tell people hard things. It’s stressful. It drains my energy. Truthfully, it’s one of the things I hate most about leadership. In this post, I want to share with you a simple formula that has helped me make tough conversations a little bit easier. Perhaps not all of the time, but most of the time you can successfully deliver negative news by using this simple formula.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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1.28 Unhappiness, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, anger, loneliness, confusion, depression, emptiness, disconnectedness – these are all real feelings; and if you’re like me, you’ve probably experienced some or all of these emotions and others as you’ve walked uncertain paths and experienced changes in life.
God made us so that we could feel our feelings; He never intended us to ignore them. We’re natural thinkers. We’re natural feelers, but there are times when these feelings and emotions can disrupt our lives. Perhaps you get a little more anxious or overwhelmed than you should. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” If your mind is disrupted by the issues of life, this post is for you. I want to give you practical steps that will help you know how to “keep your heart with all diligence,” or in other words, help you how to control your emotions when you’re living through a difficult time.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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Do THIS When You Don’t Know What to Do | Leader Chaos
11 Oct 2021
00:11:55
1.27 There is a deep sense of emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue among our leaders as we realize there's not really an end in sight for the current chaos in the world. Every time we turn around there are new mandates, social norms, and contentious subjects. We make a change to how we’re doing things, and the next month we’re forced to change again. It’s difficult to know what to do in times such as these.
This session is part three of the practical solution guide to navigating through the chaos in your life. Read until the end, and you’ll know exactly what to do when you don’t know what to do.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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How to Hit the Release Valve on Anxiety | Leader Chaos
04 Oct 2021
00:08:11
1.26 The temporary disruption to most of our lives that began in March of 2020 has now become a way of life. Although many of us believed things would get better, they’ve actually, for the most part, stayed the same. In fact, in some cases, things have only gotten worse. People are divided on masks and vaccinations as well as other world issues. For church leaders, daily life has become extremely difficult and exhausting because so many are divided on how the church should be structured and operated.
Lately, I’ve come to realize that there’s a deep sense of emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue felt among everyone as we began to realize there's not a present end in sight to our current circumstances. Pressure and anxiety are high for everyone. This session is part two of a practical solution guide that will help you handle the current chaos. I encourage you to read until the end so that you can learn how to hit the release valve on the pressure in your life.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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1.25 What is the worst chaos you’ve ever been through in your life? Go ahead. Think about it. The thing that comes to your mind is probably something that was incredibly tough and life-altering. I’m guessing that many of you are potentially going through circumstances right now that feel like the toughest thing you’ve ever been through. I know we’re all impacted by the effects of COVID-19, the sicknesses, the deaths, the life changes. The list could go on. These challenges impact our routines, our character, our responses, and yes, even our faith in God.
This is simply our reality. We all go through things. Each one of us can tell a story of some major chaos that disrupted our lives at some point. We could tell of a time that we didn't know how we were going to get through some circumstance; yet, here we are. Here you are taking time to read this. You made it through. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Today, and over the next few weeks, I want to give you tips that will help you learn how to go through those really tough things in life and not just make it through them, but successfully go through them in a timely manner.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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Why the Most Productive People Do NOTHING | The Productive Leader
20 Sep 2021
00:07:16
1.24 Sometimes doing nothing is the most productive thing you can do in your day. Now, if you read that first line and you were excited because you now have permission to sit on the couch and play video games, this post is not for you. I’m writing to all of you workaholics out there (you know who you are) to whom work is like a drug. The thought of just doing nothing gives you the heebie-jeebies. You don’t like just doing nothing. I know, I know. You’re a driven person. You have an enormous amount of ambition. Your schedule is hectic. But, there are still times in your life when you need to just do nothing. In this session, I’m going to give you permission to push against your natural instincts and find some time every day to do nothing. Read until the end, and I'll leave you with a huge practical tip that will help you do nothing!
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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Learn How to Give Vision to Your Week | The Productive Leader
13 Sep 2021
00:09:35
1.23 For a while now, one of the best things I’ve done to help me increase productivity is to pause once a week for about fifteen minutes and give vision to my week. It's literally revolutionized the focus that I have in my week, and I think it could help you tremendously as well. I call it “Start of the Week Sight.”
This has the potential to be one of the most impactful subjects I’ve written on if I can help you understand the value of embracing the principle of giving vision to your week. It’s really not that complicated. Stay tuned until the end, and I’ll share a secret about where to find even more details about what to do with “Start of the Week Sight.”
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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Short Clip: Why Men are Losing Their Voice in the Church | Pastor Jerron Carney
05 Jun 2025
00:13:21
Link to the full podcast: https://youtu.be/sh-FDr-WuAc?si=-b0vB8b2a0yVS2Fi
Description: Jerron Carney discusses the crisis of absent fathers in families and the church, emphasizing how shame and past mistakes often silence men from leading. He highlights the need for a culture of grace and truth, where mentorship and support help men reclaim their roles. The conversation explores masculinity, arguing that true strength includes both authority and compassion. Carney advocates for an environment where men can heal, grow, and lead with confidence, balancing love with accountability. The discussion challenges the overcorrection of masculinity in modern culture while emphasizing the importance of strong, nurturing leadership in faith and family.
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How to Say “NO” Without Damaging Your Influence | The Productive Leader
06 Sep 2021
00:07:02
1.22 NOOOO… I SAID NO… NO NO NO.🙂
“No” is not a bad word, but it surely does feel that way sometimes when you have to use that two-letter phrase. In fact, the word “no” can sometimes have a uniquely overwhelming effect on the person saying it. But it doesn’t have to be that way, especially if you know how to say it well. There’s an art to saying no without losing influence. Stay tuned, and I’ll share with you some of the things I’ve learned about saying no.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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Improve Your Ability to Delegate | The Productive Leader
30 Aug 2021
00:07:50
1.21 Most of us think of delegation as a relief of our own pressure. We think of it almost in a selfish way. Sure, it is a relief to us, but we also need to consider the fact that it’s just as important for the other members of our team.
If we don’t release things into the care of others, then we, as leaders, don’t give them the opportunity to be strategically involved in the vision of the church or organization. When we unnecessarily hold on to things, we stand the risk of not having a healthy work-life balance and possibly even burnout in the future. There's no way that we can do it all. We don’t need to do everything. The health of our organizations depends on us to be good delegators.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
Subscribe for weekly church leadership content: ChurchLeaderMadeSimple.com
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Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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Free 7-session course (Leader Life in Rhythm): ChurchLeaderMadeSimple.com
How to Create Margin in Your Life | The Productive Leader
23 Aug 2021
00:10:03
It’s amazing how life can just get cluttered with too many things. And when life gets cluttered and there’s so much going on that you don’t have time to breathe, we sometimes tend to eliminate the things that actually bring relief to us. The stress builds and turns into anxiety and emotional tiredness. Then, those things begin to manifest in ways like moodiness, passive aggressive behavior, cynicism, and all sorts of negative ways.
Therefore, it’s extremely important to create margin in your life. Most people struggle with this. Most productive people really struggle with this. To be transparent, I often struggle as well to create and keep margin in my life. Today, I want to give you some thoughts that has helped me, and I believe will help you create the needed margin in your life.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Franklin and this is Church Leader Made Simple. I’m here to help YOU get the clarity needed to move your church forward. And that’s my goal for this channel... to produce simple leadership content that's helpful and practical to you as a church leader. Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to be notified any time a new training is posted.
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