Advertise on podcast: Conversations with Josh Andrew

In this episode of Conversations, I talk pastor-to-pastor about bringing joy, faith, passion, expectation, and genuine hospitality back into our churches.Joy doesn't mean ignoring pain, and depth doesn't require heaviness. Scripture says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Our worship, preaching, hospitality, and church culture should remind people again and again that Jesus is alive and the gospel is good news.We talk practically about building joyful church services, creating expectation before Sunday, expression in worship, hospitality, and why faith changes the atmosphere of a room.Joy isn't hype. Expectation isn't performance. Church should feel alive.CHAPTERS00:00 Joy in the Middle of Pain00:22 Why Does Church Feel So Heavy?02:09 Passion Is Expression, Not Personality04:51 The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength07:59 Worship Should Inject Faith11:38 Why a Smile Creates Safety14:57 Hugs, Hospitality & Belonging17:50 Heaviness Is Not Holiness19:47 Expectation Changes the Atmosphere22:05 Church Should Feel Like Good News23:43 How to Bring Joy Back to Church26:42 Outro & Resources#ChurchLeadership #Pastors #ChurchCulture📝🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew ✨ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 ✨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC079uejq90Kj-q0sgZ0Bacg

Why are we starting a church in Omaha, Nebraska? In this episode of Conversations, I share the story behind Origin Church, why Lexi and I believe God is leading us to Omaha, and the kind of church movement we believe we’re called to build. The vision for Origin began years ago, but we’re starting differently. Before Sunday services, stages, or infrastructure, we’re building around tables, relationships, prayer, communion, hospitality, and the presence of God. We talk about why Origin is beginning with Supper Clubs, what we can learn from the early Church, why we want to empower local pastors and couples rather than build around one personality, and what the road toward Origin Omaha in 2027 looks like. This is the story of why we’re starting Origin and the convictions shaping how we build it. Learn more about Origin Church originchurch.cc 00:00 Why Origin Won’t Be Built Around a Personality00:28 Why We’re Starting a Church01:29 The Origin Church Story and Vision05:44 What the Early Church Can Teach Us08:23 What Is the Origin Church Movement?10:48 Building Community Before Church Services13:40 Why Supper Clubs Come Before Sundays19:29 Why Omaha? Origin Church Omaha 202723:56 Learning to Wait on God’s Timing27:16 The Invitation and What’s Next I send a free newsletter where I share thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe to the Conversations newsletter Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507. Try HelloFresh Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off. Try ElevenReader 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce Conversations. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. Try Descript Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube vidIQ JoshAndrew.orgMore links

In this episode of Conversations, I sit down with Preston Zeller to talk about faith, grief, creativity, entrepreneurship, and what it looks like to keep building without letting the outcome define you. Preston shares his journey from film and software into art, the loss of his brother, how creativity became part of his grieving process, and how that eventually led to The Art of Grieving and Psalm Log. We also talk about the ministry of presence, why unresolved grief can follow us into new seasons, the real cost of entrepreneurship, trusting God with outcomes, and what biblical stewardship actually looks like. This is a conversation about building, healing, faithfulness, and learning to release what you cannot control. NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew ✨ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 ✨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC079uejq90Kj-q0sgZ0Bacg

Every pastor says they want high-capacity leaders. But what happens when those leaders have vision, ideas, ambition, and calling of their own?In this episode of Conversations, I talk about how pastors and church leaders can identify, develop, and release high-capacity people without controlling them or eventually driving them away.Drawing from Ephesians 4, Acts 13, Exodus 18, and Paul's relationship with Timothy, I unpack why healthy church leadership requires more than delegation. We have to give people real authority, mission and margin, permission to fail, credit when they win, and freedom to eventually outgrow the roles we've given them.The goal isn't finding talented people to build your vision.It's becoming the kind of pastor who helps build what God has placed inside them.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Leading High-Capacity People in Church02:26 Look for Leaders Who Already Have Vision04:40 Become Interested in Their Calling06:52 Give Leaders Mission and Margin08:25 Stop Making People Rent Authority09:42 Give Away the Credit11:51 Let Your Leaders Fail15:26 Don't Punish Leaders for Growing17:22 Your Platform Should Become Their Floor22:44 Final Thoughts#ChurchLeadership #Pastors #LeadershipDevelopment📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

Trust in pastors is declining, and as a pastor, I don't think our response should be better PR. We have to become trustworthy again.In this episode of Conversations, I talk pastor-to-pastor about church hurt, pastoral accountability, leadership failure, transparency, unhealthy honor culture, and why some distrust toward church leadership has been earned.I believe in strong pastoral leadership and spiritual authority. But our model is Jesus. The answer isn't defending leadership. It's becoming leaders worth trusting again. #ChurchLeadership #Pastors #ChurchHurt📝 📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠ Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠ Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

What if the greatest threat to your church isn't opposition... it's dependency? One of the easiest traps for church planters and pastors is accidentally building a ministry that revolves around themselves instead of Jesus. It usually doesn't happen because of bad intentions. It happens one decision at a time. You preach every week. You make every decision. You baptize every person. Eventually, people become connected to you instead of taking ownership of the mission. In this episode, we talk about the difference between visibility and centrality, why Jesus intentionally prepared His disciples for His departure, and how healthy churches are built by developing leaders, sharing responsibility, and creating ownership. If your church couldn't function without you, this conversation is for you. Why churches become pastor-centeredThe danger of being neededVisibility versus centralityHow trust creates ownershipWhy Jesus planned for His absenceBuilding a church that outlives its pastorDeveloping leaders instead of followersIf this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing and sharing it with another pastor or church planter who needs to hear it. 📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

When should you leave a church?It's one of the most debated questions in Christianity today. In this episode of Conversations, I unpack what the Bible actually says about leaving a church, church hurt, healthy sending, division, and consumer Christianity.I explore the difference between leaving because God is sending you and leaving because conflict was never addressed. We look at what Scripture teaches through Acts 13, Matthew 18, Romans 16, and Titus 3, while also acknowledging that church hurt and spiritual abuse are real and sometimes leaving is the wisest decision.This isn't about convincing people to stay or encouraging people to leave. It's about helping Christians make biblical decisions that honor Jesus and His Church.In this episode:When should a Christian leave a church?What the Bible says about church hurtSending vs. division in the local churchMatthew 18 and handling conflict biblicallyConsumer Christianity and church shoppingWhy the Church belongs to JesusHealthy church culture and leadershipQuestions every Christian should ask before leaving📝 Newsletter I send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507: ⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠ Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link: ⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠

If you're a young pastor, church planter, ministry leader, or someone stepping into leadership for the first time, you've probably believed at least one of these lies.In this episode of Conversations, I unpack six lies that keep young leaders from stepping into what God has already called them to do. Using 1 Timothy 4, I talk about why leadership begins long before a title, why character matters more than age, and how influence is built through humility, faithfulness, and service.I also share practical leadership habits that have shaped my own ministry, including learning to ask better questions, listening more than speaking, honoring people's time, and refusing to build your identity on the approval of others.If you're waiting until you're older, more experienced, or more accepted before leading, this conversation is for you.In this episode:Why you're not too young to leadLeadership without a titleWhat 1 Timothy 4 teaches young leadersWhy character outweighs ageLeading before you have experienceWhy servant leadership creates influenceLearning to ask better questionsOvercoming insecurity in leadershipWhy you don't have to prove yourselfBuilding a lifetime of faithful leadership 📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507: ⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠ Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link: https://www.filify.co/SHaTR

If you're a pastor, church planter, or ministry leader, the next decade will require more than better preaching, bigger productions, or stronger branding. In this episode of Conversations, I unpack seven major shifts I believe will shape the future of the Church. These aren't predictions based on culture—they're convictions rooted in Scripture and years of ministry. I talk about why sending matters more than seating, why discipleship is becoming the Church's greatest apologetic, why presence will always outlast production, and why healthy churches are built by shepherds, not CEOs. I also explore why apprenticeship must replace attendance, why stewardship always defeats ownership, and why beauty is becoming missional again. If you're building a church that you hope will still be healthy 20 years from now, I believe these shifts are worth wrestling with. Why sending capacity matters more than seating capacity Why discipleship is the future of the Church Presence over production in modern worship Shepherd leadership vs. CEO leadership Why apprenticeship beats attendance Stewardship instead of ownership Why beauty and creativity matter for the Church's mission Building healthy churches that last 📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on church leadership, ministry, faith, discipleship, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 📈 Grow Your YouTube Channel https://vidiq.com/joshandrew/ Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507: https://www.filify.co/SHabE 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links:https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew Keywords: church leadership, church planting, discipleship, Christian leadership, pastor, ministry leadership, church growth, healthy church, leadership development, disciple making, church culture, worship, preaching, church strategy, future of the Church

In this episode of Conversations, I unpack why people don't stop serving because they're lazy—they stop serving when they lose sight of why it matters. Vision only changes culture when it becomes personal, and healthy leaders understand that burden is something that's transferred, not assigned. I also talk about why leadership is expensive, why culture follows what leaders celebrate, and how to build teams that are driven by purpose instead of obligation. If you're a pastor, church planter, ministry leader, or anyone building a team, this conversation will challenge the way you think about commitment, culture, and leadership. 📝 Weekly NewsletterI send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 📈 Grow Your YouTube Channelhttps://vidiq.com/joshandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

Why do churches plateau? Why do volunteers leave? Why do church leaders struggle to build healthy teams and cultures? In this episode of Conversations, Josh Andrew explores one of the biggest leadership blind spots in ministry: most churches don't fail because of a lack of vision. They drift into mediocrity through weak leadership, unclear expectations, poor church systems, low ownership, and cultures that stop developing people. Drawing from over 12 years of ministry experience, church planting, executive leadership, and team development, Josh unpacks seven common reasons churches stop growing and what leaders can do to build healthier churches, stronger volunteer teams, and more effective discipleship pathways. Whether you're a pastor, church planter, executive pastor, ministry leader, volunteer coordinator, or church staff member, this episode will challenge the way you think about church growth, leadership development, church culture, volunteer retention, hospitality, ownership, and discipleship. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction02:00 Titles vs. Responsibility04:59 Excellence Speaks Louder Than You Think08:04 Systems Are a Necessity11:07 Groups & Teams Should Not Be Propaganda13:39 Hospitality Is Not a Team16:32 Right People, Wrong Seats19:43 Renters vs. Owners25:02 Recap & Closing Topics:Church Leadership, Church Growth, Discipleship, Church Systems, Volunteer Retention, Church Culture, Leadership Development, Church Planting, Executive Pastor Leadership, Ministry Leadership, Church Hospitality, Healthy Churches, Team Building, Ownership, Volunteer Culture 📝 Newsletterhttps://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🌐 Websitehttps://joshandrew.org 🔗 More Linkshttps://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I talk about one of the biggest tensions in the modern church: we’ve become skilled at gathering crowds, building brands, and producing experiences—but many churches no longer know how to host the presence of God. Drawing from Exodus and the tabernacle as a blueprint for God’s presence, we walk through how church leadership has shifted from forming priests to creating consumers and spectators. The tabernacle was never just structure—it was formation, reverence, holiness, and proximity to God. We talk about: Why the modern church struggles with reverenceThe difference between crowds and priestsWhy God is near but never commonThe outer court: sacrifice and repentanceThe bronze laver: formation beyond forgivenessThe holy place: prayer, truth, and priestly leadershipThe Holy of Holies: presence stewardship and aweWhy performance-driven ministry cannot sustain spiritual depthHow the church can recover wonder, holiness, and intentionalityIf you’re a pastor, worship leader, church planter, or someone hungry for deeper intimacy with God, this conversation will challenge how you think about ministry, leadership, and hosting God’s presence. I send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I sit down with Tony Kell, creator of Chosen Kids, a Christian platform for babies and toddlers designed to help children learn, grow, and fall in love with Jesus through songs, stories, worship, and adventure. Tony shares how Chosen Kids started, why Christian families need better kids content, and what it looks like to choose obedience to God over chasing views online. We also talk about Christian parenting, family rhythms, burnout, discernment, marriage, and building a healthy home centered on Christ in a digital world full of distraction. We discuss: Why Christian parents need better kids contentBuilding a Christian YouTube channel for childrenRaising kids with faith-centered family rhythmsObedience to God over social media successBurnout, peace, and discernmentMarriage, parenting, and building together as a familyCreating safe, faith-filled content for childrenThe vision behind Chosen Kids and LuLaFiChosen Kids was created to plant seeds of faith in children and help families build homes centered on Jesus—and this conversation gives a deeper look into the heart behind it all. If you’re a Christian parent, creator, pastor, or someone trying to build a healthy family culture rooted in Christ, this episode will encourage you. 🔗 Chosen Kids: https://www.chosenkidsministries.com/ Newsletter I send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

If you’re a church planter or pastor trying to figure out how to survive ministry long-term, 1 Timothy 4 is one of the most important passages you can understand. In this episode, we walk through 1 Timothy 4 and break down what Paul teaches Timothy about pastoral leadership, spiritual formation, and building a life that can actually sustain the church you’re leading. Church planting isn’t just hard—it’s unsustainable without deep personal formation. Many leaders build something they don’t have the life to carry, which is why burnout is so common in ministry. In this conversation, we cover: 1 Timothy 4 explained for church planters and pastorsHow to survive church planting without burning outWhy formation matters more than momentum in ministryWhat the Bible teaches about pastoral leadershipThe difference between preaching and teachingWhy calling needs confirmation and accountabilityHow to build visible progress as a leaderWhy your life and doctrine determine your longevity in ministryIf you’re a pastor, church leader, or building something in ministry, this episode will help you develop a biblical foundation for sustainable leadership. I send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 et More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

In this episode of Conversations, I walk through Ezekiel 37 and what it reveals about church leadership today. It is possible to build structure, systems, and excellent services while losing dependence on the Holy Spirit. We talk about the danger of programs replacing the Spirit, why churches can look healthy externally but feel lifeless internally, and what it means to lead with prayer, repentance, and spiritual awareness. If you are a pastor or church leader sensing something is missing beneath the surface, this conversation will challenge you to return to the Spirit as the true source of life and transformation. 📝 Weekly Newsletter I send a free weekly newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Instagram: @joshnandrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew