Best Jelani Daniel Podcasts (2025)

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Discovering Humor in the Bible with Jelani Greenidge 55:41

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8M ago55:41

55:41

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews author, minister, rapper, and stand-up comedian Jelani Greenidge about the use of humor in preaching. Jelani does an incredible job breaking down how to discover humor in the text, how to use humor effectively, and what humor brings to a sermon. Also, they spend time unpacking Jelani’s l…

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The Heartbeat of a Local Pastor with Tyler Gorsline 1:00:26

9M ago1:00:26

1:00:26

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews pastor Tyler Gorsline about his love for preaching and staying put in Seattle. Tyler shares about what he's learned along the way as he and his incredible team lead A Seattle Church. The leaders they have been able to develop, empower, and release as well as having this missional desire …

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The Role of the Pastor with Diane Langberg 54:57

9M ago54:57

54:57

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews Diane Langberg about how a pastor must pursue truth, care for the wounded, point people to Jesus above themselves, and to resist abuse at all costs. For 50 plus years, Langberg has been a leader in the unfortunate field of church abuse and trauma. An incredibly wise guide who deeply love…

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Having the Perseverance to Finish Well with Jon Thompson 59:39

12M ago59:39

59:39

In this episode of the Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews Pastor Jon Thompson from Sanctus Church in Toronto, Canada about the importance of perseverance in pastoral ministry. Jon is one of Canada’s most thoughtful and insightful shepherds and he shares about a book he wrote that unpacks 15 different observations at the halfway poin…

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Preaching and Plagiarism with Mike Goldsworthy 59:29

1y ago59:29

59:29

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews pastor Mike Goldsworthy around the topic of plagiarism and the crafting of sermons. Mike shares ways we can easily give credit to an idea or author without slowing down the flow of the teaching. He also unpacks what’s happening in a pastors life that makes them believe this is ok. The ch…

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The Art of Discernment with Ruth Haley Barton 52:33

1y ago52:33

52:33

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with author, spiritual director, and founder of the Transforming Center, Ruth Haley Barton about the importance of spiritual formation for pastoral care. Ruth Haley Barton offers up so many moments of pure gold as she talks about the soul, the art of discernment, and how she came to discover …

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Broken to Beloved with Brian Lee 55:12

1y ago55:12

55:12

In this episode of the Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews pastor and thought leader Brian Lee about healing from church hurt. Brian has a heart for those who feel like wanderers looking for a safe place to land. He has created an incredible community for anyone who has felt cast aside, betrayed, or hurt from religious institutions. …

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The Expectation Gap with Steve Cuss 50:57

1y ago50:57

50:57

On this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with pastor, founder of Capable Life, and author Steve Cuss about the tiny gap for preachers between our beliefs and experiences of God. Steve Cuss unpacks why this matters from theological, emotional, and character fronts, so we can begin to confront these gaps with curiosity and openness. S…

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The Discipleship Opportunity with Daniel Im 51:19

1y ago51:19

51:19

There is a discipleship opportunity right now that pastors and preachers must take advantage of. Pastor Daniel Im and Steve Carter discuss how we must understand the audience is different in our congregations than from 10, 20, 40 years ago. They’re asking different kinds of questions. They’re more cynical in some ways and wildly curious in others. …

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Healing What You Can’t Erase with Christopher Cook 59:00

1+ y ago59:00

59:00

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews the Win Today Podcast host Christopher Cook about how leaders can transform their mental, emotional, and spiritual health from the inside out. Christopher shares wisdom he has learned, how the reliance on the Holy Spirit is everything, and what courage looks like as you face past trauma.…

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How to Avoid Pastoral Burnout with Alan Briggs 41:46

1+ y ago41:46

41:46

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews leader, coach, and author Alan Briggs about avoiding burnout and finishing the race well. Alan recently released a new book called AntiBurnout that will help you lead for the long haul by sharing practical steps that he has learned advising pastors and business leaders. This episode is s…

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How to Love the Life You Already Have with Luke Norsworthy 59:23

1+ y ago59:23

59:23

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews Westover Hills Senior Pastor Luke Norsworthy about having the internal character to meet the six demands of life. It can be so easy to give time and energy wondering if my life would be better if I was in a new role or at a new church; but Luke beautifully articulate to love the life you…

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Grieve, Breathe, Receive with Steve Carter 52:14

1+ y ago52:14

52:14

In this special episode, the host of the Craft & Character, Steve Carter, unpacks how holy weekend is an incredible gift to anyone walking out a grief journey. Steve opens up about what led to him writing these words, what his hope is for Grieve, Breathe, Receive, and how to honor what comes up when change shows up. This is a book that will help yo…

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The Slower Way with Micha Boyett 53:14

1+ y ago53:14

53:14

In this Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews author and youth pastor Micha Boyett about her new book Blessed Are The Rest Of Us. Micha talks about how she discovered the slow way when her son was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with autism, she was drawn into the ancient teachings of the Beatitudes. In a culture that value…

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Why Every Pastor Must Learn to Listen, Listen, Speak with Jay Kim 50:28

1+ y ago50:28

50:28

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews author and pastor Jay Kim about how to hear God’s voice and communicate truth in a noisy world. Jay unpacks what led him to write his new book that comes out on April 16th called Listen, Listen, Speak. He talks about how discernment, mastering the art of listening well to God and one ano…

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Alive in You with Carrington Gaines 54:52

1+ y ago54:52

54:52

The relationship between a worship pastor and the preacher is crucial, especially on holiday weekends. In the latest episode of the Craft and Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews the worship pastor at Forest City Church, Carrington Gaines about how to work well together. Steve and Carrington serve together and breakdown how they planned out t…

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A Call to Resilience with Jay Hewitt 1:04:02

1+ y ago1:04:02

1:04:02

In this episode, Steve Carter interviews pastor and author Jay Hewitt about finding strength in our deepest need and weakness. A few years back Jay was diagnosed with brain cancer and during his chemo treatment he decided to train for an Ironman to show his young daughter what resilience looks like. Jay ended up completing the Ironman and wrote an …

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Transparent Preaching with Justin Davis 51:47

1+ y ago51:47

51:47

In this episode of Craft and Character, Steve Carter interviews Justin Davis about how transparency leads to transformation. Justin details the hard lessons he had to learn and what God has redeemed and refined because of it. They also unpack Justin’s latest book entitled Being Real > Being Perfect and how to embody that from the pulpit, in our lea…

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Lent and Sobriety with Jenn Kautsch 57:04

1+ y ago57:04

57:04

In this episode of Craft and Character, Steve interviews author Jenn Kautsch, who is the founder and creator of the SoberSis community. They talk about the season of Lent, what being sober curious is all about and how to renegotiate our relationship with alcohol. Jenn opens up about showing up to church many Sunday mornings a little foggy from the …

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The Spirit of Politics with Michael Wear 49:50

1+ y ago49:50

49:50

The majority of pastors are not looking forward to this 2024 presidential election season. The division between parties. The vitriol online. The angst within the congregation. The last few elections have been so difficult to navigate. There has to be a better way! In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Michael Wear who is the President of The Cen…

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Hidden Wisdom of the Beatitudes with Mark Scandrette 58:40

2y ago58:40

58:40

As we kick off 2024, Mark Scandrette offers up profound wisdom from the nine sayings of Jesus from the Beatitudes. It’s what Mark writes about in his latest book, The Ninefofd Path of Jesus. This episode is an invitation to the postures that the beatitudes provide us personally but also how to communicate these from pulpit. Mark unpacks his preachi…

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Start to Finish with Mark Dance 44:26

2y ago44:26

44:26

Do you ever feel like the tyranny of the urgent runs your life? Do you ever feel shame for wanting to take a day off or go on a vacation? As pastors, the needs are great and time is limited. Sadly, for many this means neglecting the things that matter most: our relationship with God, family, and the health of our souls. In this episode, Mark Dance,…

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Good Baggage for the Holidays with Ike Miller 55:07

2y ago55:07

55:07

How much does your upbringing influence your life now? The answer for all of us is ... more than we realize. In today’s episode, Ike Miller一who pastors Bright City Church alongside his wife Sharon一shares about his new book called Good Baggage: How Your Difficult Childhood Prepared You for Healthy Relationships. Growing up in a dysfunctional family …

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The Shepherd's Heart with Lee Eclov 54:20

2y ago54:20

54:20

Every pastor needs a pastor一someone to offer wisdom, empathy, and an example of finishing well. Lee Eclov is a shepherd to shepherds, and in this episode he shares with Steve Carter: How to care more about people and less about numbers. The role of spiritual formation in preaching. The importance of working through a text in your own soul before yo…

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AI, Ethics, and Preaching with Jason Thacker 55:27

2y ago55:27

55:27

As the world continues to progress technologically, how do we begin to approach this theologically. Jason Thacker, a professor of ethics and author joins Steve Carter on the craft and character podcast to help us better understand what is at stake and what we can do about it. Technology is not a net neutral conversation; but rather one we must appr…

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Discerning the Times with Jon Huckins 56:42

2y ago56:42

56:42

As headlines convulse with the latest news about the Israel-Hamas war, how should followers of Jesus respond? Jon Huckins, professor, author, and founder of Journey Home, shares with Steve Carter about what peacemaking looks like一first in our own hearts, then in the world God calls us to love. This convicting conversation point us toward the way of…

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A Church Planter's First Sermon Series with Micah E. Davis 48:03

2y ago48:03

48:03

As a leader, how well do you know your people and city? As a preacher, how much does your context shape your content? For Micah Davis, the pastor of teaching and vision at a new church plant, The Sanctuary in Indianapolis, there’s a deep connection between who he serves and how he leads. After hearing God whisper “pastor your neighborhood” during a…

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Reconnect to the Rhythms of Faith with Kayla Craig 39:14

2y ago39:14

39:14

If you’re a parent, how do you nurture and guide your children? If you’re a pastor or leader, are you truly creating an environment that draws kids to Jesus? The responsibility of stewarding young hearts can feel immense, but the good news is: you don’t have to figure it out alone. Today’s guest is author Kayla Craig, whose new book, Every Season S…

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How Every Church Can Pivot to Be Tov with Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer 54:46

2y ago54:46

54:46

How do we call out injustice and seek shalom without becoming self-righteous? In their new book, Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church Into a Tov Culture, father-daughter duo Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer follow up their previous book, A Church Called Tov一charting a course for those seeking to create a heal…

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The Art of Rhetoric in Preaching with Theon Hill 45:35

2y ago45:35

45:35

Want to become a better preacher? Listen to hip hop. That’s the advice of Dr. Theon Hill一an enthusiastic hip hop fan who serves as Associate Professor of Communication at Wheaton College. As an expert in rhetoric, Dr. Hill explains to Steve Carter: The three primary ways to reach an audience How to anticipate and teach to diverse perspectives in yo…

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Preaching Faith as a Spider Web with Meredith Miller 51:54

2y ago51:54

51:54

Teaching kids about God is one of the greatest tasks of our lives. Even with good intentions, It’s easy to slip into behavior-driven moralism that emphasizes good behavior while neglecting the heart of God. This disconnect一between head and heart一is why Meredith Anne Miller wrote her forthcoming book, Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have t…

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When the World Breaks with Jason Miller 58:47

2y ago58:47

58:47

The world is broken. When we see and feel that brokenness, it sometimes feels impossible一even illogical一to cling to faith. In this episode, Jason Miller, lead pastor of South Bend City Church in Indiana, describes his own journey with loss and how it led him past hollow platitudes into a deeper, more sacred space with Jesus. His new book, When the …

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How to Reach Urban Youth with Tommy Nixon 59:38

2+ y ago59:38

59:38

Steve Carter chops it up with his best friend Tommy Nixon一CEO of the Urban Youth Workers Institute一about how to reach the next generation for Christ. Tommy unpacks 20+ years of urban ministry, including: What to do about the 1.2 million young people leaving the church every year How to communicate effectively to a church that’s increasingly young, …

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Having Something to Say with Michele Cushatt 56:20

2+ y ago56:20

56:20

Every communicator must decide: Am I going to be the person pretending I don’t have flaws, or am I going to be someone with something to say? For Michele Cushatt一author, speaker, and communication coach一three bouts with tongue cancer, which left her with only two-thirds of her tongue and a permanent lisp, have taught her it’s the foundation of her …

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Master the Art of Storytelling with Nick Benoit and Paul Johnson 42:20

2+ y ago42:20

42:20

If you’ve ever felt creatively fatigued from the demand to preach week after week, meet Bravingbird: a go-to resource to help you communicate the gospel story with more clarity, beauty, and authenticity. In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Nick Benoit (creative director) and Paul Johnson (executive director) about why the art of storytelling i…

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Find Healthier Ways to Preach on Sex with Sheila Wray Gregoire 55:17

2+ y ago55:17

55:17

Sex is designed by God to be a gift, but tragically, it’s horribly misused to objectify women一not only in the world at-large一but also in the church. In this episode, Sheila Wray Gregoire, author of The Great Sex Rescue, She Deserves Better, and The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, explains some heartbreaking trends in evangelicalism: Why sex has bec…

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Finding Streams in the Wasteland with Andrew Arndt 40:11

2+ y ago40:11

40:11

Andrew Arndt had an airtight plan for his life: keep preaching at the same church as lead pastor until his final breath. But when God led him out of his small, artsy community into a megachurch, while grateful for his new assignment, he found himself disoriented and mourning the loss of his former role. That’s when a friend recommended, “You should…

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Preaching the Centrality of Christ with James Forsyth 57:14

2+ y ago57:14

57:14

Every time James Forsyth preaches, his goal is to set hearts ablaze一like Jesus in Luke 24, when he opened the scriptures with his disciples and their “hearts burned within them.” As the senior pastor at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN, James is not interested in conjuring a response in himself or his people but wants to genuinely…

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Having Words with God with Addison Bevere 49:26

2+ y ago49:26

49:26

Prayer is the one thing we know we’re supposed to do, but often the thing we don’t know how to do一or if we’re 100% honest一the thing we don’t always want to do. In this episode, Steve Carter talks with Addison Bevere, who’s forthcoming book Words with God tackles questions like: How should we pray? Why isn’t God answering? Why do other Christians se…

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Preaching Theology for Everyone with Joel Muddamalle 55:58

2+ y ago55:58

55:58

Knowledge often produces hubris, not humility, which is why Joel Muddamalle is such a refreshing theological voice. As the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a preaching pastor at Transformation Church in South Carolina, his passion is to show how theology can be lived out in everyday life. With grandparents who were …

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Becoming Strong Like Water with Aundi Kolber 57:57

2+ y ago57:57

57:57

Back by popular demand, author and therapist Aundi Kolber shares about her forthcoming book, Strong Like Water. This book debunks stoic, soul-depleting platitudes like “No pain, no gain,” instead showing that healing from trauma is only possible through freedom, safety, and compassion. Aundi masterfully integrates psychology, neurology, and theolog…

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A More Accessible Theology with Ricky Jenkins 1:08:02

2+ y ago1:08:02

1:08:02

UPDATE: Audio has been updated from the previous version. So, if you were only able to listen to the first 7 minutes, now you can hear the entire episode. For Ricky Jenkins, lead pastor at Southwest Church in Indian Wells, CA, preaching is “an exchange between heaven and earth.” He explains how diligent prep overlaps with sensitivity to the Spirit …

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4 Commitments of Preachers with Jared E. Alcántara 56:11

2+ y ago56:11

56:11

Some people transport us beyond our blind spots and comfort zones一introducing us to a chorus of diverse voices echoing across God’s kingdom, from both church history and our own age. Jared Alcantara is one of those guides. Growing up in a bi-cultural home in a diverse low-income neighborhood, and now as Professor of Preaching at Truett Theological …

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Developing a Preacher's Hermeneutic with Joe Grana 57:08

2+ y ago57:08

57:08

In this special episode, Steve Carter talks to one of his mentors, Dr. Joe Grana, a longtime professor and dean at Hope International University, and currently a teaching pastor at The Refinery Christian Church in Arizona. Dr. Grana explains the importance of hermeneutics (the process of interpreting Scripture) and how it rescues teachers from the …

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Preaching with No Regrets with Steve Sonderman 47:58

3y ago47:58

47:58

“Ministry to men is on their time, their turf, and their agenda.” Steve Sonderman first heard those words from a mentor, and after pastoring at Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin for 34 years, serving as a chaplain for the Milwaukee Brewers, and launching No Regrets Men’s Ministry, he’s spent over three decades equipping the church to effectively discipl…

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Preaching on Mission with Jordan Gustafson + Andrew Richards 54:26

3y ago54:26

54:26

What topic is on every page of the Bible? The answer is MISSION: God’s heart to seek and save those who are not yet a part of his family. This mission is not just something we read about in Scripture一it’s happening right now, and you can be a part of it! In this final episode of 2022, Steve Carter, along with his friends at Food For the Hungry (FH)…

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The Preaching Funnel with Jarrett Stevens 1:07:49

3y ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Most communicators know the agony of staring at scattered notes, wondering how to shape them into a compelling message. Enter Jarrett Stevens, lead pastor Soul City Church in Chicago, who has spent 25 years honing his writing and outline process into what he now affectionately calls the “funnel of love.” Rather than a predictable formula, the funne…

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How to Preach Advent Like Never Before with Vanessa Stricker 41:21

3y ago41:21

41:21

For a lot of people, the holidays are physically frenetic, emotionally overwhelming, and spiritually distracting. Few slow down long enough to ponder what’s happening in their own souls, or to give more than a passing thought to the significance of this season: God coming to earth. That’s why Steve Carter is excited to introduce you to an incredibl…

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Preaching to a Divided Nation with Paul A. Hoffman 52:17

3y ago52:17

52:17

The 2022 midterm elections, like most political events in our age, will undoubtedly spark new fires of division in our country一not only in the nation at large, but sadly, within the church. Enter Paul A. Hoffman, the lead pastor of Evangelical Friends Church in Newport, Rhode Island, and co-author of a new book: Preaching To A Divided Nation: A Sev…

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How Every Preacher Must Fan the Flame with Jim Cymbala 42:01

3y ago42:01

42:01

In his new book, Fan the Flame: Let Jesus Renew Your Calling and Revive Your Church, Jim Cymbala distills the Spirit-fueled, Bible-saturated ethos of his 50+ years in ministry. As Steve Carter affectionately quips, "Jim is like a firehose of passion and wisdom." In this episode, Jim explains why Acts 20 is the “spiritual selfie” every pastor should…