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. 6d ago

    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

    1h 24m

  2. 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

    1h 37m

  3. 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

    1h 26m

  4. 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

    1h 37m

  5. Apr 29

    Discovering Jesus: The Body of Christ, The Church (pt. 1)

    What is the church, really? Is it something we attend… or something we belong to? Why do so many people feel disconnected from it, or even justified in walking away? And what if we’ve misunderstood it from the start? In this episode, we wrestle with some big questions about the body of Christ—what Jesus actually intended, why it matters more than we think, and what might be off in the way we approach it today.   Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + 52 episodes reflection02:30 – All-church gathering: what stood out04:30 – The surprising scale and impact of the church family06:30 – Emotional reflection on years of ministry10:30 – What makes a church actually work13:00 – Why connection matters more than performance18:00 – Transition: introducing “The Body of Christ”20:00 – What the church actually is (not just attendance)24:00 – Is church optional? A direct challenge27:00 – “Who do you say Jesus is?” and why it matters32:00 – Misunderstanding the church (then and now)38:00 – A strong word on individualistic Christianity45:00 – Authority, leadership, and “binding & loosing”01:05:30 – Acts 2: what the early church looked like01:13:00 – Fellowship as partnership (not just hanging out)01:19:30 – 1 Corinthians 12: the body metaphor01:27:00 – Unity vs. uniformity in the church01:34:00 – Real-life examples of leadership decisions01:37:00 – Grace, imperfection, and the purpose of the church01:39:00 – Closing prayer + 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

    1h 40m

  6. Apr 14

    Discovering Jesus: Stories of Encounters with Jesus (pt. 2)

    We’re continuing Part 2 of Encounters with Jesus, these stories get personal fast. What happens when Jesus shows up in ordinary moments… and we miss Him? Why do some people recognize Him immediately, while others walk right past? And what do these encounters reveal about us? From Mary and Martha to the Samaritan woman to Peter’s lowest moment, this episode invites us to slow down, look again, and ask: have we been missing something right in front of us?   Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back + Part 2 setup01:00 – What “Encounters with Jesus” is all about03:05 – Mary & Martha: distracted vs. present12:30 – The deeper question: what actually matters most?18:30 – “Have I done enough?” and the trap of performance26:00 – Tension: being with God vs. doing for God31:30 – The Samaritan woman: an unexpected encounter44:20 – Cultural context that changes everything56:00 – Missing “God moments” right in front of us01:03:00 – Peter denies Jesus: fear, failure, and reality01:10:00 – God using deeply flawed people01:17:45 – Rapid-fire reflections: Thomas, Paul, and doubt01:23:20 – Final takeaway: recognizing Jesus in real life01:25:40 – Wrap-up + closing songDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    1h 27m

  7. Apr 7

    Discovering Jesus: Stories of Encounters with Jesus (pt. 1)

    William and Ronnie continue their series through Ronnie’s book Discovering Jesus, covering Lesson 10, “Stories of Encounters with Jesus,” focused on using Gospel encounters to help listeners experience God personally and “put themselves in the story” by considering individual, cultural, and religious context. Ronnie emphasizes that God relates uniquely to each person and that the Bible’s human storytelling helps us recognize God’s work and join it. They discuss the bleeding woman (Mark 5), the leper healed by Jesus’ touch (Matthew 8), the centurion’s faith as an outsider (Matthew 8), the rich young ruler’s hidden idol of wealth and goodness (Matthew 19), and Zacchaeus’s seeking and repentance (Luke 19), highlighting desperation, boldness, grace, and seeing people through God’s eyes rather than judgment. Timestamps00:00 Welcome Back Setup01:21 Why Encounters Matter02:48 God Relates Personally07:25 Reading Scripture In Layers13:43 Ronnie Calling Story20:26 Touching God Mark 527:43 Desperation And The Crowd39:42 Leper Healed Matthew 844:10 Bold Faith And Reaching People51:28 Grace in Weakness52:32 Leper Lessons54:20 Centurion Faith55:36 God Beyond Our Box01:04:54 Rich Young Ruler01:06:17 Good Kid Facade01:10:55 Hidden Idols Exposed01:21:04 Zacchaeus the Seeker01:22:33 Jericho Context01:31:26 Seeing Through Jesus01:37:27 Encounter That Changes01:38:54 Closing and 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

    1h 40m

  8. Mar 16

    Discovering Jesus: Life in the Holy Spirit (pt. 2)

    We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation on life in the Holy Spirit, and this one goes deeper. What does it actually mean to live by the Spirit, not just talk about Him? How do you know He’s at work in you? And what changes when you begin to see the Christian life less as rule-following and more as something happening inside you? Along the way, we’re joined by a guest who’s experienced years of one-on-one discipleship, giving us a real-life picture of how the Spirit works through people over time—not just in theory, but in lived experience. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing our guest Kole Von Runnen (and some immediate chaos)01:10 – What it was like studying “Discovering Jesus” one-on-one  04:40 – The long-term impact of discipleship and mentorship  08:00 – Funny (and slightly questionable) Ronnie stories  09:10 – Comparing “Discovering Jesus” and “Focus on Jesus”  12:50 – Accidental double booking and podcast origins15:30 – Generational discipleship and the “torch” vision  18:00 – Carrying the mission forward personally  23:40 – Advice for starting one-on-one discipleship anywhere  26:00 – Transition into Discovering Jesus (Holy Spirit section)31:45 – Acts 2: The promise of the Holy Spirit  44:00 – Asking for the Spirit vs. living by the Spirit50:00 – What the Holy Spirit actually does in us  01:09:30 – 1 Corinthians 13: the “most excellent way”01:23:15 – Final reflections: what we’re most thankful for about the Spirit01:27:00 – Wrap-up, jokes, and closing scripture/songDo you have questions or topic ideas for future episodes? Email any or all one the following: william@ctfwylie.orgjvr@goddeal.comrw@goddeal.com

    1h 30m
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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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