Craft & Character Steve Carter

“I can’t do another meeting. I don’t want to preach another sermon. Lord, help me!”
Two years into his pastorate, Max Lucado offered this prayer as a last-ditch effort to stay in ministry. God answered him, and now decades later, he’s written a new book that offers hope and wisdom to others feeling burned out and wiped out.
The book is called Help Is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Like all of Max’s writing, this book masterfully tills the hardened soil of the heart, so that more of God’s grace can be sown there. This book calls us to trade independence for Spirit-reliance. It’s a reminder that, because He dwells in us, we never walk alone.
The church often struggles with the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit, but this, says Max, is part of the point: the Spirit can’t be fully explained or contained. He is unpredictable, yet totally dependable. He is the unfailing friend of every saint. He is our helper. That’s good news in our world of unprecedented anxiety. When we receive from the Spirit, not only can our souls be refreshed, but our character can be formed into the people God made us to be.

EPISODE LINKS
Max newest books: Help Is Here
Website: https://maxlucado.com/
Church: oakhillschurch.com
@maxlucado
@steveryancarter
@craft_character
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In Christian circles, thinking about yourself is often labeled selfish. Psychologist and theologian Dr. Alison Cook pushes back on this assumption, explaining why caring for yourself is actually the best way to care for others. It’s the oxygen mask principle you always see in airplane safety videos: Put on your own mask so you can assist those around you.
With jolting clarity, Dr. Cook debunks the narratives we use to justify self-neglect:

We tell ourselves it’s all about them, but actually we just want to be needed.

We tell ourselves we’re being sacrificial, but actually we lack healthy boundaries.

We tell ourselves they are the problem, but actually we’ve trained them to be codependent.

We tell ourselves we must solve every issue, but sometimes it’s ok to walk away.


Many of us want to care for ourselves, but years of bad habits have atrophied our self-awareness and self-care. Dr. Cook offers a simple, yet profound model called “the MEPS,” which involves taking a regular inventory of your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual condition.
This episode is a must-listen for every preacher, spouse, parent, friend一every human!
EPISODE LINKS
Dr. Cook’s new book: The Best Of You
Other books: Boundaries For Your Soul
Dr. Cook’s website.
@dralisoncook
@steveryancarter
@craft_character
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In this episode, Steve Carter chops it up with four recipients of the 2022 Preaching Today Biblical Preaching Award: Ryan Roach (Western Seminary, Portland, OR), Abby Stuckle (George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor, TX), Rachel Koch (Denver Seminary, Denver, CO), and Christian Schmitt (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA). This award is given on the basis of faithful biblical exposition, clear and simple structure, creativity, pastoral application to daily life, and urgency in delivery.

These students beautifully embody not just the excellence of world-class theological education, but also the humility of Jesus. They tackle some hard-hitting homiletics topics like:


How to preach in a multiethnic church.

Why preachers should know their passage AND their people well.

Why expository preaching is a gift to the preacher and congregation.

How to preach in a way your audience can absorb and process.

The pros and cons of Haddon Robinson’s legendary “big idea” preaching model.


This episode will add tools to your belt as a preacher, while infusing you with hope about the quality of today’s rising expositors.
EPISODE LINKS
You can read each guest’s award-winning sermon here.
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In this special episode of Craft and Character, Steve Carter shares why humility is the key to growing as a preacher一a reflection sparked by a conversation he had with Nancy Beach.
Communicators give many reasons for neglecting their own development, but as 1 Timothy 4:14-15 reveals, honing our craft is a matter of stewardship, not just excellence.
Steve gives three practical ways to embrace humility and grow as a preacher:

Development

Coaching

Feedback

This is a timely reminder that, to give ourselves wholly to the task of preaching, we must showcase a relentless consistency to get better each day as people, disciples, and preachers.
Don’t forget to sign up for Steve’s epic book giveaway, featuring titles from past guests on the show!

EPISODE LINKS
Steve’s books: The Thing Beneath the Thing, This Invitational Life
Website: stevecarter.org
Church: forestcitychurch.com
Preaching Cohorts: theascentleader.org
@steveryancarter
@craft_character
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Like many of us, Jay Kim often feels that involuntary urge to reach for his phone. As the lead pastor at Westgate Church in San Jose, CA, he knows firsthand that modern people crave guidance for using devices well. Jay’s new book, Analog Christian, explains how Christians can respond to the values of the digital world一not by abandoning technology一but by faithfully stewarding it.
Jay also shares with Steve Carter some valuable leadership practices, like pausing email while he’s on vacation, resisting the pressure to respond to every headline immediately, and honestly admitting when he needs more time to hear from God. He paints a practical and compelling picture of life that’s peaceful, not frenetic一intentional, not aimless. And in our overstimulated world, that’s a vision we desperately need.

EPISODE LINKS
Jay’s new book: Analog Christian
Jay’s other book: Analog Church
Website: jaykimthinks.com
Church: Westgate Church
@jaykimthinks
@steveryancarter
@craft_character
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“Ken, if the ship sinks now, everyone will blame you.”
It wasn’t the ideal pep talk for a pastor in his first few days on the job, especially at a church that had gone through 20 pastors in 20 years. But when someone spoke those words to Ken Shigematsu, he stuck it out. 25 years later, he’s still leading Tenth Church in Vancouver, Canada.
Steve Carter asks about his sermon prep process, and Ken explains how a tidbit from preaching legend Haddon Robinson transformed his method from anxiety-laden to prayerful一from crammed to creative.
Ken shares why he’s thankful for his Japanese heritage, and how he’s learned to surrender outcomes to God through Father Thomas Keating’s “The Welcoming Prayer,” and practicing sabbath. He also uses an app called Centering Prayer that pings him throughout the day, reminding him to receive from God, not just achieve for God.
EPISODE LINKS
Ken’s books: Survival Guide for the Soul, God In My Everything
Church: https://www.tenth.ca
@KenShigematsu
@steveryancarter
@craft_character
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