Mavericks & Misfits with Jeff Lyle

Charisma Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (109)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

With all the mixed signals being sent out about God’s Kingdom, we need a spot to land and a place to live in the faith. Standing in front of Jesus, Pilate asked the epic question, “What is truth?” He wasn’t the last person to wonder. Amidst all the fading trends and fossilized traditions that pass themselves off as Christianity, many Jesus-followers find themselves spiritually homeless, living without a tribe to which they can connect. There has to be a landing spot for mavericks and misfits - a place they can call their home. Jeff Lyle, a self-declared church maverick and ministry misfit, hosts this podcast in order to cut through through all the incomplete, inaccurate and inadequate expression of modern Christianity. In the end, for all mavericks and misfits looking for God’s answers to life, eternity, relationships, culture and theology... home should always be where the truth is.

  1. 3D AGO

    Fixing Fear & Fatigue

    Episode 273 – Fixing Fear & Fatigue In a world filled with uncertainty and relentless demands, we often find ourselves running on empty—physically drained, emotionally exhausted, and spiritually depleted. This message confronts a silent epidemic among faithful believers: not moral failure, but weariness. Drawing from Zephaniah 3:16-17, we discover God's powerful antidote to fear and fatigue. The prophet delivers two clear commands—'Fear not' and 'Let not your hands grow weak'—but these aren't harsh demands from a distant deity. Instead, they're invitations to redirect our focus from our limitations to God's limitless presence. The passage reveals five transformative truths: God is in our midst, He is mighty to save, He rejoices over us with gladness, He quiets us with His love, and remarkably, He exults over us with loud singing—literally twirling around us in delight. This isn't about denying our exhaustion or pretending we're superhuman. It's about recognizing that our strength comes not from our performance but from our Father's pleasure in us. When we grasp that God dances over us even in our weakness, we tap into a supernatural reservoir that transcends our natural capacity. The key isn't working harder; it's remembering whose we are and how deeply we're loved.

    41 min

  2. FEB 3

    Unfriending & Unfollowing

    Episode 272 – Unfriending & Unfollowing Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is walk away. This episode challenges us to reconsider our understanding of biblical relationships and confronts the uncomfortable truth that not every connection is meant to be maintained. Drawing from 1 Timothy 6 and 2 Timothy 2, we're reminded that Scripture actually gives us permission—and sometimes commands us—to separate from people who consistently breed controversy, quarrels, and division. Paul describes these individuals as 'puffed up with conceit' yet 'understanding nothing,' a dangerous combination of arrogance and ignorance. The key spiritual insight here is learning to discern the difference between Christ-like patience and enabling toxic behavior. We're called to be kind, teachable, and gentle in our corrections, but when someone repeatedly demonstrates an unhealthy craving for controversy and refuses godly counsel, continuing to engage becomes a waste of the precious time and energy God has given us for kingdom work. This isn't about being unloving—it's about being wise stewards of our relationships and recognizing that some people attract followers who are 'depraved in mind and deprived of truth.' The challenge for us is to examine both who we're following and whether we ourselves have become quarrelsome. Are we pursuing righteousness, faith, and peace with those who call on the Lord from pure hearts, or are we caught in endless cycles of debate that produce nothing but friction?

    37 min

  3. JAN 27

    Men With Chests

    Episode 271 – Men With Chests What does it mean to be a man with a chest in today's world? This episode of Mavericks & Misfits takes us to 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, where we receive four clear directives: be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong—all while letting everything we do be done in love. Drawing from C.S. Lewis's observation that our culture makes men without chests yet expects virtue and enterprise from them, we're challenged to examine how decades of cultural messaging have neutered biblical masculinity. The call isn't about toxic aggression or domineering behavior—it's about reclaiming the God-ordained design for manhood that includes strength, decisiveness, protection, and sacrificial love. We're invited to become realistic men who open our eyes to the spiritual battles around us, resolved men who stand firm in our faith without wavering, and retro men who aren't afraid to embrace biblical masculinity even when culture calls it outdated. The safeguard against toxic masculinity isn't feminization—it's love. When we look at Jesus, we see a man who cried, lamented, protected, sacrificed, confronted sin, and even overturned tables in righteous anger. His masculinity was never toxic because it was always rooted in love. This message calls us to repentance and action, challenging both men to step into their God-given roles and women to create space for men to lead, even imperfectly at first.

    39 min

  4. JAN 20

    Unpacking the Gift of Tongues -Part 2

    Episode 270 – Unpacking the Gift of Tongues -Part 2 In this second of a two-part focus on the gift of tongues, Jeff goes a little deeper into the controversies surrounding the practice of speaking in tongues. Drawing extensively from 1 Corinthians 14, we're challenged to recognize that while tongues are a legitimate and valuable spiritual gift, they come with biblical guardrails designed to protect both believers and unbelievers. The central message is clear: when we gather corporately, especially in settings where non-believers are present, uninterpreted tongues can actually become a stumbling block rather than a blessing. Paul's instruction that he would rather speak five understandable words than ten thousand words in tongues reminds us that edification of others must take priority over personal expression. Yet this doesn't diminish the gift—Paul himself spoke in tongues more than anyone. The key is context: in private prayer and worship, tongues flow freely as we build ourselves up in the Spirit. In corporate gatherings, wisdom and love for others should guide our use of this gift. This teaching calls us to maturity, self-regulation, and obedience to Scripture's clear instructions, challenging us to honor both the gift and the Giver by using tongues in the way God intended.

    42 min

  5. JAN 13

    Unpacking the Gift of Tongues -Part 1

    Episode 269 – Unpacking the Gift of Tongues -Part 1 The gift of tongues remains one of Christianity's most misunderstood spiritual gifts, yet Scripture presents it as a powerful tool for personal spiritual growth and corporate edification. Drawing from Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19, and extensive teaching in 1 Corinthians 12-14, we discover that tongues serve multiple purposes in the believer's life. This supernatural ability to communicate in languages unknown to the speaker first appeared at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the early church, marking the beginning of a new era in God's economy. What's fascinating is that modern linguistic scholars estimate over 20,000 languages have existed throughout human history, with 7,000 still spoken today. When we dismiss tongues as mere gibberish, we may be revealing our own limitations rather than God's. The content in this episode of Mavericks & Misfits distinguishes between prayer tongues intended for personal edification as described in Jude 20, praise tongues for worshiping God through supernatural song mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:15, and prophetic tongues that require interpretation to build up the church body. The apostle Paul himself declared he wanted all believers to speak in tongues, suggesting this gift's availability extends beyond a select few. As we approach this controversial topic with humility and biblical honesty, we find that what once seemed strange becomes a pathway to deeper intimacy with God and greater spiritual strength for the journey ahead.

    37 min

  6. JAN 6

    When Healing Has Not Come

    Episode 268 – When Healing Has Not Come What happens when we pray fervently for healing and it doesn't come? This deeply personal exploration takes us into one of Christianity's most challenging questions—not to shake our faith, but to strengthen it with biblical truth. We journey through passages like James 5, where we're instructed to call for elders, pray in faith, and anoint with oil, yet we also encounter the puzzling reality that even the Apostle Paul left co-workers like Trophimus sick and advised Timothy to use medicinal wine for his stomach ailments. The tension is real: we believe wholeheartedly in the gifts of healings mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, we've seen miraculous breakthroughs, yet we've also watched loved ones suffer despite our prayers. Rather than offering easy answers or blaming either God or our lack of faith, this message invites us into a mature understanding—that progressive healing is still healing, that God sometimes uses medicine alongside miracles, and that our suffering can produce an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs our temporary troubles. Like Job, we're called to trust God even when we can't find Him in our circumstances, declaring 'though He slay me, I will trust Him.' This isn't about giving up on healing; it's about refusing to put God on trial while we continue to press in with obedient faith.

    47 min

  7. 12/16/2025

    Courage to Initiate Change

    Today’s episode of Mavericks & Misfits presents to us a crucial question: Are we operating in the gifts and calling God has actually given us, or are we trying to fulfill roles that drain rather than energize us? Drawing from Ephesians 4, we're reminded that God established five distinct ministry graces—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—not as optional organizational structures, but as essential foundations for a healthy, thriving church. Jeff Lyle challenges the modern tendency to collapse all these roles into one person called 'pastor,' which has left many leaders exhausted and congregations undernourished. When we understand our unique design within the body of Christ, we stop competing and start partnering with one another in the Spirit. The evangelist brings people to salvation, the teacher grounds them in truth, the shepherd nurtures their growth, the prophet keeps us aligned with God's present word, and the apostle builds systems and raises up the next generation. We're invited to examine whether we're in the right seat on the bus—serving where God has equipped us rather than where tradition or expectation has placed us. This isn't just about church structure; it's about personal fulfillment and Kingdom effectiveness. When we all discover and operate in our God-given grace, frustration gives way to fruitfulness, and the mission of Christ advances with supernatural power.

    33 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Did You Mean It?

    God never violates His covenants or alters what He has spoken. But what about us? Is what comes forth from our mouths as reliable as it should be? In a world where broken promises and shattered commitments surround us daily, we're called to a higher standard as followers of Christ. This powerful message challenges us to examine the integrity of our words—both to God and to one another. He is faithful to Abraham's descendants, faithful to His promises, and faithful to us. If the Creator of the universe holds Himself to such an unwavering standard, how much more should we honor our commitments? The episode of Mavericks & Misfits confronts our tendency to give ourselves permission to back out when keeping our word becomes costly. Whether in marriage vows, ministry partnerships, business contracts, or personal pledges to God, we are called to let our 'yes be yes' and our 'no be no.' This isn't about legalism; it's about integrity, honor, and reflecting the character of the God we serve. When we break our word, we undermine our witness and act like our old, unregenerate selves. The message calls us to examine where we might be inching back from commitments, reframing what we said, or finding convenient exits when the road gets difficult. Mean what you say…every time.

    37 min
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About

With all the mixed signals being sent out about God’s Kingdom, we need a spot to land and a place to live in the faith. Standing in front of Jesus, Pilate asked the epic question, “What is truth?” He wasn’t the last person to wonder. Amidst all the fading trends and fossilized traditions that pass themselves off as Christianity, many Jesus-followers find themselves spiritually homeless, living without a tribe to which they can connect. There has to be a landing spot for mavericks and misfits - a place they can call their home. Jeff Lyle, a self-declared church maverick and ministry misfit, hosts this podcast in order to cut through through all the incomplete, inaccurate and inadequate expression of modern Christianity. In the end, for all mavericks and misfits looking for God’s answers to life, eternity, relationships, culture and theology... home should always be where the truth is.

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