Today we wrap up a 4 message series on the ABCs of Loving God with the study, My Donations: What will I do to make a difference?

As Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, opens the Bible to Luke 6, he focuses our attention on an issue that is dear to many of us: How can I make a difference in this life?

As he wraps us this series, let’s open our Bibles and discover that it’s not the duration of your life but your donation in life that really matters.

As we enter into February, we will turn our attention to the Biblical focus of “loving our neighbor as our self.” Dr. Smith will begin a new series next time entitled “Walking with the Wounded: Having God’s heart for our next-door neighbors!” We know you will want to invite a friend to sign up for the podcast notices at our website, EaglesInLeadership.org, so they can enjoy these Biblical messages of inspiration and growth!

It’s our 101^st episode of the Transformed podcast today. We are so glad you have joined us we seek to Encourage Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood.”

Today we examine a powerful encounter between a rich young ruler and Jesus. As the conversation progresses, we discover that possessing eternal life – from Jesus’ point of view – means something far different than is often understood.

Indeed, this young, powerful and deeply religious man walks away from Jesus refusing eternal life as a result of his encounter.

As Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, continues a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God, let’s open our Bibles to Mark 10 and listen in as Pastor Matt walks us through Jesus’ answer to the question: How Can I Be Spiritually Fulfilled?

We would also ask you to check out the resources on our website and consider one of the year-long devotionals for 2012: either, In His Image, which focuses on the theme, “God Created YOU to Love You!” or, In His Presence, which centers on the truth, “God Welcomes YOU into His Presence with Joy and Pleasure!”

Artwork Credit: michaelhoffman.info

It’s our 100^th podcast today and we are so glad you have chosen to join us!

Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, continues a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God.

Today we are looking into the Old Testament to discover how we will utilize all of the blessings God has given us as we seek to love Him, love our neighbors and love one another!

So let’s open our Bibles to 1 Chronicles 29 and listen in as Pastor Matt provides great help in unlocking the door to the closed hearts of those in your sphere of life …

As 2012 runs ahead full speed, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, begins a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God.

As we open Luke 10, we will look at our attitude and ask, “How do I respond to God?”

Let’s listen now as Pastor Matt prepares the congregation in El Segundo for whatever 2012 will bring …

We are thrilled you have rejoined us for another year of Encouraging Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood!

In today’s episode, Dr. Smith starts us on a journey through the most important subject in life: How do I please God?

As we open our Bibles to 2 Chronicles 7, let’s listen in as Pastor Matt explains to the people of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, CA how we please God by knowing him personally!

Artwork Credit: philosophicalanthropology.blogspot.com

Welcome back to the Transformed podcast! In today’s holiday episode, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California shows us how to have a character of compassion.

Using the birth and life of Jesus as a springboard, Pastor Matt shows us three ways to enjoy and share the love of Christ throughout the New Year!

Let’s sit back, open our Bibles to 2 Corinthians 1, and listen to this last podcast of 2011 as Dr. Smith teaches the congregation in El Segundo.

Welcome back to the Transformed podcast. We are honored to have Alan Hirsch with us on the podcast today!

Alan is the founding Director of Forge Mission Training Network. He is the co-founder of shapevine.com an international forum for engaging with world transforming ideas. He leads Future Travelers, a learning journey applying missional-incarnational approaches to established churches and is an active participant in The Tribe of LA, a Jesus community among artists and creatives in Los Angeles.

His experience in leadership includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized as well as heading up the Mission and Revitalization work of his denomination. Alan is and adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary and lectures frequently throughout Australia, Europe, and the U.S.
Known for his innovative approach to mission, Alan is a teacher and key mission strategist for churches across the western world. His popular book The Shaping of Things to Come (with Michael Frost) is widely considered to be a seminal text on mission. Alan’s recent book The Forgotten Ways, has quickly become a key reference for missional thinking, particularly as it relates to movements. His book ReJesus is a radical restatement about the role that Jesus plays in defining missional movements.  Untamed, his latest book (with his wife Debra) is about missional discipleship for a missional church.

We are aware there are some audio imperfections in this interview – Alan’s connection wasn’t the best. However, we know you will learn a lot if you turn up the volume and stay focused to this great discussion.

We are giving away TWO copies of Alan and Deb’s book, Untamed as well! Check out these simple rules and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page) if you are not already signed up.

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be October 15^th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

Thank you for tuning in again to the Transformed podcast! Today we welcome Matt Bell back to the program. Matt is a personal finance writer and speaker.

He is the author of three books: Money, Purpose, Joy (September 2008), Money and Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples which was published in March of 2011 and Money Strategies for Tough Times, which we will talk about today.

Matt has been quoted in U.S. News and World Report, the Chicago Tribune, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has written for ChristianityToday.com, writes the Matt About Money blog, and has been a guest on several nationally syndicated radio talk shows.

Matt is a return guest to Transformed! His first interview about Money, Purpose, Joy can be found here.

In today’s episode, we explore how you can successfully navigate the challenging times we live in and how to get to a better place with your personal finances.

We know this episode will be a great help as Matt talks with Matt about …

• How to get past the financial crisis
• Find some breathing space
• Ditch the debt, and
• Position yourself for lasting success

Many of these topics are from Matt’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times.

In these tough times, Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Matt Bell’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times. We know this resource will help you take charge of your financial life.

Matt talks about home mortgage help from the government. Click here for that website.

We are giving away TWO copies of Matt’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times as well! Check out these simple rules and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page)

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be September 15^th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

We are so pleased you have returned to the Transformed podcast!

In today’s episode, we welcome back Tom Cocklereece, author of Simple Discipleship, which we talked about recently (here’s the link to that interview).

Today we talk about a companion to the book, and it’s called Simple Discipleship: The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit. You can purchase the toolkit in Kindle here.

This toolkit is filled with all sorts of ideas, advice and practical tools. We know you will enjoy this interview.

You can learn more about Tom’s ministry by clicking this link.

Simple Discipleship is on Facebook as well!

Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Tom’s book, Simple Discipleship and it’s companion Simple Discipleship: The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit. These resources will help you reach your community in your generation.

In today’s episode, we want to explore effective ministry in rural areas. Matt would tell you that many of the truths in this episode apply equally to urban ministry as well.

Shannon O’Dell has focused on vision, attitude, leadership and innovation to watch God work in amazing ways! When called to his rural Arkansas church of 31 God began to work so that today they are a multi-site church of several thousand.

His book, transforming church in RURAL America, Shannon centers on 5 principles that bring transformation to any smaller church desiring to reach their world in their generation.

This book in a blueprint for transforming church and Matt wants to encourage you to pick up a copy of Shannon’s book, transforming church in RURAL America. We know this book will help you move forward for God to reach your world in your generation.

We are giving away TWO copies of Shannon’s book as well! Check out the rules in and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page)

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be August 15^th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

In this passionate discussion, Matt and Shannon talk about how you too can work with God to transform your church – whether it is rural, suburban or urban.

You can learn more about Shannon here.

You can sign up for Shannon’s blog here.

You can learn more about Brand New Church here.

You can purchase transforming church in RURAL America here.

We are so pleased you have returned to the Transformed podcast.

In today’s episode, we explore how we can recover the message and mission of Jesus, and thus, Change the World.

Matt’s guest today is Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church, is the three-decade dreamer of Ginghamsburg and the spiritual entrepreneur of ministry marketplace innovations.

When Mike arrived at Ginghamsburg Church in 1979, worship attendance hovered at 90 with 118 members and an annual budget of $27,000. Now, 4000 attendees on average worship weekly at Ginghamsburg and the multi-million dollar budget helps resource a faith community committed to serving the poor, lost and disenfranchised.

Today Matt and Mike talk about the church becoming a mission outpost, living out Christ’s ideals in today’s world. As they do, they will explore Mike’s book, Change the World.

You can also learn more about Mike by clicking this link.

You can also learn more about Mike’s ministry by clicking this link.

Matt wants you to pick up a copy of Mike’s book, Change the World. This resource will rock your world and help you rethink the message and mission of Jesus as it related to reaching your community in your generation.

Steve and Matt

Photo Credit: Melodee Smith

In today’s episode, we return to the world of the 1^st century and try to discover how the early church exploded upon the Roman Empire so quickly.

Matt’s guest today is Steve Gladen, who is currently the Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, where he oversees over the development and expansion of over 3,500 small groups.

Gladen, a quick, energetic, and passionate personality, loves working with people in small groups and teaching individuals and churches the foundations of growing relationships within those same groups.

Today Matt and Steve talk about how to create healthy small group communities in your church and launch people into vibrant, balanced ministry. They will explore Steve’s new book, Small Groups with Purpose.

We know you are going to enjoy today’s interview.

You can also learn more about Steve’s ministry by clicking this link.

We are giving away TWO copies of Steve’s book. Here’s how you can get your copy:

1. Tweet or Post on Facebook the following:

Win a free copy of “Small Groups On Purpose.” Details: http://EaglesInLeadership.org

2.Sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog (so you can be notified of winning) at http://EaglesInLeadership.org.

3. Comment at http://EaglesInLeadership.org, expressing your desire to have the book.

That’s it! Winners will be selected on July 20 and will be notified via EaglesInLeadership’s blog – on July 21st.

Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Steve’s book, Small Groups with Purpose. This is a great resource from a great man of God. You can find more about the book and how to purchase a copy here.

Erick David Townsend of Moody Bible Institute’s radio ministry Urban Praise, interviewed Matt about his passion of Reaching Your Community in Your Generation in late May. They also talked about Matt’s involvement in the Moody Pastors Conference.

Urban Praise reaches out to anyone who enjoys the urban flava’ and doesn’t mind hearing a biblical perspective on world events.

They feature artists like Israel Houghton, Salvador, Kirk Franklin, Natalie Grant, Lecrae and more. We not only bring great music, but they have candid interviews with authors, financial experts, doctors and music artists. Whether it’s a simple contest with great prizes or odd stories with big laughs, our format is designed to edify. Urban Praise feels called to take the gospel to every “ethnos” (ethic group).

You can learn more about Urban Praise by clicking here.

In today’s episode, we explore the amazing world of social media for the Kingdom of God.

Matt’s guest today is Brandon Cox, who is currently a Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, where he oversees the content and online community of Pastors.com. Brandon helps shape the social communication structure of the church and the Purpose Driven network. He also oversees the team that receives and handles correspondence for Pastor Rick Warren.

Today Matt and Brandon talk about the opportunities the Internet afford the church that wants to reach its world in its generation. This is an exciting discussion

Toward the end of the interview, they will talk about church planting and how God is moving in Brandon’s life at this time. Beginning in July of 2011, Brandon and his wife Angie will be planting Grace Hills Church in Bentonville, Arkansas, a Saddleback Network church.

You can learn more about Brandon’s ministry by clicking this link.

You can also become a prayer partner for Brandon and Angie’s new adventure by using this link.

Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Brandon’s book, Twitter for Ministry – A Guide to Expanding Your Ministry’s Influence on Twitter, and start working through this great resource. You can order a copy here.

We know you are going to greatly appreciate today’s interview.

In today’s episode of the Transformed podcast, we explore the treacherous world of pastoral leadership.

Matt’s guest today is Larry Osborne, lead pastor at North Coast Church in northern San Diego County. 

As they discuss Larry’s new book, Sticky Teams, Larry will expose the hidden roadblocks, structures, and goofy thinking that sabotage even the best-intentioned teams.

Then, as the interview progresses, he explains to us what it takes to get (and keep) a board, staff, and congregation on the same page, sticking together as a unified, healthy, and dynamic team.

We know you are going to greatly appreciate today’s interview.

Matt wants to make sure you pick up a copy of Sticky Teams for everyone on your leadership board and start working through this great resource. You can do that here.

How good is it? As Pastor Geoff Surratt says: “This is the stuff we thought they’d teach us in seminary.”

About Larry Osborne

Larry Osborne has served as a Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor at North Coast Church since 1980. He has helped oversee the growth of the church from a fledgling group of 128 meeting in a rented school, to a multi-site ministry that reaches nearly 7,000 in weekend attendance.

Larry is also an author and a nationally recognized trainer of pastors. His books include STICKY CHURCH: Slamming the Back Door Shut, 10 DUMB THINGS SMART CHRISTIANS BELIEVE, SPIRITUALITY FOR THE REST OF US and THE UNITY FACTOR: Developing A Healthy Leadership Team. He travels extensively speaking at conferences and mentoring pastors and church planters across the country. His latest book, STICKY TEAMS, was released by Zondervan in April 2010.

In addition to his work as a pastor and writer, Larry also serves as an adjunct professor in the doctoral program at Trinity Evangelical Seminary and as president of the North Coast Training Network – an arm of North Coast Church dedicated to helping pastors across the country maximize their ministry.

North Coast Church has been recognized as one of the ten most influential churches in America as well as one of the most innovative. Pioneers in the use of Video Worship Venues, North Coast launched the first ever Video Venue in 1998, starting what is now known in ministry circles as the “Multi-Site Movement.” Each weekend, North Coast offers over 20 different worship options on multiple campuses – each targeted at a specific demographic or geographic audience.

Have you ever wanted your love for Jesus to grow deeper? How does that happen? In this exciting episode, Falling in Love with Jesus, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith shares the actions we need to incorporate into our life with Jesus.

Matt uses his humorous experience of pursuing Melodee before they were married to illustrate this process. We know you will benefit greatly from this personal and passionate episode of Transformed!

So, grab your Bible and open it to Luke 11 as we listen to Falling in Love with Jesus with Pastor Matt.

You can learn more about this subject in two of his daily devotionals.

• In His Image explores the idea “God Created You to Love You!”

• And In His Presence welcomes you in God’s presence with joy and pleasure!

Both books can be found on our website, using the links provided in the show notes, as well as on Amazon or BarnesandNoble.com

Until next time, thank you for listening to the Transformed podcast.

We welcome Jay Seegert to the Transformed podcast today. Jay is the President and Principal Lecturer of the Creation Education Center, based in Wisconsin. The Creation Education Center is a newly formed non-profit organization established to address the challenge from the secular world regarding the validity and accuracy of the Bible, especially the creation account as described in the book of Genesis.

Mike caught up with Jay recently and talked about Creation and God’s Word.

You can learn more about the Creation Education Center and how to book Jay for your organization here.

We are thrilled to welcome Drew Dyck to the Transformed podcast today! Drew Dyck is the author of Generation Ex-Christian: Why young adults are leaving the faith…and how to bring them back (Moody, 2010). Drew manages the Leader Training Team at Christianity Today International. His responsibilities include overseeing four online publications geared for ministry leaders: BuildingChurchLeaders.com, SmallGroups.com, TodaysChildrensMinistry.com, and RoundTripMissions.com. Before coming to Christianity Today Drew was the editor of New Man magazine. He has written more than 100 articles for Christian and secular publications, and is a regular contributor to Faith Today, Boundless.org, and ConversantLife.com.

Drew grew up in Red Deer, Alberta in a pastor’s family and has three older brothers. After moving to the U.S. 10 years ago, Drew has lived in Portland, Pasadena, Orlando, and now, Chicago. He graduated from Portland State University with a B.A. in English before attending Fuller Theological Seminary, where he earned an M.A. in Theology. Drew has also served as a Bible study leader, small group leader, and youth pastor. He and his wife, Grace, attend Jericho Road Church. They love discussing theology with friends, hanging out in used bookstores, and traveling when they can afford it.

You can learn more about Drew here.

You can order Drew’s book, Generation Ex-Christian here.

You can read Matt’s review of Drew’s book on Church Central here.

Transformed’s Mike Powers caught up with Sheila Walsh this week and spoke about her walk with God, her new book The Shelter of God’s Promises and her ministry.

Walsh began her career as a contemporary Christian singer after finishing college with studies in theology from London Bible College (now London School of Theology) in 1979 and music from the London Academy of Operatic Art. Sheila worked as an evangelist with the British chapter of Youth For Christ and sang with a group known as “The Oasis” until going solo in 1981. She also worked closely at this time with keyboard player Chris Rolinson, who contributed extensively to the unique sound on her first “new wave” style album, Future Eyes. He also toured with her on her first United States tour, where she opened for Phil Keaggy. As Sheila enjoyed some success both in the United Kingdom and America as a CCM musician, she was asked by the conservative minister Pat Robertson to serve as a co-host of his television talk-show, The 700 Club in 1987. Sheila served in this capacity into 1992 and also hosted her own talk-show, Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh.

Ideological differences with Pat Robertson and general feelings of depression brought Sheila to re-examine her life’s direction. After leaving Pat Robertson’s enterprises in 1992 she sought therapy for her depression, eventually returning to college at Fuller Theological Seminary in California to take on doctoral studies in theology. Pat Robertson explained her departure from CBN as the result of a “nervous breakdown” brought on by the tremendous demands of her work with CBN. He asked his viewers to keep her in their prayers and ask God to give her the strength to continue doing His work.

She went on to write a book exploring her struggle with depression and her experiences with her faith as a Christian, entitled Honestly. While Walsh had written several books on theology before, this autobiography would become the wellspring of her later work on personal aspects of faith and would set the tone for her introspective, personal, but evangelical approach to affairs of modern theology.

Over the course of the latter 1990s, Sheila’s work has concerned women’s issues within the church and the unique relationship of the contemporary woman with God. Sheila has written over seventeen books including Honestly, Living Fearlessly, and Life is Tough, but God is Faithful. She has also written several books for children recently. She also has continued her musical career as a songwriter and singer and has recorded several albums of new Christian music and traditional hymns arranged to a Celtic sound.

In 2005, Sheila partnered with Tommy Nelson publishers to create a line of children’s books and DVDs called Gigi, God’s Little Princess^TM. The brand has become the #1 Christian Girl’s brand and continues to be popular and release new products today.

Sheila, with her family, is now an active attendee of Prestonwood Baptist Church, in Plano, Texas.