The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

Nicole Martin made history as Christianity Today's first Black female CEO — and took the hits that come with it. In this conversation: the backlash, Billy Graham's original vision, how the magazine is advancing and speaking into a polarized world, and why leadership is designed to kill you. 🔗   Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadersh

Twenty years after burnout almost took him out, Carey is back with Part 2—the recovery playbook. You don't need to get back to normal. Normal is what burned you out. In this solo episode, Carey shares seven strategies to burnout-proof your life: stop managing time and start managing energy, move to a fixed calendar, guard your green zone, and stop letting the wrong people hijack your best hours. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'heresy', why 'normal' leaders have stepped away and allowed fringe leaders to run the church, why the culture is really rejecting the church, and the phenomenon of weaponized nostalgia and the outrage cycle. "}" data-sheets-userformat= "{"2":829,"3":{"1":0},"5":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"7":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1

Twenty years ago this month, Carey almost became ministry road kill. After 11 years of 30%+ annual growth, he burned out, hard.  In Part 1 of this solo episode, Carey shares 5 honest insights from two decades of reflection: why dysfunction gets rewarded in the church, how denial accelerates the crash, and why grieving your losses matters. If your passion is fading, this episode is for you. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'heresy', why 'normal' leaders have stepped away and allowed fringe leaders to run the church, why the culture is really rejecting the church, and the phenomenon of weaponized nostalgia and the outrage cycle. "}" data-sheets-userformat= "{"2":829,"3":{"1":0},"5":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"7":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2

There's a battle happening in our minds: one that shapes how we see ourselves, our circumstances, and even God.   In this episode, Carey moderates a conversation with Louie Giglio, Jennie Allen, and Craig Groeschel as they come together to talk honestly about mental health, the lies we believe, and how faith changes the way we fight.   Download the free reflections and takeaway guide here: https://share.hsforms.com/1r7u1sOZMSgKMcVTKf1kyFg4rhq6

The vast majority of churches are plateaued or declining, and Exponential CEO Dave Ferguson explains why most churches never grow, let alone multiply. Plus, he shares the latest trends in church planting in this special episode recorded backstage at Exponential Global Conference in Orlando.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/" ta

Carey caught up with Rich Villodas backstage at Exponential to talk about the learnable skills that keep leaders and congregations non-anxious in an angry age, and the unique challenges and gifting needed to lead a church you didn't plant. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving th

Joel Muddamalle is a theologian who thinks harder about spiritual warfare than almost anyone in the church today. In this conversation: how sin got a mass-marketing strategy, why your devices are a primary battleground, why the best answer to political division might be subversion, and how to keep your best people long-term. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-

Most church leaders are leading inside a model they never chose and rarely understand. In this episode, Todd Wilson, founder of Exponential, walks through the true history of the modern church: Church Growth, Seeker Sensitive, Attractional, Missional—and what's coming next.  This is the seminary class no one got, but every church leader needs. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sh

What do you do when you run a playbook on discipleship that's worked for years, and it stops working? That led Robby Gallaty to a place of despair, and out of that, revival and renewal came. Robby Gallaty and Replicate CEO Vick Green explain how to renew your ministry through revival and discipleship. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2

Preston Sprinkle studied the full biblical narrative on women in ministry inductively, without an agenda. From Genesis to Paul, we discuss what he found and where it led him.  We also tackle what faithfulness to scripture looks like, and how opening your mind and changing your view can make you more biblically faithful rather than less. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/" target= "_blank" rel="no

Christine Caine returns to the podcast to discuss the real reasons she thinks women are done with the church, how to get them back, why playing the Holy Spirit's role in other people's lives has to stop, and the necessity of being pruned if you want to flourish. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern

Find yourself procrastinating? You're not alone. Jon Acuff explains how to finally stop procrastinating on your sermon writing and other projects. Plus, he explains how he continues to grow as a leader, build an audience, and AI-proof his influence. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Conve

Bill Gurley, legendary investor behind Uber, Snapchat, and Twitter, shares why "follow your passion" is dangerously misleading, what to chase instead, what the best startup founders do, and the delusional factor that separates outliers from everyone else.  Plus, his best advice on finding a mentor, landing your dream job, his biggest mistake (passing on Google), and what he'd tell young leaders just starting out. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

Arthur C. Brooks attends church every single day, has sat through thousands of sermons, gives lectures and talks around the world and based on that, gives his best advice to preachers. Plus, we look at how to reclaim writing time and the meaning of life. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moor

Mark Lutz pastored a regular church for a few years. Then, as a gamer, he opened up Lux Church, a 100% ditigal church created for gamers. He explains the model, why it's reaching people no one else is reaching, how online relationships are as real as IRL relationships, and what other churches are missing and getting wrong when it comes to their digital ministry. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the

How do you get past your self-limiting beliefs? Best-selling author Nir Eyal talks about the research on why some leaders see the positive while others see the negative, how to change your mindset and gain greater agency, and the science behind why prayer improves resilience and mindset. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-shee

Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz opens up about the factors that led to the collapse of his ministry. He discusses the core issues that led to his breach of trust, what it was like to preach while he was having an affair, the relentless pressure of rapid growth, what rehab taught him about addressing core issues, his regrets, and warning signs for church leaders facing the pressure. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://ca

Jennie Allen reflects on a year like no other she's had: an ephocal global event followed by a terribly difficult sabbatical, health scares, and discouragement. Jennie talks about wanting to quit, suffering and spiritual warfare, lies leaders believe, and not giving up. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leavin

JJ and Kait Tomlin join the podcast to give candid advice to church leaders who, um, haven't dated in a while. It's different out there than it used to be. They cover outdated dating advice, what pastors should say, and the real challenges of being a Christian and single today. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore o

Recent data shows that while young men are coming to church in record numbers, women are leaving. Why? Kadi Cole shares the #1 reason women are leaving church (lack of trust) and outlines numerous other red flags that are alienating women. Plus, she discusses how to address them and how to create an engaging environment for women, whether you lead a complementarian or egalitarian church. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠

Beth Moore talks about leaving the SBC a decade ago, how to know when it's time to leave, why so many women are leaving the church, and proof-texting scripture to keep the pulpit and power. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'he

In this episode, Carey asks the question of whether we're selling church growth and marketing revival on social media. As leaders, our motives are always mixed, and Carey offers a framework for checking our motives before posting on social media. Momentum doesn't need marketing. Don't sell it. Steward it. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value=

The cultural moment we're in isn't just tense — it's a full convulsion, and it's landing in your church every Sunday. In this emergency panel episode, Ed Stetzer, Adam Mesa, and Sharon Hodde Miller debate when to speak up, when to be silent, how to deal with fallout, and how to pastor people in a deeply divided age. This is the conversation many pastors are desperate to have but afraid to start. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes FUND THE FUTURE MASTERCLASS What do you do when your finances feel stuck, and giving doesn't match the mission you see God calling you toward? I helped create Fund the Future masterclass, alongside Craig Groeschel, Ashley Wooldridge, Chris Hodges, and others — a course built to help you move beyond transactional conversations about money and into a transformational culture of generosity. Learn more at careynieuwhof.com/fundthefuture . SUBSPLASH Subsplash handles the tech you need so your church can lead the mission. Listeners, you can go to subsplash.com/carey to get $500 when you sign up today. SWITCHER STUDIOS Want to take your church's live stream to the next level, especially as you head into Easter? Switcher lets you grab your iPhones, iPads, and cameras, sync them together, and switch between angl

Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel and his therapist, Dr. Wayne Chappelle, join Carey to talk about a wall Craig hit in ministry, that he thought might k*ll him. They discuss what was at stake, how he got through it, what happens to leaders who don't take action, and how Craig recovered fully from what almost took him out.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwho

Patrick Lencioni opens up about his dark night of the soul and his recent five-month sabbatical. Plus, we discuss how we go to work to heal and the joys and challenges of leading next-gen leaders. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'heresy', why 'normal'

Henry Cloud explains why leadership is not lonely, or at least, shouldn't be. Plus, we discuss why founders hang on too long and why leaders have far more control than you think! 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist C

Comedian and listener favorite John Crist returns to ask if we're being too critical of the church right now. Has our cynicism gone too far?  Plus, we talk about finding hope and do a detailed breakdown of exactly what it takes to appear on the Tonight Show. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore o

Leadership expert Les McKeown talks about the rise of mini-celebrity pastors, the limits that places on church growth and team development, and how to overcome the growth barriers you're facing as church leaders. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'heresy', why

John Mark Comer talks about his 21-day venture into the desert and a silence unlike any he's known in his life. Plus, he clarifies where he stands in terms of the left or the right (and the Christian past), discusses major challenges for modern discipleship and the church, and adds his own church trend. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "

YouTuber Ruslan KD sits down to explain that ambiguity from preachers on cultural issues is costing them more than they think. He shares how the next generation is looking to the church for what to think and how to think. In this episode, we do a deep dive into how the next generation is leveraging YouTube and social media to preach the Gospel. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-

Even as teenagers, Gen Zers Luke LeFevre and Daniel McLeod were preaching at their high school and at raves. They share why Gen Z is so bold, what's creating the surge in church attendance, and why so many Gen Z are not using their gifts in local churches, and how to change that. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on lea

Is America in revival? Well, not quite, according to Barna CEO David Kinnaman, who joins Carey to discuss 2026 church trends. New data shows overall American Christianity is still in decline AND that Gen Z men are dialing into Jesus, young adults are the most churched group in America, and that we're setting ourselves up for a succession crisis.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "http

Carey Nieuwhof unveils 7 disruptive church trends to track in 2026. The trends include Gen Z leading a surge in young church attendance and a rise in women exiting the Christian faith. Plus, Carey discusses discipleship by algorithm and why that makes it impossible to lead people with harmony. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/"

Former LCBC Senior Pastor David Ashcraft talks about the small church dysfunction he encountered when he arrived at LCBC when it was just a small church. Plus, he discusses how it scaled into a mega-church of 22,000, succession, and how he repositioned the Global Leadership Summit for the future. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,

Sharon Hodde Miller discusses entering ministry with idealism that is crushed when people break your heart and leave your church. Plus, she discusses how to keep your heart engaged, learning to fight cynicism, and how to know when to speak into culture and when to keep silent. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,

Theologian and church planter Dom Ruso offers lessons from church planting in Montreal, one of the most secular environments in North America, and how to reach a very difficult culture.  He talks about the lack of theological training churches are facing, why we're probably not ready for real revival, and how to reach people most people think are unreachable. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-le

J.R. Briggs has studied the art of asking questions for ten years. He shares how the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life and leadership, how to use questions to get your audience's full attention, and why question-asking is a dying art. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern

In this episode of the podcast, N.T. Wright discusses the forces that formed him into the scholar, priest, and writer he is today: his early influences, his calling, and what he gave up to pursue his writing. He also shares his views on spiritual warfare and the problem of Christians demonizing their enemies. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-va

Lysa TerKeurst opens up about the end of her marriage and offers insight into the distinction between difficult and destructive relationships. Lysa shares the biblical grounds for divorce, and Carey and Lysa discuss how to help people in a tough marriage. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern

J.D. Greear shares the tension every pastor feels over when to speak out, how to speak out, and which issues should command a pastor's voice. J.D. also discusses Charlie Kirk, the culture wars, and social outrage.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'here

Dr. Caroline Leaf explains her philosophy on the distinction between the mind and the brain, and how to utilize your mind to combat stress, anxiety, and burnout. She also weighs in on AI and its potential to harm the mind and brain. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention,

In this episode, you'll learn a fresh perspective on exactly where your time goes, how to cut the investments where you're least effective, and multiply your time investments in the activities that generate the most results. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'h

Dr. James Sells and Shaunti Feldhahn rethink mental health and loneliness. They offer practical steps on how the church can lead healing without burning out its leaders, especially pastors. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'he

Comedian Andrew Stanley talks about his journey as a preacher's son who studied finance and accounting to become a rising comic who has performed with Colin Jost, Leanne Morgan, John Crist and others. Andrew covers the art of writing jokes, what happens when you bomb, how to recover, working with different audiences and more. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <sp

Thom Rainer explains the difference he's discovered between what growing churches do and what declining churches do. It's simpler than you think. Plus, how can you help the Anxious Generation feel comfortable coming to church? Thom explains what the research reveals. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2"

YouVersion CEO Bobby Gruenewald discusses what's right and wrong with AI, sharing some shocking examples of why Christians should be cautious about trusting AI for biblical accuracy. Bobby also explains how it took 13 years to reach 500 million installs, but only four years to reach a billion, and the changes YouVersion made to accelerate bible reach. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <a href= "https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/" target= "_blank"

In a wide-ranging interview, Tim Timberlake reflects on a challenging pastoral succession and how he rebuilt momentum. Plus, he discusses getting divorced in his twenties, what he learned about leading while bleeding, and a lot more.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Sou

In this episode, Carey explores why the attractional church model no longer works, what's replacing it, the three shifts that made it ineffective, and what you and your church can do now to reach more people. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, being tried for 'heresy', why 'nor

Tim Stevens returns to the podcast to discuss the hardest assignment in ministry: his three years at Willow Creek. He also talks about how to spot talent, firing well, how to recapture momentum, and his biggest lesson in four decades of ministry. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <span data-sheets-value= "{"1":2,"2":"Rusell Moore on leaving the Southern Baptist Conventi

Judah Smith and Dr. Les Parrot, Judah's therapist of 15 years, talk about the unique pressures pastors face. Les and Judah explain why your brain is lying to you 80% of the time, offer insights into how pastors self-sabotage, and provide guidance on how to break the cycle of negative thoughts that many church leaders struggle with. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 <spa