The Flourishing Pastor

Matt Rusten
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

What does it mean for pastors to flourish? Join us for conversations on leading faithfully, living wisely, and preaching in ways that connect the Word of God with the daily labors of your people.

  1. 07/22/2025

    Artie Lindsay on James 2 and Faith and Works

    In this conversation with pastor Artie Lindsay, co-lead pastor at Tabernacle Community Church in Grand Rapids, MI, we explore a sermon he preached on James chapter 2, on faith and works. As C.S. Lewis once commented, we often imagine “good works” as something different than “good work”–but this is not according to our Lord’s example. Artie makes this uncommon connection in the sermon he delivered, applying this famous text in James to the work lives of his congregation. -- Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  2. 07/15/2025

    Jim Davis on Jeremiah 29 and Blessing the City Through Our Work

    Especially in the past few decades, many churches have declared their desire to serve the cities where they live—based on the prophet Jeremiah’s words to the exiles 29 to “seek the peace and the prosperity of the City, and to pray for it.” In today’s episode, Jim Davis helps us understand the context of Jeremiah 29, and unpacks how our everyday work can bless the cities where we live.  -- Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  3. 07/08/2025

    Ron Edmondson on Bezalel and Oholiab, and Valuing the Work of the Congregation

    In this episode, Matt interviews Ron Edmondson, lead pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, KY, as they discuss a sermon Ron gave on how the work of the people was just as important as his work as a pastor— anchoring his message in Exodus 31:1-6— Bezalel and Oholiab.  Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  -- ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  4. 07/01/2025

    Bryan Loritts on Matthew 25 and Work and Justice

    In this episode with Bryan Loritts, we’re exploring the theme of work and justice through a sermon Bryan preached from Matthew 25 on the sheep and the goats. Bryan understands this text to be not about the root of salvation, but the fruit of salvation—and it has profound implications for the work we do everyday.  Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  -- ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  5. 06/24/2025

    Andrew Arndt on a Biblical Theology of Work

    In this conversation with Andrew Arndt, Lead Pastor of New Life East in Colorado Springs, we explore the question — how do you help your congregation embrace a biblical theology of work? That might sound like a dry theme, but Andrew unpacks the biblical story for work in a way that provides concrete applications for everyday discipleship.  Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  -- ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  6. 06/17/2025

    Chris Brooks on Proverbs and the Pitfalls of Work

    In this episode, Chris Brooks, lead pastor at Woodside Bible Church, a large multisite church in Detroit, MI, talks through a sermon he preached from the Proverbs on work. Chris unpacks three destructive behaviors that keep us from God’s purpose for our work, and how God’s wisdom reframes our perspective on his purpose for our labors.   Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  -- ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  7. 06/10/2025

    Rich Villodas on Colossians and Work as Ministry

    Rich Villodas has a passion to teach and equip God’s people to live on mission with him right in the places they already are–especially in their daily labors. In this conversation, Rich walks through a sermon he preached on Colossians 3:23-24, where he reframes everyday work as full-time ministry. Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  -- ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

  8. 06/03/2025

    Charlie Dates on Salt, Light, and Everyday Work

    In this episode, Matt interviews Charlie Dates as they discuss a sermon he preached on Matthew 5:13-16, on Jesus’ message about salt and light. It’s a familiar text for many people, but Charlie finds fresh ways to apply this familiar biblical text about our identity as salt and light to people’s everyday work.  Matt Rusten serves as the president of Made to Flourish. Previously, Matt pastored at churches in Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Matt’s book about pastoring with congregants’ work in view releases from InterVarsity Press in Spring 2026.  -- ***Get Free Books*** Many Christians say their churches don’t prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of daily work. We call this the Sunday to Monday gap — a disconnect that can cloud our sense of God’s purpose in the world and our place in it. To help church leaders bridge that gap, we’re offering a free box with practical books, including The Flourishing Pastor by Tom Nelson, and the latest issue of Common Good magazine. Get yours at madetoflourish.org/box.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

What does it mean for pastors to flourish? Join us for conversations on leading faithfully, living wisely, and preaching in ways that connect the Word of God with the daily labors of your people.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Rusten
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Flourishing Pastor