Listen Now

Based on the life of Christ, C.S. Lewis once claimed that Jesus was either Lord, a Lunatic, or a Liar. One had to be true. As we explore Mark 3, we'll see that we get to decide which of those titles the Lord carries in our lives.

Today I’m chatting with Justin Watson, Communication Pastor at Good Shepherd Community Church. Justin shares how he came to be at Good Shepherd and walks us through some of the daily and weekly activities in the Communication Pastor role. We look at social media and its role in the Church today and how Good Shepherd has been active in this area, specifically with Facebook. We finish the episode discussing the important and relevant topic of digital evangelism and some of the plans Good Shepherd has for digital outreach.

Today, Sean talks with David Price, Worship and Production Director at Good Shepherd Community Church. David takes us through the process and planning that goes into the worship services at Good Shepherd. He also shares the decision-making process behind sound, lighting, and effects choices.  We also cover how music is chosen for worship services. Finally, we cover some of the successes David has seen since becoming the head of the worship team at Good Shepherd. In This Episode What it’s like to lead and prepare weekend services at Good Shepherd. The difference between singing “at” the congregation vs. “with” them. What’s it like to lead a congregation in worship. An explanation on sound levels at Good Shepherd. How lighting decisions are made. How music is chosen for weekend worship services. David’s favorite worship song and which songs he feels need a time of rest. The secret behind David’s white shoes.

Today we discuss a theology of work and what it means to be actively engaged with our work in a God-honoring way. We also spend time on Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 3. Although work can sometimes be difficult, it is inherently a good thing and we can follow the example of Jesus who worked hard to help others in a variety of circumstances. In This Episode Why Paul emphasized the importance of hard work Why work is a good thing and why work is hard The importance of secular work in fulfilling God’s plan Paul’s admonishment to busybodies How to engage with idle people

In the second part of our work life balance series, we focus on a number of key tips that can help you balance life and work.  In This Episode The importance of putting our identity in Christ and not in our work. How important small wins are when it comes to our relationships. That we need people to hold us accountable about our balance issues. Whether these imbalances are found in life or work.

In today’s episode – part one of two – we discuss work-life balance. We look at what drives us to become imbalanced. The role technology plays in that process and some personal examples of how our lives have been affected by work-life balance issues in the past. Most importantly, Bob discusses where our identity should come from, not from work, but Christ. In This Episode: ● Some stats on work-life balance in the United States ● The importance of using technology in ways that promote work/life balance. ● Some thoughts from Tim Keller, the former lead pastor of Redeemer Church, on how to ensure our identity doesn’t come from work. ● How to center our identity in Christ.

Today I will be talking with Steve Keels, who is the Discipleship Pastor at Good Shepherd. We talk about the history of discipleship at Good Shepherd and the importance of knowing God’s word.  We also look at biblical discipleship through the lens of Paul and his life, as we discuss how he discipled the early churches. We close the episode with examples of how discipleship has directly affected Steve’s life. Takeaways We grow by learning, and the goal of discipleships is to foster a thirst for knowledge in God’s word. The most important friendship is the one that develops when you are studying the Word. Challenging people without cynicism, asking questions and them asking, is how to make them want to learn themselves. If you really study it, you can apply anything from the Bible. You just need to spend enough time with it. Model your relationships to Paul’s in which we are all related in Christ. You’re not a project to someone who is discipling you.

In this episode, we continue the conversation with Bob and Greg. This time we focus on some of the personal, health, and relationship challenges Greg and Bob have faced. We also talk about how their faith in God helped them to surmount each of these challenges. 

Today Greg Cahalan joins the show, Greg is the Student Ministry Pastor at Good Shepherd. In this episode, we share stories of Bob and Greg’s friendship and how they grew together and encouraged each other to pursue their God-given callings. We also spend time discussing the highs and lows of their friendship over the years and how a focus on Christ has kept their friendship strong and thriving.

On today’s episode, we focus on God’s will – what we mean when we say God’s will and how that looks in our lives. We look at the importance in submitting our own desires and will to God’s plan and discuss what it means to accept God’s will in our lives and the pitfalls we can have when we don’t trust in his plan. Bob finishes the episode by sharing the practical decision-making framework he uses to help align his life to God’s will. In This Episode Why should I want God’s will? What if my own will is different than the will of God? Why it is important to zoom out from our individual decisions and see the full picture Why praying can trump planning A practical framework to help us allow God to lead us through our decision making

On this episode, we’re going to focus in on Community with Other Believers.  We talk about why God wants us to include others on our spiritual journey, what happens if we try to go it alone, and what are some ways that Good Shepherd supports community and fellowship.

Today we’re discussing the essential, and often overlooked, practice of prayer – starting with defining what prayer is and how essential it is to the Christian life. We also look at some of the obstacles to a healthy prayer life and ways we can incorporate other types of prayer such as praying through the Bible. In This Episode What is prayer? Why praying is often overlooked. How to incorporate prayer into our households and daily lives. How to get more from studying the Bible How to overcome common obstacles to prayer.

In today’s episode, we’re going to compare religion versus relationship. We’ll also discuss each of the four main aspects of the Gospel story in detail and some of the common obstacles that people have when hearing it for the first time. Takeaways Works can come from a place of religion or a place of relationship. The truth of the Gospel can be understood by everyone. Creation, fall, redemption, and restoration are the four key elements of the Gospel story Ways to explain creation, fall, redemption, and restoration to non-believers.

Today’s episode is a bit different than our previous episodes, whereas past subjects have been focused on specific topics related to Good Shepherd Church and our spiritual walk, today we’re going back into the past to learn a bit more about Bob and his childhood. Bob shares about his family, upbringing, and background along with some of his favorite childhood memories and one of his worst.  We also learn whether or not his brother made it to the major leagues as a professional baseball player. In this Episode: What it was like to grow up in Royal Oak, Michigan in the 1970’s and 80’s Bob’s background and upbringing What Bob envisioned his life would be like when he was older What was his favorite gift that he received as a child Bob’s best and worst childhood memories Resources Ask more questions at – ask@goodshepherdcc.org

Our subject today is about how we expand our walk with the Lord and how we live out this walk in our personal lives. Bob and I chat about the ways he’s found to make time with the Lord an ongoing priority. We also talk about ways we’ve been able to improve our relationships with Christ through self-awareness and eliminating distractions. Finally, we cover some good starting places for you to consider in the Bible if you’re beginning to expand your own personal walk with the Lord.    

  Today I’m chatting with Krisiti Knifong. Kristi is a long-time member at Good Shepherd and she is also the Local Outreach Administrator. We discuss what Kristi’s day-to-day activities look like in the role and how her position helps coordinate and lead Good Shepherd’s local outreach efforts. One of the focuses of Kristi’s work is Rockwood – one of the poorest areas in Oregon. We discuss why the area of Rockwood was chosen as a focus and the initiatives Good Shepherd is taking. Kristi also shares stories showing the impact of outreach efforts in the Rockwood community.  Takeaways The Give 5 Challenge – created to help people find opportunities how to help and give five hours this summer. The Five Causes for Local Help: Love a Child, Love a School, Love the Lonely, Love the Hungry, Love Rockwood. Love thy Nations and Love the Herding – are two more causes that Good Shepherd will focus on. In This Episode Why Rockwood became a focus of Good Shepherd outreach. What are the main goals of outreach in Rockwood? What are the tools needed for outreach? How can listeners pray for those working in Rockwood? Resources Good Shepherd Church Love Rockwood webpage GSCC Local Outreach Facebook  

In today’s episode, we talk about core values and how they relate to mission and vision statements. During the conversation, Bob shared the discovery process he and the church leadership team used to identify a number of core values that are at the heart of Good Shepherd.  We walk through each of the 7 values including what it means to be a family on mission, truth to worship, and the importance of bridge building. The best way to listen to the episode is through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or Overcast. You’ll be able to listen to past episodes and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. As we mentioned in the show, if you're enjoying the Good Shepherd Community Church podcast we’d love it if you would leave a nice review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to the show.

In today’s episode of the Good Shepherd Podcast, we discuss vision statements which differ in scope and use from our previous episode topic of mission statements. We take time to define what vision statements are, and how they are used effectively within your church. We discuss the vision statement of the Good Shepherd Church, the importance of creativity, and how to develop freedom within a framework. We will also be talking about the importance of vision statements for the family. Takeaways A vision statement is a more defined and directional goal compared to the mission statement. Vision statements are meant to show us direction in the short-term, and they change through time, while mission statements stay the same and offer core direction. Everyone needs vision because of alignment and harmony, within even small groups. Good Shepherd's Vision Statement - A community of disciples from every generation who creatively make disciples of Jesus. Good Shepherd's Church is especially focused on all generations helping to bring in more disciples. The Church needs to adapt to changes, changing the rules and the ways things are done. It is important for families to have their own vision statements – understanding that they also change. In This Episode What’s a vision statement, why everyone would benefit from one and how it is different than a mission statement. Why it is important for the Church to foster creativity. Why guidance is needed with vision statements and how to have freedom within a framework. How a church should keep a balance between creating “events”, discipleships and leading people to the Lord. Why a church needs to understand change and develop its vision statements accordingly. Resources Every Small Group Needs a Vision – Desiring God Proverbs 22:6 Exodus 31 Family On Mission - book Quotables “If the mission statement is that directional idea, the vision statement is the first set of directions.” “Good Shepherd's Vision Statement - A community of disciples from every generation who creatively make disciples of Jesus.” God is creative and we are designed by the image of God - we are creative. “We want to join God in the work he is already doing.”  

This is the first episode of the Good Shepherd Podcast. Today’s subject is familiar in the business world but may not be as much in the church – mission statements. We discuss what a mission statement is and how important it is for a church to have. We look at the issues that can come up when a church doesn’t have a mission statement and how to navigate developing a mission statement within your church. We also discuss the process Good Shepherd Church went through to discover our mission statement and make it an integral part of our church. Takeaways A mission statement is a directional statement of your goals and values as a congregation. Everyone needs a mission statement - a family, an individual, you need it as parents, as pastors, regardless of your career or education. A purpose statement extends and details the core mission statement. Without a clear mission statement, it’s easy for members to go in different directions without aligning on a single goal. Word choice for mission statements needs to be short and memorable. Defining what is meant by “mission”, “vision” and “values” is an integral process of developing a strong mission statement. In This Episode What’s a mission statement and why a church needs one. Why it is not enough for a Church to focus on the Great Commission. How to process and developing a mission statement. What is the importance of keeping up a mission statement in the Church? Key Quotes “Every organization needs a mission statement, we all need to know at the core of who we are, what’s the one crystal clear idea of where we are heading and what we are about." “Good Shepherd's Mission Statement - Learning together to live like Christ while reaching out in his name.” “God doesn’t call us to only grow in him and grow together, but he calls us to go out and make more disciples.” “Big churches need a clear mission statement that every pastor, leader, and member agrees upon – this keeps them on task together even when they’re not all together.” If you have any questions about this episode or the show in general simply email: ask@goodshepherdcc.org