The Church Renewal Podcast

Flourish Coaching
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Church Renewal Podcast is a conversation for church leaders eager to see our churches refreshed by the gospel. The only fully sufficient reason that today dawned is that Jesus is yet gathering a people and using the church to do it. Come and join us as we dig into the ways Jesus is renewing his church.

  1. Mar 5

    The Next Chapter: Where Our Stories Go From Here

    Start here if you’ve ever wondered why church renewal efforts stall even when the plan looks solid. We trace a quieter, deeper path: personal differentiation rooted in rest in Christ, and how that inner work can transform the emotional climate of a whole congregation. Across a season’s worth of conversations, we unpack the tools, the cautions, and the hope that come with applying family systems wisdom alongside gospel-centered formation. We share practical resources leaders can trust, from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and Emotionally Healthy Relationships to Christian introductions to Bowen family systems that make patterns of anxiety and triangulation visible without turning people into projects. You’ll hear why these tools are descriptive rather than prescriptive, and how they serve the larger work of discipleship: defining yourself clearly, staying connected without control, and leading with a calm, non-anxious presence. Two core ideas keep surfacing. First, complementarity: when you change, the system shifts. Second, contagion: anxiety spreads, but so does differentiation and rest. Ground your identity in Christ, and watch how meetings, conflicts, and ministries find a steadier rhythm. We also pull back the curtain on Flourish Coaching—what coaching is and isn’t, why so much of our current work focuses on transitional pastoring, and how churches can navigate liminal seasons with courage and clarity. Looking ahead, we preview a forthcoming book and season five’s focus on communal spiritual discernment shaped by Acts 15 and the wisdom language of James. Think pastor searches, vision work, and complex decisions approached with shared prayer, humility, and Spirit-led wisdom that is pure, peaceable, and open to reason. If you’re ready to move from managing crises to shepherding culture, this conversation will give you a path and the posture to walk it. Subscribe, share with a fellow leader, and leave a review with one question you want us to explore next. Your curiosity helps shape what comes next. Resources Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Peter Scazzero & Geri Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Workbook + Streaming Video Peter Scazzero & Geri Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Relationships Workbook (Expanded Edition) Roberta M. Gilbert, The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    20 min

  2. Feb 26

    From Anxiety To Assurance

    We trace the journey from anxious reactivity to settled assurance by rooting leadership and congregational life in the Father’s love. Through gospel clarity, lament, and emotionally mature practices, we show how calm spreads through leaders who act as circuit breakers for fear. • anxiety defined as systemic reactivity and loss of perspective • gospel as resource for differentiation, hope and endurance • catastrophising, control grabs and scapegoating named and resisted • God moves first: cross-centered assurance and presence • practices for a non-anxious presence and family-of-origin work • matching intensity, lament and attachment-aware care • leaders transmitting assurance rather than anxiety • signs of health: waiting, rest, patience and clearer mission Thanks for listening to the Church Renewal Podcast from Flourish Coaching. For more information, go to our website, flourishcoaching.org, or send an email to info at flourishcoaching.org. You can also connect with us on Facebook, X, and YouTube. We appreciate when you like, subscribe, rate, or review our show whenever you're listening. Helpful Resources Edwin H. Friedman – A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick FixJack Shitama – Anxious Church, Anxious PeopleRevelation 2–3 – Jesus’ discipline and care for local congregationsMatthew 6:25–34 – Jesus teaches that anxiety is answered by trusting the FatherRomans 8:32 – the cross assures us God will care for usPsalm 27:13–14 – waiting on the Lord with courage and hopeRomans 1–Revelation 4 – God’s fatherly care expressed in his ongoing correction and encouragement to the church Defining Terms Anxiety – fear that the future is at great risk, generating reactive behavior Catastrophization – assuming the worst possible future outcome Scapegoating – locating the cause of internal anxiety in an external person Non-Anxious Presence – choosing calm, grounded behavior despite feeling anxious internally  Differentiation – holding personal convictions while remaining relationally connected Attachment Intensity Matching – meeting another’s emotional intensity to help them regulate  Reactivity – immediate emotional response driven by fear or discomfort Responsiveness – thoughtful, grounded engagement shaped by the gospel  Rest – the settled confidence that Go Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    29 min

  3. Feb 19

    When Systems Push Back

    Change rarely fails because the plan is bad; it fails because anxious systems push back. We dive into the emotional mechanics of resistance—sabotage, cutoff, and the way fear shrinks a congregation’s imagination—and we explore how a well-differentiated leader can stay calm, connected, and faithful without caving to togetherness pressure. Show how you can respond without becoming reactive or rigid. We describe the roles sabotage often takes in congregations: the Fan, the Expert, the Investor , the Docent , the Observer , the Reporter, the Peacemaker, and the Opposition . Not as personal betrayals, instead we frame them as grief responses to loss.  Abuse requires distance; difficulty requires endurance. Reconciliation remains the aim. Underneath it all sits imagination.  Identity in Christ steadies the soul—if we’re not at stake, we can risk hard conversations. Expect resistance, recognize the patterns, and walk toward others with truth and love. Resources for you! Peter Block – Flawless Consulting Roberta M. Gilbert – The Eight Concepts of Bowen TheoryTod Bolsinger – Tempered ResilienceJohn 1:11 – Jesus rejected by his own, grounding the experience of sabotage Matthew 28:18–20 – the Great Commission as the church’s core calling 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 – ministry of reconciliation as the church’s identity 1 Corinthians 3:21–23 – identity secured in belonging to Christ 1 Peter 4:12–13 – suffering as participation in Christ Acts 5:41 – rejoicing to suffer for Christ’s name Luke 10:25–37 – Good Samaritan as costly, risky love in action 1 John 4:7–11 – God’s love empowering our love for others Definitions: Sabotage – emotional resistance arising when systems feel threatened by change Projection – attributing one’s internal emotional distress to another person Triangulation – redirecting tension between two people onto a third Cutoff – emotional distancing or severing connection to avoid discomfort Boundary Setting – defining personal limits without severing relationship Togetherness Pressure – system-driven push to maintain sameness and avoid change Differe Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    49 min

  4. Feb 12

    Transitions: Trust, Anxiety & the Waiting Place

    We explore why pastoral transitions heighten anxiety and how those moments expose deeper issues of trust, communication, and power. With Dr. Ken Quick, we walk through systems thinking, corporate repentance, and practical steps boards can take to rebuild health and prepare for mission. • defining anxiety as a systemic response in congregations • tracing mistrust to specific historic breaches and naming them • hearing criticism as a bid for care, not dishonor • family systems framing for board reactions and presence • power vacuums and the drift to pastor‑dominated models • false comfort of quick hires versus deep repair • the waiting place and dismantling unhealthy dependencies • gospel‑centered repentance and non‑anxious leadership • corporate discipline from Jesus and letters to churches • three priorities for boards heading into transition Resources Pete Scazzero – Emotionally Healthy SpiritualityPete Scazzero – Emotionally Healthy RelationshipsRoberta M. Gilbert – The Eight Concepts of Bowen TheoryEdwin H. Friedman – A Failure of NerveEdwin H. Friedman – Generation to GenerationDr. Kenneth Quick – https://www.amazon.com/Eighth-Letter-Exploring-Churches-Discovering/dp/B08NDXBC1ZThe Eighth LetterDr. Seuss – Oh, The Places You’ll Go!Revelation 3:19 – Jesus disciplines those He loves. Luke 22:31–32 – Satan demands to sift, but Christ intercedes. Genesis 2:15 – Cultivate and keep the garden. James 1:5 – Wisdom asked in humility. James 3:17 – Wisdom from above described. James 4:1 – Passions at war causing conflict. We appreciate when you like, subscribe, rate, or review our show whenever you're listening If you have questions or a need, we’d l Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    41 min
  5. Dave Miles Pt 2: Repentance & Renewal in Practice

    Feb 5

    Dave Miles Pt 2: Repentance & Renewal in Practice

    What if the pastor everyone blames isn’t the problem at all? We pull back the curtain on how church systems—not just personalities—shape culture, power, and discipleship. With guest Dave Miles, we explore how a non-anxious presence, rooted in the gospel, helps leaders see beneath the surface, disrupt unhealthy homeostasis, and guide congregations from being “right” toward being reconciled. We start by naming a familiar pattern: a prideful, inward culture that prizes correctness over love and leaves leaders burned out. Dave shares field-tested insights on reading anxiety in the room, refusing to overfunction, and creating space for real responsibility. We dig into governance where dysfunction often hides—unclear roles, strong personalities that shut down dissent, and “safe” hires who keep systems stuck. You’ll hear practical counsel on accepting resignations without drama, re-vetting boards, and choosing self-differentiated, grace-filled leaders who can hold ground without hostility. Together, we connect family systems theory with robust biblical theology. Identity in Christ enables differentiation without defensiveness; Paul’s counsel to a tribal Corinth offers a gospel map for modern factions. We talk genograms, emotionally healthy discipleship, and diagnostics that mirror truth back to churches. The goal isn’t therapy for its own sake—it’s discipleship that forms people who confess, forgive, and act with integrity. As anxiety lowers, churches regain an outward focus, engage non-Christians without coming unglued, and make hard calls with clarity and compassion. If you lead through transition, face a reactive board, or simply want a healthier pathway for your team, this conversation gives language, tools, and hope to move forward. Subscribe, share this with a fellow leader who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more churches find a way toward calm, clarity, and mission. RESOURCES Edwin H. Friedman, Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and SynagogueRon Richardson, Creating a Healthier ChurchTim Keller, The Prodigal GodTim Keller, The Freedom of Self-ForgetfulnessPeter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy SpiritualityPeter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Relationships Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    36 min
  6. Dave Miles Pt 1: Diagnosing the System

    Jan 29

    Dave Miles Pt 1: Diagnosing the System

    What if the “problem person” isn’t the problem at all? We sit down with Dr. Dave Miles of Vital Church to unpack how Family Systems Theory reveals the hidden dynamics that keep churches anxious, reactive, and stuck—and how non‑anxious leadership creates room for real change. Dave traces a formative interim pastorate that ended in a blowup, the Friedman books that reframed his perspective, and the moment he realized visible conflicts are often symptoms of deeper patterns layered into a church’s history. Across the conversation, we challenge the myth that sameness equals intimacy, showing why forced uniformity breeds anxiety and shallow community. Dave shares a vivid story about a congregation’s outrage over the word “auditorium” and how calm listening, a sincere apology, and a steady biblical frame lowered the temperature while naming the true attachment issues beneath the surface. We explore practical tools for diagnosis: building a church timeline on the wall, color-coding celebrations and wounds, and capturing lessons learned so the congregation uncovers its actual values. When people see what they truly reward with time and money, ownership grows—and so does the will to change. Expect sabotage when systems shift. We map out how to recognize reactivity, avoid triangulation, and hold steady to mission through ministry outcomes tailored to each church. Then we point toward a sacred assembly—public confession around specific systemic misalignments—as a catalytic moment for humility, unity, and forward momentum. Along the way, we wrestle with corporate responsibility in a hyper‑individual age and make the case that renewal is ultimately spiritual formation: leaders managing themselves under Christ, staying connected while telling the truth, and guiding people from denial to discipleship. If your church keeps circling the same conflicts, this conversation offers a path: diagnose patterns, lower anxiety, name reality, and move together toward mission. Subscribe, share this episode with your leadership team, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what pattern do you think your church needs to name next? Resources  Edwin H. Friedman, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick FixRon Richardson, Creating a Healthier Church Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    35 min

  7. Jan 22

    Discernment & Differentiation: Led by the Spirit Pt. 2

    We trace how discernment and differentiation work together to form courage, humility, and psychological safety in church leadership. Acts 15 becomes a live case study for speaking with clarity without control and for resisting isolation while staying close to the relational line. • rejecting the “Me and Jesus” shortcut to wisdom • Acts 15 as a model for community discernment • reactivity versus adaptivity in tense conversations • psychological safety that invites quiet voices • courage for truth telling without control • differentiation without isolation and the one-anothers • accountability for pastors and dominant leaders • practical cues for better meetings and decisions Resources Pete Scazzero – Emotionally Healthy SpiritualityEdwin H. Friedman – A Failure of NerveEdwin H. Friedman – Generation to GenerationMurray Bowen – Family Therapy in Clinical PracticeAmy C. Edmondson – The Fearless OrganizationBrené Brown – Daring GreatlyBrad Paisley – Me and Jesus (song)Dr. Kenneth R. Quick – The Eighth Letter Differentiation – Living with clarity about your identity, values, and calling while remaining connected without being controlled. Discernment – Humbly seeking the Spirit’s wisdom together, beyond mere decision-making. Reactivity – Anxious, emotional pushback that manipulates or dominates. Adaptivity – Withdrawing or yielding your voice out of insecurity or fear. Psychological Safety – A relational environment where people can speak honestly without fear of threat. Trialogue – A relational awareness in which two people engage while attending prayerfully to the Spirit’s presence. Isolation – Withdrawal from relational closeness and accountability, often mistaken for differentiation. Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    29 min

  8. Jan 15

    Discernment & Differentiation: Led by the Spirit Pt. 1

    What if the missing link in your leadership isn’t a new strategy but a deeper way of being? We open up the connection between differentiation and discernment, showing how identity, humility, and the Spirit’s guidance shape leaders who can face pressure without losing soul or mission. Rather than treating them as competing ideas, we weave them together as one spiritual practice grounded in Scripture and tested in real church life. We start with differentiation as Jesus and Paul lived it: knowing who you are. Then we pivot to discernment—not as a decision hack, but as a communal pursuit of wisdom from above. We explore how elder teams and congregations can pray, debate , and listen together until they can say, “It seemed good to the  Spirit and to us.”  If you’re a pastor, elder, or lay leader longing for Spirit-led clarity without the noise, this conversation offers a path forward—biblically rooted, relationally honest, and designed for real churches. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review with one practice your church uses to listen for God together. Resources Pete Scazzero – Emotionally Healthy SpiritualityEdwin H. Friedman – A Failure of NerveEdwin H. Friedman – Generation to GenerationMurray Bowen – Family Therapy in Clinical PracticeAmy C. Edmondson – The Fearless OrganizationBrené Brown – Daring GreatlyBrad Paisley – Me and Jesus (song)Dr. Kenneth R. Quick – The Eighth Letter Differentiation – Living with clarity about your identity, values, and calling while remaining connected without being controlled. Discernment – Humbly seeking the Spirit’s wisdom together, beyond mere decision-making. Reactivity – Anxious, emotional pushback that manipulates or dominates. Adaptivity – Withdrawing or yielding your voice out of insecurity or fear. Psychological Safety – A relational environment where people can speak honestly without fear of threat. Trialogue – A relational awareness in which two people engage while attending prayerfully to the Spirit’s presence. Isolation – Withdrawal from relational closeness and accountability, often mistaken for differentiation. Support the show Please connect with us at our Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you'd like to support the work of Flourish Coaching you can click here to make a donation. Connect with Jeremy to discuss podcasting.

    41 min
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About

The Church Renewal Podcast is a conversation for church leaders eager to see our churches refreshed by the gospel. The only fully sufficient reason that today dawned is that Jesus is yet gathering a people and using the church to do it. Come and join us as we dig into the ways Jesus is renewing his church.

Information

  • Creator
    Flourish Coaching
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Church Renewal Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Church Renewal Podcast