It's A Pod Deal: Ministry Conversations With Lifelong Pastor Ronnie Worsham

Ronnie Worsham
  • 5.0 (30)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

"It's a God Deal." Anyone who knows Ronnie Worsham has heard him say this countless times. After being in ministry and leading in churches for decades, how does someone like Ronnie continue to see God at work in our world, and give him credit every chance he gets? Join hosts William Royal and John Von Runnen as they ask Ronnie questions about following Jesus in ministry, work, family, and the ups and downs of life.

  1. Sep 22 ·  Bonus

    Bent Out of Shape: Maslow, Upside Down

    How much of your worth depends on what other people think of you? Continuing the Bent Out of Shape series, Ronnie and William explore how our self-perception is shaped by family, achievement, appearance, popularity, and countless comparisons that begin early in life. They contrast the unstable measurements of self-esteem with a worth established in the heart of God, a value that remains fixed even at our worst. The conversation invites us to stop building our identity on shifting sand and begin seeing ourselves through the truth of Christ. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing part five of the Bent Out of Shape series01:17 – Returning to Maslow’s hierarchy and the upside-down pyramid02:18 – Reviewing Maslow’s five levels of human need03:43 – Why the kingdom of God appears upside down to the world04:16 – The apparent foolishness of Christian faith06:53 – Why ministry must begin with what the world considers upside down07:21 – Moving from casual belief to a deeply absorbed faith09:09 – Shifting the conversation from self-actualization to self-worth09:27 – What do people mean by high or low self-esteem?10:43 – How other people, achievement, and appearance shape our identity12:15 – The complicated relationship between memory and self-perception13:19 – Why no one has to teach a child how to sin15:17 – The conflict between praise, private failure, and the façade of goodness17:49 – How comparison and social measurements distort our sense of value23:10 – A priceless worth fixed in the heart and reality of GodDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    Bent Out of Shape: Maslow, Upside Down

  2. Sep 16

    God Thoughts: Critical Thinking

    What’s the difference between thinking critically and simply being critical? Continuing through God Thoughts, Ronnie, William, and John explore how confirmation bias, fear, group loyalty, and personal feelings can distort our understanding of reality. They discuss why spiritual discernment should be humble, restorative, and grounded in the mind of Christ, not driven by condemnation or the need to be right. The conversation offers a timely challenge to ask better questions, listen outside our echo chambers, and become thoughtful agents of peace in a deeply divided world. Timestamps 00:00 – Introductions, nicknames, and whether “the third” ever becomes “junior”01:26 – Introducing the God Thought on critical thinking02:37 – Reading “Critical Thinking”08:50 – The crucial difference between thinking critically and thinking critical10:12 – Confirmation bias and listening only to voices that reinforce us11:08 – How conflict reveals our unwillingness to hear another perspective13:00 – The interpretive lenses that shape how we read Scripture14:21 – Jesus as the benchmark for truth and discernment14:45 – Why finding the right question matters more than reaching a quick conclusion15:42 – Christians as a fair, balanced, and peacemaking presence17:13 – Can faith and critical thinking genuinely coexist?20:17 – How can we tell whether we are truly thinking critically?53:48 – Discernment that protects, corrects, and seeks restoration58:03 – Examples of courageous critical thinking in church leadership1:08:00 – Practical ways to become a wiser and more discerning thinkerDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

  3. Sep 1 ·  Bonus

    Bent Out of Shape: What's Your True Worth?

    Where does our sense of worth come from, and what do we truly need most? In the fourth installment of Bent Out of Shape, Ronnie contrasts Maslow’s hierarchy of needs with a Christ-centered understanding of human identity, belonging, and transformation. He explains why the Christian life turns the familiar pyramid upside down, placing our relationship with Jesus before self-actualization, security, or even physical comfort. This conversation lays the foundation for helping wounded people discover a worth anchored not in themselves, but in Christ. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing part four of the Bent Out of Shape series02:47 – Revisiting five principles for caring for hurting people03:42 – A caution for vulnerable listeners and the limits of general advice06:28 – Ronnie clarifies his approach to counseling and confidentiality08:20 – The conversational and unfiltered nature of the podcast09:27 – Why these discussions may not be appropriate for younger listeners11:00 – Looking back at the first three Bent Out of Shape episodes12:48 – A biblical approach that draws from other counseling disciplines14:16 – Starting where people are and listening with both eyes and ears15:20 – Introducing human worth and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs19:18 – The five levels of Maslow’s pyramid22:30 – Why Jesus turns the hierarchy of needs upside down23:20 – Christ-actualization and a worth anchored outside ourselves24:02 – Community as belonging, identity, and acceptance25:00 – How faith reshapes our relationship with security and physical needsDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    Bent Out of Shape: What's Your True Worth?

  4. Aug 25

    God Thoughts: Learning

    What does it really mean to be a disciple, and when was the last time your faith caused you to change your mind? Continuing their journey through God Thoughts, William and Ronnie examine the relationship between learning, spiritual growth, and the freedom to pursue truth without being controlled by traditions, labels, or the crowd. They explore the difference between knowing about Jesus and genuinely knowing Him, as well as why Christian learning should transform our lives rather than merely fill our heads. The conversation ultimately challenges us to clear away the noise, remain open to growth, and make room for Christ to reshape how we think and live. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing the three-part God Thoughts discussion on learning03:15 – Reading “Learning: Part One”09:00 – Choosing Christ means choosing to become a lifelong learner11:38 – Informational learning versus transformational learning15:13 – Learning as a lifelong and limitless process16:51 – How learning helped Ronnie confront the beliefs of his upbringing19:59 – Are we truth seekers or simply parroting what we have heard?20:46 – Why all genuine growth requires change27:11 – What the church can learn from the process of scientific discovery29:30 – Knowing about Jesus versus actually knowing Jesus32:57 – Reserving the right to change your mind34:49 – How social pressure places boundaries around our thinking43:12 – What transformational learning looks like in everyday relationships48:54 – Why the best of knowing and experiencing God is still ahead1:19:07 – Removing noise and distractions to make room for what mattersDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

  5. Aug 18 ·  Bonus

    Bent Out of Shape: Caring for Hurting People

    What does it mean to care for someone whose life has been bent by trauma, abuse, confusion, or pain? In the third installment of the Bent Out of Shape series, Ronnie offers a compassionate framework for Christian counseling, one grounded in truth, sincere love, and the presence of God. He explores why helping does not always mean “fixing” and how being seen, heard, understood, and given hope can begin to reshape a person’s life. This conversation offers thoughtful guidance for pastors, counselors, and anyone who wants to care for hurting people well. Content note: This episode includes discussion of abuse, trauma, sexuality, and suicide. Timestamps 00:00 – A content note before the episode00:36 – Introducing part three of the Bent Out of Shape series02:04 – How people become bruised and misshapen by the weight of life04:26 – “What is crooked cannot be straightened”05:22 – Joining God’s work of bringing order out of chaos06:43 – Why misshapen people can develop disordered lives07:49 – The danger of trying to force someone’s bends straight09:45 – Trauma, lasting wounds, and the image of a bent tree11:10 – How Christian counseling approaches pain and healing12:37 – Learning from God as the Wonderful Counselor14:00 – The first priority: helping people feel seen, heard, and understood15:47 – Creating a truthful space without trying to “fix” someone17:14 – The God who sees: Hagar and the example of Jesus19:09 – Helping people feel safe, cared for, and respected22:27 – Understanding the person, validating the struggle, and offering godly hopeDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    Bent Out of Shape: Caring for Hurting People

  6. Aug 12

    God Thoughts: Wisdom

    What’s the difference between possessing knowledge and actually living wisely? Continuing the God Thoughts series, Ronnie, William, and John explore why wisdom requires more than intelligence, education, or age, and why even good knowledge can become dangerous when used for the wrong purposes. They discuss learning to think instead of simply being told what to think, recognizing wisdom by the fruit it produces, and using Jesus as the ultimate measure. Along the way, they offer practical ways to seek godly wisdom in a noisy, fearful, and often upside-down world. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing the first discussion in the God Thoughts series03:20 – Reading “God Thought 97: Wisdom”13:01 – What is wisdom, and how is it different from knowledge?16:47 – Why society rarely teaches people to grow in wisdom18:11 – Learning how to think in a world of noise, bias, and half-truths22:54 – Why education and age do not automatically make someone wise27:31 – Seeking God with an open mind as the beginning of wisdom30:03 – Using Jesus—not culture—as the standard for discernment33:18 – Measuring wisdom by what a life creates and produces39:22 – Why wisdom is more valuable than knowledge43:52 – Why the world prizes knowledge: knowledge offers power48:01 – Building a life on solid rock rather than shifting sand53:22 – The difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom59:03 – Why the wisdom of the cross looks foolish to the world1:03:31 – Practical ways to discern and grow in godly wisdom1:16:04 – “Give us wisdom to use the knowledge that we have”Do you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

  7. Aug 4 ·  Bonus

    Bent Out of Shape: What Does "Normal" Even Mean?

    Pastoral counseling isn't just about techniques, it's about understanding what people are truly being shaped by. In this episode, Ronnie continues explaining how psychology, Scripture, and decades of ministry have come together to form his approach to helping people who have been "bent out of shape" by life. Along the way, he challenges some common assumptions about what's considered "normal" and points toward a different vision of healing. Timestamps 00:00 – Picking up the Bent Out of Shape series02:02 – Ronnie's background in psychology and counseling03:30 – Why relationships matter more than techniques05:00 – Shepherds, hirelings, and what real pastoral care looks like08:00 – The problem with defining "normal" by a bell curve11:30 – Glasser's four core human needs13:25 – Should Christians aim to be "normal"?17:05 – Counseling toward Jesus, not conformity22:45 – Key Scriptures behind the Bent Out of Shape framework30:10 – The infection beneath the symptoms—and a preview of next week Do you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    Bent Out of Shape: What Does "Normal" Even Mean?

  8. Jul 13

    God Thoughts

    We’re beginning a brand-new series based on Ronnie Worsham’s book, God Thoughts: 100 Essays and Devotions. Before diving into the individual essays, Ronnie shares the story behind the book itself. Why write it? What does it mean to think “God thoughts”? And how can Christians move beyond simply being told what to think and instead learn how to think with Scripture? This conversation lays the foundation for a series focused on growing deeper in wisdom, faith, and a life shaped by the Word of God. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing the new God Thoughts series03:10 – Why Ronnie wrote God Thoughts and what he hopes readers gain from it08:00 – Teaching people how to think, not just what to think14:45 – The dedication, Sunday school teachers, and a lifelong prayer for wisdom19:00 – Why the book is organized the way it is24:00 – William shares how God Thoughts shaped his ministry team29:00 – Performance vs. authenticity in preaching and worship36:30 – What makes a thought a “God thought”?46:30 – Feeling unqualified, being called, and depending on God56:20 – Why these essays cover so many different topics01:00:40 – Ronnie’s hope for every reader of God Thoughts01:05:20 – Closing prayerDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

"It's a God Deal." Anyone who knows Ronnie Worsham has heard him say this countless times. After being in ministry and leading in churches for decades, how does someone like Ronnie continue to see God at work in our world, and give him credit every chance he gets? Join hosts William Royal and John Von Runnen as they ask Ronnie questions about following Jesus in ministry, work, family, and the ups and downs of life.

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