God Wastes Nothing
Listen To The Podcast
Listen here or
on your favorite podcast platform
More About The Podcast
About
If all you did was look at Matt Garner’s résumé, you might think he had life all figured out—a decade in executive leadership at AT&T, a successful consulting firm, multiple entrepreneurial business ventures. Yet he says he was still living in “grayness” because the things that should’ve felt fulfilling didn’t, and he felt disconnected from those with whom he should’ve been closest. But thanks to his wife reintroducing him to faith and providing a living example of God’s grace, Matt and his family are living for the Lord and thriving—and Matt has recently joined The Redeemed as our new director of groups and leader development. Matt tells his story of redemption in part one of his conversation with ministry founder Paul Amos.
Show Notes
Segment chapters
0:00 Intro/Matt’s unfulfilling life before Jesus
5:05 How Matt’s wife reintroduced him to faith
10:25 The ways Matt’s life changed once he understood the concept of grace
13:19 Matt’s advice for men trying to take the first step toward restoration
16:12 How Matt’s return to faith affected his entire household
20:29 Confronting the fear of proclaiming God’s word
Snippets/excerpts
1:45 to 2:45—Matt’s greatest struggle before finding Jesus: an inability to connect with people beyond a surface level, even those he should’ve been the closest to
4:20 to 5:02—Matt describes the “façade” he wore every day to mask his depression and loneliness
7:29 to 8:07—How the grace Matt’s wife offered opened his eyes to the saving grace of Jesus
17:13 to 18:20—How Matt’s older son took a leading role in deepening the entire family’s faith
Discussion
1:22—Think back to the time in your life—even if it’s right now—when you felt the most lost, the most adrift, the most unsure of why you were put on earth. Matt describes that time for him as “living in this grayness”; how would you describe yours in just four or five words? Ecclesiastes 1:14
4:14—In your time of lacking fulfillment or purpose, what were some things that you thought should’ve been happy and rewarding, but weren’t? What were some things you now realize you should’ve been giving thanks for, but weren’t? 1 Thessalonians 5:18
5:04—Did you put up a façade or false front to hide your feelings of sadness and unfulfillment? What did that “alternate personality” look and act like, and why were those traits so important for you to present to the world? Psalm 32:3–5
7:52—Which person in your life most perfectly exemplifies Jesus’ life in the way they offer grace? In what ways has that person inspired you to be more like Jesus yourself? Ephesians 4:32
14:50—What was—or what is—your biggest fear about taking that first step toward restoring your spirit and healing damaged or neglected relationships with your loved ones? What part of “the work” seemed (or seems) like the thing you were least capable of? James 5:16
17:48—If you have children, have any of them taught you anything about faith, or inspired you to do something you were reluctant to do before? What actions or suggestions on their part have you felt compelled to follow? Did it feel strange to be led by one of your own children, or did you embrace it? Matthew 18:3–4
21:53—Think of the “biggest swing” you’ve ever taken in terms of aiming for a more purposeful, meaningful, or faithful life. How long did it take you to actually take that swing, and what was the thing you were most afraid of about doing so? How did God help you finally overcome that fear enough to make a move? Hebrews 11:8
Search Podcasts
Enjoyed This Episode?
Discover more inspiring episodes of The Redeemed Man Podcast wherever you tune in!
Share This Podcast
Sign up for updates
When you sign up for this mailing list, you’ll receive regular updates for The Redeemed.
More From The Redeemed Man Podcast
Staying Grounded While a Music Career Takes Off
Singer/songwriter Cade Thompson talks about his rapid ascent in the music industry and what he learned from the bumps in the road he encountered along the way.
Be Willing to Be Broken
Mark Fuller, a former minor-league baseball player and college coach, shares the winding and sometimes challenging path that’s led to a loving marriage, fatherhood, and a new chapter as a life coach.
Finding Friends and Faith in Unlikely Places
Wayne Francis, lead pastor of The Life Church in suburban New York City, talks about how his upbringing in the Big Apple shaped his views on faith, friendships, and redemption.
