The Lead Ministry Podcast

Josh Denhart
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Christianity
  • Updated weekly

Lead Ministry is here for you, the dedicated people in ministry leadership. Our fast-paced, inspirational podcast offers practical steps in each episode to help you thrive. Our focus: *GET SKILLS - Implement systems to avoid burnout. *GET INSPIRED - Embrace leadership as a path to disciple-making. *GET MOVING - Apply episode ideas to enhance your ministry. Join us on a journey to navigate the challenges of ministry, from volunteer management to team building, and lead with purpose and passion in your service.

  1. 337. Last-Minute Requests Are Burning Out Your Team

    5 days ago

    337. Last-Minute Requests Are Burning Out Your Team

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk wrap up the June Lead Up series with a critical conversation: what to do when your senior leader hands you a last-minute request that might break your team. They share a brilliant third-option response from Lead Ministry coach Jody Quinn, unpack the difference between “doable hard” and “destructive hard,” and offer a framework for protecting your team while still honoring the leadership above you. If you’ve ever felt cornered between saying yes to your boss and protecting your team, this episode hands you the language to do both. Key Topics Covered The Tightrope – Balancing your supervisor’s voice and your team’s needs Jody Quinn’s Third Option – The script that buys you time and earns trust Doable Hard vs. Destructive Hard – Knowing the difference matters Horse Trading – Making your leader pay the cost of priority shifts Honoring Authority Without Worship – Leaders aren’t divine Key Quote “If you need an answer right now, the answer is no. However, if you give me time to talk to the team, we might be able to pull this off.” Scripture References Proverbs 15:22 – With many advisers, plans succeed Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance, a people falls Romans 13:1 – Submission to authority Ephesians 6:5-9 – Serving with sincere hearts Takeaway You’re a middle manager threading the needle between your supervisor’s voice and your team’s needs. Pause is power. Time creates clarity. And sometimes the most pastoral thing you can do is push back — not on the mission, but on the timeline. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    31 min
  2. 336. Why Your Great Ministry Idea Gets Shut Down

    22 Jun

    336. Why Your Great Ministry Idea Gets Shut Down

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk close out the June Lead Up series with the strategy that wins more yeses than any other: practicing your pitch. They walk through a four-step rehearsal method built on what Josh calls your “12, your 3, and your 1” — an insider team that lets you pressure-test, refine, and sharpen your proposal before it ever reaches your senior leader. If you’ve been winging your pitches and wondering why they keep getting tabled, this episode names the gap and gives you the system. Key Topics Covered Why Practice Matters – How rehearsal validates your character and work ethic The 12, the 3, and the 1 – Building your insider team Speculative Speaking – Creating safe space for processing out loud The 4-Step Pitch Refinement – Identifying agreement, confusion, and gold Plan for the No – What to do when the answer comes back wrong Key Quote “The distance between your brain and your mouth — there is all kinds of you. It’s so much clearer in your brain than it is out of your mouth.” Scripture References Proverbs 15:22 – Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Proverbs 16:3 – Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans Luke 14:28 – Counting the cost before you build Takeaway Your senior leader isn’t shutting down your idea. They’re shutting down your delivery. Practice your pitch three times before you walk into that meeting and watch how often the answer becomes yes. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    41 min
  3. 335. Why Your Senior Leader Keeps Saying No

    15 Jun

    335. Why Your Senior Leader Keeps Saying No

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin from Slingshot Group introduce a powerful framework for leading up: the Four P’s. Every senior leader filters decisions through a primary lens — People, Progress, Pennies, or Process — and learning to speak that language is the difference between getting a yes and getting shut down. If you’ve ever made a great pitch and watched your leader’s eyes glaze over, this episode will give you the diagnostic tool you’ve been missing. Key Topics Covered The People Lens – Driven by stories, transformation, and life change The Progress Lens – Driven by vision, growth, and taking the hill The Pennies Lens – Driven by stewardship and return on investment The Process Lens – Driven by systems, fairness, and precedent Key Quote “You’re using the wrong key for the lock. You’re not going to unlock the door.” Scripture References Proverbs 16:21 – The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction 1 Corinthians 9:22 – Becoming all things to all people Colossians 4:6 – Let your conversation be full of grace, seasoned with salt Takeaway Your leader isn’t blocking you. They’re filtering for what they value most. Identify their lens, reframe your pitch through their language, and you’ll start hearing yes more often than no. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    39 min
  4. 334. The Mistake That Breaks Trust With Your Leader

    8 Jun

    334. The Mistake That Breaks Trust With Your Leader

    Episode Description   In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Vance Martin from Slingshot Group to unpack nine principles for leading up to your senior leader. They walk through the often-invisible work of building trust, bringing solutions, anticipating needs, and avoiding the trap of forming alliances against the very person God has placed above you.   If you’ve ever felt like your boss doesn’t see you, doesn’t get you, or doesn’t appreciate what you bring to the table, this episode will reframe how you show up for them — and how they will eventually show up for you.   No Surprises – Why blindsiding your leader breaks trust Bring Solutions, Not Problems – How to lift weight, not add it Don’t Try to Fix Your Leader – Pray, don’t correct Form Loyalty, Not Alliances – Why “venting” with teammates is gossip Anticipate Their Needs – Knowing rhythms, deadlines, and pressure points   “Gossip isn’t processing. If you’re venting about your leader with teammates, you’re tearing the team apart.”   Proverbs 25:13 – Faithful messengers refresh their leaders Matthew 7:3-5 – The plank in your own eye Romans 13:1 – Submission to authority Hebrews 13:17 – Honoring those who lead you   Leading up isn’t about getting your way. It’s about building trust, honoring alignment, and being a follower worth following. The invisible, faithful, intentional work you do behind the scenes is what creates the visible fruit everyone sees.   We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.   Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    33 min
  5. 333. How to Lead Up When You’re Not the Boss

    1 Jun

    333. How to Lead Up When You’re Not the Boss

    Episode Description   In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk explore the power of the second chair and what it means to lead when you’re not the boss. They walk through seven Bible characters who held significant influence without ever holding the top position, offering a roadmap for ministry leaders who want to move the kingdom forward from wherever they sit on the org chart.   If you’ve ever felt overlooked, under-positioned, or stuck waiting for your turn to lead, this episode will reframe how you see your seat at the table.   The Power of the Second Chair – Why number two often holds the keys Position vs. Influence – How influence operates without title Seven Biblical Examples – Joseph, Joshua, Elisha, Daniel, Nehemiah, Samuel, and Ruth The Heart Posture That Wins – Sovereignty, faithfulness, and diligence   “You may not be number one in charge, but number one doesn’t always hold all the keys. Number two can often hold the keys.”   Genesis 37–50 – The story of Joseph Numbers 13–14 – Joshua and the twelve spies 2 Kings 2 – Elijah and Elisha Daniel 1–6 – Daniel in Babylon Nehemiah 1–6 – Rebuilding the wall 1 Samuel 1–3 – The calling of Samuel Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor”   You don’t need the corner office to shape the culture, the direction, or the future of your church. If you crush it where you are, with the influence you’ve been given, God will use you in ways your title could never reach.   We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.   Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers Key Topics CoveredKey QuoteScripture ReferencesTakeawayCall to ActionStay Connected for More Resources

    41 min
  6. 332. Why Your Church Can't Find Enough Volunteers

    25 May

    332. Why Your Church Can't Find Enough Volunteers

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Nick Blevins — author of The Volunteer Playbook and co-founder of Ministry Boost — to tackle the volunteer problem head-on. They explore why most church leaders have never been taught how to recruit, offering a five-step framework and the surprising 10X volunteer conversion rate that reframes how ministry leaders should think about building their teams. If you've ever felt like you're constantly plugging holes and pulling your hair out on Sunday mornings, this episode will give you a system to replace the scramble. Key Topics Covered → The Volunteer Conversion Rate (VCR) – Why you need 10 prospects for every 1 volunteer you want to place, and how to build a prospect pool that actually works → The 5-Step Recruiting Framework – Prospects, conversation, orientation, onboarding, and placed — a repeatable system for moving people from the lobby to the classroom → Time + Strategy – Why blocking two hours a week for recruiting is the single most important habit a ministry leader can build Key Quote "You got to be a shepherd before you're a recruiter." Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Judges 7 (Gideon) – Referenced as an example of God accomplishing his purposes with fewer people than expected. Takeaway The volunteer problem isn't a mystery — it's a math and systems problem. Most churches don't lack willing people; they lack a consistent process to find, invite, orient, and place them. Two hours a week, a real prospect list, and a framework that moves people through clear steps will transform your recruiting from frantic to sustainable. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    45 min
  7. 331. The Recruiting Tools You Should Already Have

    18 May

    331. The Recruiting Tools You Should Already Have

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk break down the specific recruiting resources every ministry leader should have built before they ever pick up the phone. They explore how pre-prepared tools — from slot sheets to pushback scripts to draft follow-up emails — transform recruiting from a dreaded chore into a confident, efficient system. If you've ever sat down to make recruiting calls and felt completely unprepared, this episode will hand you the exact toolkit to change that. Key Topics Covered → Slot Sheets – Knowing exactly how many people you need and where, so you can recruit with precision and report with confidence → The Down-Sell Strategy – How to redirect a "no" into a smaller yes using pre-built offering lists, just like selling magazine subscriptions → Pre-Prepared Follow-Up – Draft emails for yes, no, and "let me think about it" responses that you can send within minutes of hanging up Key Quote "God impressed upon my heart two questions: Josh, what did volunteering at this church do for you? And do you think I can do that in every one of those people I'm going to find for you?" Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Takeaway Recruiting isn't about being pushy or salesy — it's about being prepared. When Josh reframed recruiting as a pathway to discipleship, everything changed. The tools didn't make him a robot; they made him efficient enough to be fully present on every call. Build your resources now so you're ready when the season hits. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    33 min
  8. 330. Why People Won't Join Your Ministry Team

    11 May

    330. Why People Won't Join Your Ministry Team

    Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance tackle the five core reasons volunteers say no — and what it takes to make recruiting an easy yes. They explore why guilt-based recruiting never works long-term, offering a practical framework for building the kind of ministry environment people actually want to join. If you've ever felt like pulling teeth trying to get people to serve, this episode will show you exactly what's standing in the way and how to fix it. Key Topics Covered → The Five Reasons People Say No – Reputation, unclear roles, unclear vision, no winning team, and lack of relational equity → Making Yes Easy – Clear structure, simple job descriptions, ministry checklists, tours, leveraging testimonies, and closing the onboarding gap → Recruiting to Vision, Not Need – Why twice as many people signed up when one church shifted from guilt to vision-based recruiting Key Quote "People aren't moved by a need — they always feel like somebody else is going to fulfill it. People want to join a team that's thriving." Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Takeaway If volunteers keep saying no, the solution isn't to ask louder — it's to fix what you're offering. Clear structure lowers fear and builds confidence. Simple job descriptions remove ambiguity. And when people can see your ministry in action through tours and testimonies, the yes becomes almost automatic. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    37 min
See All (337)

About

Lead Ministry is here for you, the dedicated people in ministry leadership. Our fast-paced, inspirational podcast offers practical steps in each episode to help you thrive. Our focus: *GET SKILLS - Implement systems to avoid burnout. *GET INSPIRED - Embrace leadership as a path to disciple-making. *GET MOVING - Apply episode ideas to enhance your ministry. Join us on a journey to navigate the challenges of ministry, from volunteer management to team building, and lead with purpose and passion in your service.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Denhart
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    337
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Josh Denhart
  • Show Website
    The Lead Ministry Podcast

You Might Also Like