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. 1d ago

    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

  2. Aug 4 ·  Bonus

    Pod Deal Mini: 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

    Pod Deal Mini: What Does "Normal" Even Mean?

  3. 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

  4. Jul 2 ·  Bonus

    Pod Deal Mini: What Does It Mean to Be “Bent Out of Shape”?

    We’re introducing something new: Pod Deal Minis—shorter conversations that tackle one focused topic at a time. In this first mini episode, Ronnie and William introduce a new series called Bent Out of Shape. Together they explore why so many people carry deep feelings of being different, broken, or out of place, and how the gospel speaks into those experiences with both truth and compassion. Rather than offering quick answers, this series aims to help us think more carefully about identity, suffering, discipleship, and what it means to become more like Jesus. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing Pod Deal Minis and the new series01:20 – Why we chose the title Bent Out of Shape04:40 – Ronnie’s heart behind this conversation and his counseling approach11:20 – Beyond labels: helping people who feel different or out of place15:40 – Why “normal” isn’t the goal of discipleship22:00 – Ronnie’s personal story and where this perspective came from29:20 – God’s strength in our weakness and the purpose of this series30:20 – Final thoughts and invitation for listeners to reach outDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    Pod Deal Mini: What Does It Mean to Be “Bent Out of Shape”?

  5. Jun 17

    Discovering Jesus: The Mission and Organization of the Church

    After months of working through Discovering Jesus, we finally reach the final lesson: The Mission and Organization of the Church. But before diving into church leadership, unity, mission, and community, Ronnie reflects on the purpose behind the workbook itself and what he hopes readers will ultimately discover. What is the church actually supposed to be? Is it an institution, a service provider, a weekly gathering—or something much deeper? This conversation explores God’s vision for His people, the role of leadership, the importance of unity, and why every Christian is called to participate in the mission of Christ. Along the way, there are plenty of stories, laughs, and reflections on what it means to follow Jesus together. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and final lesson in Discovering Jesus02:20 – Ronnie reflects on the purpose and structure of the workbook13:10 – Lesson 13: Mission and Organization of the Church18:30 – Why God appoints leaders and equips the church through them29:30 – Leadership development, discipleship, and the limits of strategic planning45:20 – The church as a fellowship and partnership in God’s mission51:50 – The unity of the Spirit vs. mere uniformity59:20 – Spiritual gifts, discipleship, and helping people flourish01:05:20 – What it means to belong to one another in the body of Christ01:08:40 – The Great Commission and every Christian’s role in the mission01:17:20 – The church as God’s family and learning to serve one another01:22:00 – Final words from Discovering Jesus and closing reflections01:23:00 – What’s next for the podcast?Do you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

  6. Jun 2

    Discovering Jesus: Living as a Christian (pt. 2)

    We wrap up Living as a Christian by exploring some of Jesus’ most challenging teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. What does it mean to move beyond rule-keeping and actually develop the heart of Christ? How do we love our enemies, handle authority, navigate anxiety, build healthy relationships, and discern truth from deception? Along the way, we wrestle with questions that are anything but simple, and discover why following Jesus is ultimately less about mastering a list of commands and more about knowing the One who gave them.   Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + Part 2 of Living as a Christian03:00 – Why the gospel must come before imitation of Christ12:30 – The attitude of Christ: spirit of the law vs. letter of the law25:50 – Loving your enemies and praying for those who oppose you32:00 – A listener-worthy discussion on war, enemies, and difficult moral questions42:50 – The life of Christ: humility, generosity, and avoiding performance spirituality51:00 – “Seek first the Kingdom”: priorities, anxiety, and trust in God56:30 – Relationships, forgiveness, and being a friend of sinners01:05:50 – Ask, seek, knock: developing the focus of Christ01:10:40 – The narrow way, false prophets, and recognizing genuine faith01:23:00 – What should we look for in spiritual leaders?01:28:00 – Final reflections on the Sermon on the Mount01:34:40 – Closing song and wrap-upDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

  7. May 22

    Discovering Jesus: Living as a Christian (pt. 1)

    What does it actually mean to “live like Jesus”? Is Christianity mostly about being a good person and going to church… or have we settled for something much smaller than what Jesus intended? Why do churches so easily drift into comfort, consumerism, and performance? And what would happen if we took the Sermon on the Mount seriously, not just as nice sayings, but as a vision for an entirely different kind of life? In this episode, we begin Lesson 12 of Discovering Jesus and wrestle with the uncomfortable beauty of the Beatitudes. We talk about sacrifice, mercy, mourning, purity, peace-making, and why the people Jesus called “blessed” are usually the exact people our world overlooks. We also dig into what it means to actually be “salt and light” instead of just talking about it.   Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + Lesson 12: Living as a Christian03:10 – What does it really mean to live like Jesus?11:10 – Why Christians are often seen as hypocrites17:30 – Shepherding people vs. just growing churches24:20 – Grace, weakness, and following Jesus honestly27:20 – The Sermon on the Mount and “living gracefully”31:30 – The Beatitudes: who Jesus calls “blessed”47:20 – Mourning, compassion, and learning to truly care58:00 – Purity of heart and becoming peacemakers01:07:10 – Salt and light: influencing the world around us01:15:40 – Compassion, politics, and listening to people’s stories01:24:40 – Closing singalong: “This Little Light of Mine”Do you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

  8. May 5

    Discovering Jesus: The Body of Christ, The Church (pt. 2)

    What if we’ve misunderstood the church? Is it something you attend… or something you become part of? Why does “doing church” feel so normal, and yet so disconnected from what Jesus actually intended? And what would change if we really believed the church is a living, breathing body… not a building, not a service, not a weekly habit? In this episode, we wrap up our conversation on the body of Christ and push into some uncomfortable territory. Why isn’t church about preference? Why can’t you just “do Jesus on your own”? And what does it actually look like to live like you belong to one another? Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + returning to the “body of Christ” conversation02:00 – What this study is really trying to do (and not do)06:30 – Why so many people misunderstand “church”10:00 – Knowing Jesus vs. just knowing Bible language14:30 – The Holy Spirit and what makes the church different18:00 – Big “C” Church vs. little “c” church20:00 – Why you don’t “shop” for a church24:30 – One body, one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)34:50 – “You can’t do Jesus alone” (strong challenge)41:00 – A chosen people, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2)45:00 – The church’s mission: not a club, but a calling50:30 – What it really means to take God’s name seriously53:10 – Gifts, roles, and participation in the body (Romans 12)59:00 – What healthy church actually looks like in real life01:08:00 – Building up the body vs. just attending01:11:00 – “Encourage one another daily” (practical vision)01:14:30 – Why dedicate your life to building the church?01:19:00 – The power of real community (not programs)01:27:30 – How do people live without this kind of community?01:34:40 – Final challenge + 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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