Quick Takes with Kevin: Leadership, Life and Ministry

Are Your Systems Vitamins or Toxins? (Ch. 39)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 07:00:53 +0000

Just like the human body has different systems that help it function, a church ministry requires various systems to help it work properly. Kevin and James Merritt discuss the need for leaders to establish systems that move a church toward fulfilling its ministry goals.

Show Up and Speak Up (Ch. 38)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 07:00:30 +0000

A team will not be healthy if there is not consistent, open and honest communication. The difficult conversations are what help a team grow and improve. Kevin sits down with Jeremy Morton, pastor of First Baptist Woodstock, Ga., to discuss how to build an environment of trust in your leadership team.

Speak the Unspoken Rules (Ch. 37)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 07:00:32 +0000

Everywhere you go, there seem to be unspoken rules that people abide by. When it comes to leading a team, clearly communicating how you expect the team to operate helps to mitigate the chances for dysfunction. Pastor James Merritt and Kevin talk about the importance of setting clear standards for a church leadership team.

Corporate or Christlike Culture? (Ch. 36)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 07:00:31 +0000

If a church isn’t careful, its culture will become more corporate than Christlike. Leaders will zero in on success instead of spiritual depth. Kevin and special guest Tim Dowdy discuss how to keep Christ at the center of your church’s culture.

Team Doesn’t Have An I, But It Does Have A You (Ch. 35)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:00:07 +0000

A healthy church starts with a healthy culture among its leadership team. That health, however, must be cultivated. Kevin and Jeremy Morton, pastor of First Baptist Woodstock, Ga., speak about the keys to developing a healthy team culture.

The Gift of Loitering (Ch. 34)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 04:00:00 +0000

We tend to jump from one ministry opportunity to the next, but the Holy Spirit often wants to use the time after significant moments in our lives to imbibe His lessons into us. Kevin speaks with Tim Dowdy about taking time to linger and savor the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Blessing of Voice and the Voice of Blessing (Ch. 33)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 04:00:00 +0000

As a leader, your words have power. Using your voice to encourage and inspire can lead to positive change in your staff, your congregation and your community. Kevin and pastor James Merritt discuss the importance of using words to empower others.

Shock Absorbers for the Soul (Ch. 32)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:00:00 +0000

As pastors we spend much of our lives getting things done. But the Bible calls on us to be gentle in how we accomplish our tasks, relate to others and conduct ministry. Where is the balance and can both be accomplished at the same time?

Paying Attention (Ch. 31)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 27 May 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Half of the battle of ministry is truly paying attention to those you are ministering to. On this episode, Kevin speaks with Tim Dowdy to discuss how to focus on people in order to meet their needs and serve them well.

Practicing the Presence of People (Ch. 30)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 20 May 2020 04:00:00 +0000

The work of ministry is ultimately dedicated to serving people. For a pastor, his people should hold a special place in his heart. On this episode, Kevin speaks with Hershael York about loving and serving church members well.

A Lesson from Alcoholics Anonymous (Ch. 29)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 13 May 2020 04:00:00 +0000

One key step in Alcoholics Anonymous is making an honest self-evaluation. Kevin sits down with guest, Troy Nesbitt, to discuss the importance of cutting through the busy-ness of life to make time for self-examination.

Stay in Touch with Your Dark Side (Ch. 28)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 06 May 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Pastors are not super-spiritual creatures, untouched by sinful thoughts and temptation. Kevin and special guest Hershael York discuss the need for pastors to remember their own brokenness as they lead in ministry.

Humility and Hubris (Ch. 27)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Jesus’s life was practically defined by His humility, but humility isn’t often addressed in churches today. Kevin speaks with guest Hershael York about the need for Christian leaders to focus on humility.

Bonus Episode: Lance Witt talks about Replenish

North American Mission Board — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Kevin visits with Lance Witt, author of the book Replenish. Lance discusses his personal struggles with some of the topics covered in the book and what brought him to write about those struggles.

The Most Embarrassing Gap in my Leadership (Ch. 26)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Leaders often succeed because they are great at getting things done. They cast vision, plan, and accomplish goals. Kevin and guest, Troy Nesbitt, discuss the importance and place of prayer in ministry.

Noise Cancelling Headphones for the Soul (Ch. 25)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Time alone with God, spent in solitude, is vital to the spiritual health of a Christian. Pastors cannot expect to lead their churches without also spending quiet, intimate time with God. Chuck Herring joins Kevin on this week’s episode to discuss the value of solitude.

Say Yes Before Saying No (Ch. 24)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Oftentimes, our constant need to say yes to every person grows out of a sense of insecurity. We want others to like us or think us able to do everything. Kevin speaks with Ted Traylor about the need to say, ‘Yes,’ to God so that we can then set our priorities.

The Art of Doing Nothing (Ch. 23)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Every believer desperately needs a weekly time of rest. God set aside a Sabbath and called it holy. Pastors need time to rest, recharge and focus on God. Kevin and Vance Pitman discuss the value of rest in this week’s episode.

Special episode: Pastoring in crisis

North American Mission Board — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

As you navigate your congregation through this time of uncertainty, the North American Mission Board is here to encourage and pray for you.

Does Your Soul Have a Backbone? (Ch. 22)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Pastors need to have the spiritual courage to stand strong during times of testing. Kevin speaks with Jimmy Scroggins about the need for boldly proclaim and live for the truth when those challenges arise.

Death to Dancing Bears (Ch. 21)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Being on stage week in and week out can lead a pastor to feel like nothing more than an entertainer. Kevin speaks with guest Troy Nesbitt about the need for pastors to remember the need to minister to and disciple their people.

Identity Theft (Ch. 20)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 05:00:00 +0000

There’s something about being in ministry that seems to make pastors wary of developing close friendships. Yet, those friendships are key to our emotional and spiritual health. Kevin and his guest, Lance Witt, discuss the value of close friendships.

70 Percent of Pastors Don’t Have One (Ch. 19)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:00:00 +0000

iPhones and Your Soul (Ch. 18)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 05:00:00 +0000

It is easy to feel like a servant to our smartphone notifications. Respond to email. Post a tweet. Return voicemail. On this episode, Kevin sits down with his guest, Lance Witt, to discuss the importance of giving technology a rest.

Feel the Rhythm (Ch. 17)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 17: Feel the Rhythm. Without a healthy rhythm to their lives, pastors will rapidly drift toward burnout. Kevin speaks with his guest, Jim Henry, about establishing a healthy rhythm to life and ministry that allows our souls to stay refreshed.

Simplicity is Not Simple (Ch. 16)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 16: Simplicity is Not Simple. How many times have you tried to declutter your life and achieve simplicity? Having a well-ordered life and ministry sounds great, but it can feel like an impossible task. Kevin speaks with Lance Witt about cultivating simplicity in a busy world.

The Call No One Wants to Get (Ch. 15)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 15: The Call No One Wants to Get. Few people seek obscurity but many times we can feel like we are invisible, like no one notices. Maybe we even feel forgotten by God. Kevin’s guest Andy Addis talks about how God can use times of obscurity to shape us into who He wants us to be.

It’s All About the Groom (Ch. 14)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 14: It’s All About the Groom. At most weddings today, the focus is on the bride. But biblically, it’s all about the groom. Kevin’s guest Jim Henry talks about how pastors can keep the focus on Jesus.

What Kind of Old Person Do I Want to Be? (Ch. 13)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 13: What Kind of Old Person Do I Want to Be? What qualities would you like to be true of you in your twilight years? Are there places in your life where you have caught yourself coasting? Kevin and his guest Vance Pitman discuss practices we can put into place in order to finish well.

Pit Stops Required (Ch. 12)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 12: Pit Stops Required. If we want to stay spiritually healthy long term we can’t stay on the front lines forever. Kevin’s guest, Jimmy Scroggins, talks about the need to rest and re-group after intense times of advance.

Fatigued, Frazzled and Fried (Ch. 10)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 10: Fatigued, Frazzled and Fried. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, chasing ideas and opportunities that end up leaving us depleted and discouraged. How can we learn to say “yes” the right things and “no” to everything else? Kevin and his guest, Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, have an important discussion about setting priorities.

Need for Speed (Ch. 9)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 9: Need for Speed. Often our “hurry-up” lifestyle can lead to a hurried spirit. How do we take the time to slow down enough to spend quality time with the Lord and with people? Dhati Lewis, pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, is Kevin’s guest.

Isolation Trap (Ch. 8)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 8: Isolation Trap. As our responsibility grows, we often become more isolated from people. This can cause us to miss out on the perspectives of others—and even much-needed accountability. Kevin and Andy Addis, pastor of CrossPoint church in Kansas, discuss how pastors can avoid falling into the isolation trap.

Approval Addiction (Ch. 7)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 7: Approval Addiction. How do you respond when someone criticizes you? Where do you look for your validation? Are you driven to please others? Yourself? Kevin and his guest, Thom Rainer, former president of LifeWay, talk about how we can anchor our identity in a way that won’t be shifted by changes in our position, title or other peoples’ opinions of us.

Ambition Ambush (Ch. 6)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Episode 6: Ambition Ambush. What really drives us? How do we avoid allowing our own ambition to take over? Kevin and his guest, Dhati Lewis, pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, discuss how we must continually submit to Christ and use His measuring stick for success—not our own and not someone else’s.

The Seduction of Ambition (Ch. 5)

North American Mission Board — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Episode Five: The Seduction of Ambition. What’s the difference between personal ambition and healthy ambition? How do we balance that “fire in the belly” with the need for times of quiet reflection. Kevin visits with Chuck Herring, senior pastor of Collierville First Baptist Church in Collierville, Tenn.

Image Management (Ch. 4)

North American Mission Board — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Episode Four: Image Management. If we become more focused on our outer life than we are on our inner life, we engage in image management. How can pastors avoid this trap? Kevin is joined by Ted Traylor, senior pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla.

Your Ministry is Not Your Life (Ch. 3)

North American Mission Board — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Episode Three: Your Ministry is Not Your Life. When we are more focused on ministry than we are on Jesus, our ministry can become a burden. Kevin is joined by Vance Pitman, lead pastor of Hope Church, Las Vegas.

Hole in My Soul (Ch. 2)

North American Mission Board — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Episode Two: Hole in My Soul. Too many pastors are constantly giving, giving, giving and they are emotionally, spiritually and physically drained. Every pastor needs to find ways to “fill their bucket,” especially spiritually. Kevin is joined by Jimmy Scroggins, lead pastor of Family Church in Palm Beach, Fla.

The Idolatry of Leadership (Ch. 1)

North American Mission Board — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Episode One: The Idolatry of Leadership. There are a flood of ministry resources emphasizing leadership today, but if we’re not careful, we can become well equipped for leading and poorly equipped for pastoring. Kevin is joined by Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC Executive Committee.