To Lead Others, Learn to Lead Yourself

About The Podcast

This week on The Redeemed Man podcast, Director Nate Dewberry sits down with his own pastor, Kyle Jackson, from Church of the Highlands in Columbus, Georgia. 

Tune in for Kyle’s testimony and practical advice for men struggling with faith or searching for purpose. Kyle shares that the key to developing leadership skills and seeing God’s work in others is to build relationships with people who live out their faith, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Show Notes

Additional Resources

The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson

Timestamps

0:00 — Intro/Kyle’s background and journey into ministry

10:51 — Two big misconceptions that keep people from getting involved in ministry

15:07 — Strong relationships are the key to a deeper connection with God

19:34 — Dealing with the heavy burdens that ministers often carry

24:14 — Helping men who can’t figure out their purpose in life

29:37 — Kyle’s thoughts on leadership and teamwork

Focus Verse

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
— Acts 10:2

Discussion

• When you were young, did you see or hear about either of your parents—particularly your father—do anything that really disappointed you?

1. 1. How did that action or incident damage the image you had of that parent as an admirable and trustworthy person? 
   2. Did it cause you to act out or put less effort into leading an upstanding life?

• What was the period in your life when you were most resistant to pursuing a spiritual life or a relationship with God? 

1. 1. What was the source of that opposition? 
   2. Who or what prompted you to re-evaluate that opposition and make your spirituality a higher priority?

• Talk about the two big misconceptions that Kyle says deter people from pursuing ministry work: ”What I’ve done is too bad for God to ever use me at that level” and “I’m just not educated enough to do it.” 

1. 1. Have you ever found yourself thinking those negative thoughts about something in your life you really wanted to do or achieve but didn’t think you were good enough? 
   2. Did you find Kyle’s responses to those negative thoughts reassuring or emboldening in any way?

• Did it surprise you to hear Kyle, a pastor, say that building deep relationships with spiritually strong people was even more important to being an effective minister and leader than reading the Bible or attending sermons? (See Matthew 22:37.)
  1. Do you feel that you’re blessed with any such relationships right now? Talk about those relationships and the value that those people bring to your life.

• When you encounter an obstacle, disappointment, or tragedy in your life, do you “live in the moment” and confront it head-on, as Kyle advises, or are you more likely to “compartmentalize” it and only deal with it later—or maybe not at all? 
  1. If the latter, can you discern any ways in which that compartmentalization or avoidance has affected you negatively or held you back from growing as a person?

• Is God your “daily bread,” or is He more like your “weekly” or “monthly bread,” or the “bread” you only turn to when you’re in crisis? (See John 6:31.)
  1. What are some things you could do to make Him a more regular part of your life?

• Do you have any talents or skills that other people have said you’re great at, but that you’ve minimized (“Oh, everyone’s good at that” or “It’s not that big a deal”)? (See Ephesians 2:10.)

1. 1. Why do you think you devalue your talents in that way? Are there any ways in which you could be using those talents to help people or “pay it forward”?