One of the struggles in our churches is getting men to worship. The reasons can be many - pride, a struggle with surrender, embarrassment over a lack of singing skills, or just not seeing why it matters. But we were all created by God to worship Him through lifting our voices in song. So how do we get men to engage more fully? Join Pastor D.J. Horton and well-known worship artists Shane & Shane for this encouraging conversation. Shane Barnard and Shane Everett share their testimonies, as well as how the Lord birthed a love of worship in them, and how we can foster that love in our own lives. This isn’t about guilting you to worship so you can be a better Christian. Singing God’s Word is transformative, and the blessings of worship aren’t something you want to miss out on.

Dementia is a heartbreaking diagnosis to receive, and it starts a journey that should never be faced alone. In today’s episode, Pastor D.J. Horton and his guests, Chara Hosom and Tom Sinclair, members of his church and leaders in advocating for those with dementia, discuss both the challenging realities and the accompanying blessings of caring for those with dementia. Whether you are new to this journey or you’ve been struggling to care for a loved one for years, we hope you will listen in and be encouraged as they share openly and honestly from their own journeys, offering hard-won wisdom and lasting hope.

Are you making war on your sin, or are you being passive about it? Scripture says that in addition to receiving the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus, we must also purposefully and persistently battle our sin. This is the topic Pastor D.J. Horton and his three guests, Jared Hinkle, Alan Lachica, and Keith McKelvey, founders of MakeWar Ministries, are addressing on the latest podcast episode, specifically concerning men. It’s so easy to stand in church on a Sunday morning and fake your way through the service. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing the crippling lie that you can never change or know victory over sin that has a vice grip on your life. But there is hope. Listen in to find out how, together, men can make war on sin and self so they can serve God and others well.

What’s the purpose of denominations? While denominationalism is a topic Christians may care about, many may not realize how much it impacts their personal lives. Join Pastor D.J. Horton and Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, as they discuss the future of denominationalism, common misconceptions surrounding it, and why churches need to be connected as a family. In a world that is becoming more and more cynical about institutions and denominations, Clint is the perfect person for this conversation as he serves his two-year term as the elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant Evangelical denomination in the world. Pastors can’t pastor alone, and churches can accomplish more together than they can apart.

The goal when it comes to marriage isn’t just to avoid divorce or keep from cheating on one another. God wants to enable us to have strong, healthy, anointed marriages. Marriages where couples are empowered to push back darkness and grow God’s Kingdom. Join Pastor D.J. Horton and Donna Ward, a  Christian counselor with 25 years of experience, as they discuss how to fight for the health and wholeness of the covenant of marriage. They share some common tactics of the enemy, practices that can help build strong marriages, as well as how to begin preparing our children for eventual marriage. God cares deeply about our marriages, and He is still in the business of healing, restoring, and reviving hearts and homes surrendered to Him.

All of creation declares God’s glory, and one of the ways we can experience His glory in nature is through deer hunting. Whether you’re connecting with God’s presence or making memories with friends and family, stealing away for time to hunt can be a gift. Join Pastor D.J. Horton and his guests, Kevin Drake, the Executive Director of Upward Sports, and Michael Lord of Michael Lord Sports, as they discuss their personal journeys with this pastime. From shooting your first deer to gospel opportunities and even the dangers that come from being too consumed with it, listen in as they unpack the intersection between being a hunter and a Christ-follower. 

When it comes to receiving counseling, there can be a stigma surrounding it. People often fear being judged or talked about. Sometimes feelings of pride and the fear of looking weak get in the way. It’s hard to ask for help, but the Lord has made it clear that godly counsel is something we need to seek—especially in those times when we are hurting or stuck in cycles of sin. Don’t miss this conversation between Pastor D.J. Horton, Becca Fisher, the Director of Biblical Counseling at Church at The Mill, and Tonya Jones, Director of the Biblical Counseling Training Center at Church at the Mill, as they talk about what biblical counseling is, why it’s so beneficial, and even how to become trained to be a counselor. Biblical counseling provides a beautiful opportunity for God to work, but it requires pressing past the resistance to even start.

The Lord has blessed us with incredible opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports like hunting and fishing, but what about when those things get in the way of Jesus being the main thing in our lives? Listen in to this honest and encouraging conversation between Pastor D.J. Horton and Hank Parker, professional bass fisherman & TV host, as they talk about how everyday men can become better ambassadors for Christ. Hank is a two-time Bassmaster Classic Champion and Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee, but he shares how the true legacy he wants to leave is that of being a man who loves Jesus and shares Him faithfully.

Do you ever struggle or feel discouraged when it comes to sharing your faith? As Christians, we know we are called to communicate the gospel, but when it comes to evangelism, so many say they just don’t know where to start. Join Pastor D.J. Horton and Pastor Brad Cooper, the lead pastor of Culture and Direction at New Spring Church, for a conversation on how to join with others in the work the Holy Spirit is already doing in the lives around us. Learn about leveraging your life right where you are - as a teacher, a coach, a plumber, a grandmother - as you let the pressure fall off and His light shine forth. Because people don’t need to see perfection, they need to see the reality of Jesus in our lives.

Christians committed to growing in Christ have non-negotiables in their lives, things like spending time in God’s Word, praying, and being an active part of a local church. But what about exercise? Does it matter how we care for our bodies? Join Pastor D.J. Horton and David Mathis, executive editor of Desiring God and author of A Little Theology of Exercise, for an encouraging and motivating conversation about how we treat our bodies and how deeply it impacts our spiritual lives. The world will tell you to exercise to be attractive, get a six-pack, and avoid any sign of aging, but we’ve got to find a better “why” for stewarding our bodies well.

There is a worldwide war on girls and their identity. The lies and darkness are coming at them at a speed and scale past generations didn’t face, like our young girls do now, through things like social media. That’s why D.J. invited Samantha Arp, the Girls’ Ministry and Curriculum Coordinator at Church at The Mill, to have a conversation about how we all - moms, dads, aunts, uncles, coaches, teachers, and pastors - can best help the young women in our lives know and grow in who they are in Christ. Listen in as Sam shares, with wisdom and sound theology, how we can build up this next generation of believers, not on shallow things, but to become women who hold unwaveringly to the Word and ways of God. Because we aren’t just raising women. We’re releasing warriors.

Most Christian leaders don't set out to misuse the money and resources God has entrusted to them, yet we still find poor stewardship happening among phenomenal, godly people. What needs to change, and why does it matter? Join Dr. D.J. Horton and his church's Executive Pastor, Ken Fisher, for a conversation on becoming faithful stewards. They'll discuss two of the biggest enemies of being good stewards, as well as some of the most common mistakes even well-meaning leaders make when it comes to stewardship. Becoming people who honor the Lord with our financial decisions is a needed and attainable goal.

As leaders, we can fall into the trap of thinking we have to be the ones with all the ideas, but that's simply not true. Our teams need to know that not only is bringing fresh, innovative ideas welcomed, but it’s also needed. Join Dr. D.J. Horton and guest Pastor Jason Williamson, founder of the Through Our Eyes Project, for a conversation on why we need the ideas of others and how we can create an atmosphere where people feel encouraged to think creatively. 

Nothing can create a toxic work or ministry environment quite like dishonesty and gossip. Ministry is already emotionally demanding enough. So, why would we want to waste emotional energy by fostering unhealthy relationships where everyone is venting and talking about one another instead of resolving issues with each other? Join Dr. D.J. Horton and Pastor Asheton Amerson for a conversation on demanding honesty from ourselves first and being a part of killing gossip. How seriously we wage war on gossip will directly impact how much unity we experience in the places where we lead.

No one would argue against the need for unity in our churches and organizations. But unity doesn’t come easy. So, how do you even begin creating this cultural characteristic where you lead? Join Dr. D.J. Horton and his guest, Lawrence Kind, for a conversation where they define unity - because it's not uniformity or everyone always agrees - and discuss what it takes to be unified. 

Giving and receiving criticism can end up being difficult and emotionally charged situations. Both require us to check our ego at the door so that criticism can be given gently and accepted humbly. But how do we actually get to where we can offer it without being reactionary and receive it without being offended? Join Dr. D.J. Horton and his guest, Julie McNeely, the worship ministry director at the church he leads, for a conversation that will help you learn what it looks like to stay in step with the Holy Spirit when critiques are needed.

How often do you hear people laughing where you lead, and might that reveal about the culture there? Listen in as Dr. D.J. Horton and Dr. Josh Epton discuss why laughter needs to be common in your ministry, workplace, and home. This fifth characteristic might seem surprising, but it is vital for a healthy leadership culture. Not because the ultimate goal is laughter. The goal is joy, and the fruit of joy is laughter.

One of the greatest threats to growing businesses and ministries is when everyone simply looks out for themselves. Creating a kingdom-minded culture means the people on your team want to help each other win because there is a bigger picture at play. So, how do you guard against those you lead becoming so myopic that you end up with deeply fragmented teams? Join Dr. D.J Horton and Dr. Tripp Atkinson for a conversation on how to work together effectively in a world that often encourages us to live self-centeredly.

When it comes to our churches, businesses, and ministries, we should certainly want to pursue excellence, but excellence can become our enemy when we forget that people matter most. Join Dr. D.J. Horton and Pastor Jarrett McNeely for a conversation surrounding how to love and shepherd the people you lead well - even when it’s difficult - and how to avoid burnout. People truly do matter most because they matter most to Jesus.

Most Christians will say that there is power in prayer. They'll even say they want to pray about everything. Sadly, though, there is often a disconnect between what we say about prayer and what we do in prayer. We run the risk of operating our churches, businesses, ministries, and lives at a high level, yet without the power, presence, and movement of God. Join Dr. D.J. Horton and guest Pastor Adam Siskey for a discussion on the importance of allowing prayer to trump our well-laid plans.