Advertise on podcast: Leadership From The Cross | Ministry Training | Scott Thom

What separates a true leader from someone who simply holds a position? Pastor Scott Thom, in a crossover with No Other Doctrine, says it is often what a leader refuses to accept. First, leaders reject groupthink for independent thinking: they "test all things and hold fast what is good," unlike the Pharisees who would not question their own, or Rehoboam, who listened only to friends who thought like him and split his kingdom. Second, they reject simple answers to complex questions; Nehemiah prayed, planned and inspected the walls before he built. Third, they often reject their own first idea, examining their thinking as Paul urged in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Fourth, they reject social pressure dressed up as truth and look for the evidence, as Peter and John ran to the tomb, without demanding unreasonable proof like Thomas. If you see yourself in these, Pastor Scott challenges you to use that gift at home, at work and in ministry, or risk sliding backward. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you see these leadership instincts in yourself but have never been trained to use them? Most leaders were never given that kind of development, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is going along with the crowd, or settling for the easy answer, a habit you want to break? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

What is happiness, and why do so many Christians still chase it? Pastor Scott Thom goes beyond the dictionary's "state of being happy" and gives seven steps to a happier life. Happiness starts with communion with God, not just being converted but knowing Him. It grows with peace with others, walking in humility and mercy instead of a critical spirit. It comes from accepting the bad with the good and giving God whatever time He needs to work it for good, because we have no right to act unhappy and rob others of their happiness. It deepens as we become more like Jesus, since bad character only buys fleeting pleasure. It rests on knowing the best things we have, above all God's love, can never be lost. It is free from trusting money and things, as a joyful family in a billboard plywood hut in South America taught him. And it is increased by a praiseworthy, godly goal, the very first thing God gave Adam and Eve. He closes with a challenge: have the courage to be happy. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is a praiseworthy, godly goal missing from your life right now? Many believers sense God calling them to lead but never get trained, because between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do worry, a critical spirit or chasing more things keep stealing your happiness? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Do you have someone who sees in you what you can't see yourself? In this crossover with No Other Doctrine, Pastor Scott Thom opens with three things a mentor gives you: a vision of who you can become instead of who you were, the hard counsel and hard stops you would never give yourself, and an example to follow, as Paul said, "follow me as I follow Christ." Then he sits down with his own mentors, Pastor Raul Ries of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and his longtime assistant pastor Dale Goddard. They describe what they look for in a man called to ministry: the anointing, humility and a team player's heart, not a spotlight seeker. They explain why they took phones out of their staff's hands during services, why a young preacher must not preach someone else's sermon but find the fresh gold God has for him in the Word, why politics stays out of the pulpit, and why the hardest Tuesday staff meetings are the ones former staff miss most. Pastor Raul also shares stories of being mentored by Chuck Smith. Please note: the question line mentioned in this episode, 505-578-2040, has been retired. To reach Pastor Scott and Cross Fellowship, use 505-375-6560. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you sense God's call on your life but have no one to shape and sharpen you? Most men never find that kind of mentor, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is your phone, or another distraction, crowding out time with God and the people you lead? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

After about a two year break, Pastor Scott Thom shares what he has been doing and introduces his new podcast, Navigating Life from the Cross. It is not apologetics or leadership training but discipleship: short devotional teachings drawn from more than 30 years of discipling people and his book Discipleship on Fire, each with discussion questions and prayer points so you can meditate on the Word all week, or use it to disciple someone else. He recommends watching on YouTube, where the channel also carries original worship songs and Scripture readings to start your day, with the notes at NavigatingLifeFromTheCross.com. He also shares how God has opened doors for Shepherd School to train men for ministry not only across the United States but in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Cambodia, Qatar and Sri Lanka. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Could you be one of the men God is raising up to lead, wherever you live? Most were never trained for ministry, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you want to start each day in the Word but keep letting it slip? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Could you ever say to God, "I don't believe what You said, but I believe in You"? Pastor Scott Thom says yes, and shows why from two places where God seems to say the opposite of His character. When God told Abraham to offer Isaac (Genesis 22), Abraham told his servants "the boy and I will return" and told Isaac "God will provide," because, as Hebrews 11 says, he trusted God's character enough to believe He would raise Isaac. When Jesus told the Canaanite woman it was not right to give the children's bread to the little dogs (Matthew 15), she answered that even the puppies eat the crumbs, and He praised her great faith. Like a father who says "I'm a monster, I'm coming to get you," God sometimes speaks with a wink to draw out whether we really know Him. When your vision seems to die or your prayer goes unanswered, God may be teaching you His love before He grants the request. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College When a passage seems to clash with God's character, do you know how to read it the way Abraham did? Most believers were never trained to, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life When God seems silent, do you drift from prayer and the Word instead of leaning in? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

The Bible says "do not be afraid" nearly a hundred times and "be strong and of good courage" more than twenty. Pastor Scott Thom walks through what biblical courage looks like when the world, the flesh and the enemy all push the other way. Courage is the Proverbs 31 woman girding herself with strength to do the hard work; it is reinforcing what is worth keeping, like the workmen who restored the house of God (2 Chronicles 24:13). A strong heart is soft toward the weak and open handed (Deuteronomy 15:7-8), not a miser holding on in fear. Courage waits on the Lord (Psalm 27:14), persists like Ruth, and refuses to fear because God goes with us (Deuteronomy 31:6). It takes its medicine when God corrects us and rehabs the weak knees (Hebrews 12:12-13), holds the line when a church is weak (Revelation 3), and, like Joseph of Arimathea asking Pilate for Jesus' body, comes out of hiding out of love. You can be about as courageous as you set your mind to be. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is fear keeping you a secret follower when God is calling you to lead? Most believers were never trained to step out boldly, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Strength is built an ounce at a time, but does your resolve fade before it grows? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Most people step into ministry expecting to teach, pray and set goals, and are shocked how much of the job is managing relationships. Back after nearly two years, Pastor Scott Thom tells how, as a 28 year old new staff pastor at a megachurch, he was put over a bookstore and a new believers ministry where, both times, two people felt passed over. The ones who demanded the position walked out; the ones who quietly followed directions were raised up into their own ministries. Christianity is not a seniority system but a meritocracy of character and obedience (Matthew 25:29). Jesus Himself had to keep managing the disciples' arguments over who was greatest (Mark 9:33-41), and John's rebuke of a man casting out demons in Jesus' name shows the danger of an elitist leader. Don't rebuke people for doing good, don't confuse your preferences with biblical mandates, don't choose sides, and once a direction is agreed, pull for it with the same mind and purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10). A leader cannot be easily offended. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Were you ready for how much of ministry is managing people? Most leaders were never trained for that part, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you take offense easily, or drag your feet when a decision doesn't go your way? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Having a plan is not enough; most plans die a few weeks after the planning retreat. Pastor Scott Thom, pointing to the parable of the talents and Jesus' remark that the children of this world are often wiser in planning than the children of light, gives four steps to carry a plan through. First, focus: delete distractions, stop multitasking, jot interruptions on a pad, and work in scheduled sprints of 30 to 90 minutes, breaking a yearly goal into months, weeks, days and hours. That is how his book Discipleship on Fire finally got written. Second, be persistent, like Paul in 2 Corinthians 1: expect failures and more time and effort than you counted on, refine what works and drop what doesn't. Third, build relationships before you need them, for friendship, knowledge and accountability; be generous, ask more than you speak, and learn over meals as Jesus did. Fourth, start now: as General Patton said, a good plan vigorously executed now beats a perfect plan next week. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you have a ministry plan you never quite get to? Most leaders were never trained to turn vision into steps, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Does the tyranny of the urgent swallow your best intentions every week? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Why do some people with little training thrive in ministry while others with every advantage fail? Pastor Scott Thom has never seen anyone wildly successful who did not work a plan, and he gives six keys highly successful people use to achieve theirs. First, put your spiritual and mental health at the top of the list, because unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). Second, form good habits instead of bad ones: good habits are hard to form but easy to live with, bad habits easy to form but hard to live with (Romans 6:20-22), and one nagging sin can unravel the whole sweater. Third, build habits through a positive, biblical mindset and timely repetition, unlike Elijah running from Jezebel or the ten fearful spies (Romans 12:2). Fourth, review your goals several times a day, as Deuteronomy 6 says to talk of God's Word when you sit, walk, lie down and rise. Fifth, measure progress by results and spend your time on the 20 percent that changes 80 percent of life (Philippians 3:12). Sixth, help others reach their goals (Philippians 2:3-4). Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you have the heart for ministry but no plan or training to carry it out? Most leaders never got that kind of preparation, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Good habits are hard to form but easy to live with. Is there one bad habit quietly unraveling what you have built? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Old movies had knights who swore to a code: sworn to valor, defending the helpless, speaking only truth. Pastor Scott Thom says Christians have a creed too, and he draws it from 1 Peter 3:15-16. A servant of the Lord is dedicated: "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" means serving for the King's glory even when no one says thank you, as the Levites lived on the Lord as their inheritance. A servant is prepared, ready to give a reason for the hope within, practicing like a swordsman and never stymied by the same question twice (2 Corinthians 5:11). A servant is humble, answering with meekness and fear: listening to understand, restating the other person's view, even letting them have the last word, as he did with a man in South America who believed Jesus was an alien. And a servant keeps a good conscience so that those who slander him are put to shame, which is how six coworkers at one job came to Christ. His creed: a servant of the Lord is dedicated to his Lord's wishes above his own, prepared to engage, humble even when injured, respectable in intent and blameless in actions. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College When someone asks the reason for your hope, are you ready with an answer? Most believers were never trained to give one, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life A creed only matters if you live it daily. Do your good intentions fade by Tuesday? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

If you lead any ministry where people worship, you need at least the basics of what worship should be, even if you never pick up a guitar. Pastor Scott Thom gives the do's and don'ts, built on Philippians 3:3: we worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Watch for performance and celebrity, where the worship leader becomes the show and the congregation becomes an audience; you want people leaving saying "God is good," not "that singer was good." A simple test: if the lyrics were swapped for generic ones, would people feel the same? Then it is a concert, not worship. Worship leaders should lead, not preach between every song, so people have time to break from the day and connect with the Lord. Choose songs people can sing in a key they can reach, celebrate God's power, glory and salvation, and avoid mindless repetition and weak theology (old hymns set to new music are a gift). Use lights, sound and screens to serve worship, never to distract from it, giving the Lord the glory due His name (Psalm 29:2). Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you lead people in worship, or oversee those who do, without ever being taught how? Most ministry leaders never were, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is your own time of worship crowded out by the rush of every day? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Like a NASCAR driver at 200 miles an hour, a successful leader has to keep his eyes forward and ignore what would wreck him. Pastor Scott Thom names seven things to ignore. First, others' occasional failures: be gentle, able to teach and patient (2 Timothy 2:24), and watch for patterns, not isolated slips. Second, insults: an attack on your person is not constructive criticism, as Paul's critics in 2 Corinthians 10 learned. Third, "I told you so" from people with no skin in the game, like those who preached Christ out of envy to add to Paul's chains (Philippians 1:15-17). Fourth, guilt over your own isolated failures once you have repented; Paul called himself chief of sinners so others would see Christ's patience (1 Timothy 1:15-16), and slashing your own tires after paying the ticket helps no one. Fifth, counsel from advisors who never ask questions and don't know the situation. Sixth, the cynics who only ever see the bad and drain your faith. Seventh, the people who never challenge you, because a leader needs those who will push him toward the high calling (Ephesians 4:1-3). Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Are critics and distractions pulling you off the calling God gave you? Most leaders were never trained to tell wise counsel from noise, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you replay every insult and every failure long after it is over? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

Paul had to plead with Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord (Philippians 4:2), because ministry is messy: we are sinners at different levels of maturity and training. Pastor Scott Thom names the ten most common causes of ministry conflict and how a leader works through each. Jealousy and worldly competitiveness that pit ministries against each other (1 Corinthians 1), answered by keeping the whole team in view as David shared the spoil with those who guarded the supplies. Abuse of time and resources by the lazy or inattentive, down to the person who never refills the coffee pot. The right person in the wrong role. Ambitions out of step with the ministry's timing. Rebellious sin in the camp. Disputes over practical preferences, handled gently and patiently (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Theological differences that turn divisive. Unmet expectations and broken promises, mostly fixed by open communication. Favoritism, real or perceived. And pay and recognition, where elders who rule well deserve double honor (1 Timothy 5:17) and praise steals nothing from anyone. Ministry is messy, but these are the tools to clean it up. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is conflict on your team draining the joy out of ministry? Most leaders were never trained to handle it, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you avoid hard conversations until small problems become big ones? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

A dad once asked Pastor Scott Thom to talk to his son, who did not seem to respect church. The boy's answer: his dad gave a quarter for the offering plate and twenty dollars for the movies. Our actions teach what we really value, whatever we say. Pastor Scott shows leaders how to pass on their core values so the people who follow them value the same things. If you say you value replicating yourself, are you discipling someone and promoting from within? If you say you want new ideas, do you let people dream and try, or shut creativity down? If you say you are passionate about enjoying God, do you model it so people can catch it? Ephesians 4:11-16 describes a church that is always progressing, from children to mature, from weak to strong, until we come to the unity of the faith, so leaders must keep changing and improving rather than coasting in the status quo. Like the student who finally understood that a black belt is only the beginning, a leader who keeps learning and communicates his values clearly will see God give victory after victory. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do the people you lead actually share your values, or only hear you talk about them? Most leaders were never trained to pass values on, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do your daily habits match what you say matters most? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom

How do you know God is calling you to plant a church? Pastor Scott Thom sits down with Pastor Jason David, a Shepherd School graduate who planted a young church and recently moved it to Belen, about 45 minutes south of Albuquerque. A shy new believer with a burden to teach, Jason took one step of obedience after another: joining a Bible study, asking to lead it, then looking for ministry training. About halfway through Shepherd School God called him to plant a church, and like Moses he argued for months before saying yes. He shares how his friends and his wife Kim responded, what the weekly school nights cost a young family, and the lesson of seeking and knocking: do everything you can without forcing it, and watch God open doors, as He did when they drove the streets of Belen praying for a building. He also speaks tenderly about the loss of a child and how God is turning that grief into a future ministry to other grieving families, reminding leaders that people, not programs or buildings, are what matter. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at CrossFellowship.org. Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you sense a call like Jason's but don't know your next step? Most men never get the training to answer it, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College (CCFcollege.com) closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you wait for a sign when God has already shown you the next step? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom