Conversations with Josh Andrew

Hosted by Josh Andrew

Entrepreneurship Religion Spirituality ChristianityInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

120

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Conversations with Josh Andrew is a Christian leadership and ministry podcast for pastors, church leaders, church planters, and young leaders. Explore practical conversations about church leadership, preaching, discipleship, the Holy Spirit, healthy church culture, ministry burnout, leadership development, faith, and following Jesus. Each episode combines biblical truth, practical ministry experience, and honest conversations to help you lead healthy churches, build strong teams, develop leaders, and stay faithful to your calling.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 23, 202632 min

7 Signs of Narcissistic Behavior in Church Leadership

Narcissism in the church is talked about constantly, but what does narcissistic behavior actually look like in a pastor, church leader, or ministry environment? In this episode of Conversations , we look at seven signs of narcissistic behavior in church leadership and the difference between legitimate narcissistic traits and simply dealing with a difficult personality, unhealthy leadership, insecurity, or conflict. The word narcissist has become a catch-all for almost any leader we disagree with. But using psychological language carelessly can make it harder to recognize genuinely unhealthy patterns when they are present. We talk about behaviors like an excessive need for admiration, entitlement, lack of empathy, exploiting relationships, difficulty receiving criticism, protecting an image, and using people to reinforce a leader’s sense of importance. This conversation is not about diagnosing pastors from a distance. It’s about developing enough clarity to recognize unhealthy leadership patterns, protect people when necessary, and build church cultures marked by humility, accountability, empathy, and the character of Jesus. I send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ I use Descript to edit and produce Conversations . It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507 . https://www.filify.co/SHabE Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off. https://www.filify.co/SHaTR Get more views and subscribers on YouTube. https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

October 16, 202626 min

Is Your Ministry Platform Getting in the Way?

Some of the most meaningful ministry will never happen from a stage. It happens around a table.In this episode of Conversations, I talk about the relational side of pastoral ministry and why Jesus consistently formed people through proximity, meals, conversation, and everyday life.Drawing from Acts 2:42–47 and 1 Thessalonians 2:8, we talk about hospitality, discipleship, building trust before the crisis, knowing people beyond what they contribute, and creating rhythms where public ministry and personal shepherding work together.Platforms can reach people. Tables help us know them.And if pastoring people is an honor, it should never feel like a bother.CHAPTERS00:00 Tables, Proximity & Pastoral Ministry04:14 What Tables Build That Platforms Cannot06:24 People Are More Than What They Contribute08:25 Building Trust Before the Crisis11:28 The Biblical Call to Hospitality14:22 If It’s an Honor, It’s Never a Bother#PastoralMinistry #Discipleship #ChurchLeadership🎙️Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew ✨ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 ✨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC079uejq90Kj-q0sgZ0Bacg

October 9, 202636 min

Church Hot Takes: Questions Pastors Don't Usually Answer

Church planting. Celebrity pastors. Sermon length. Multisite churches. Church money. AI sermons. Leaving a church. Nothing was really off limits.In this episode of Conversations, I answer rapid-fire questions about some of the most debated topics in church leadership and ministry.We talk about whether we actually need more church plants, how long sermons should be, whether multisite churches are becoming franchises, pastors choosing cities for the wrong reasons, discipleship, next-gen leadership, excellence and church budgets, pastors without a prayer life, leaving a church, celebrity pastors, using ChatGPT for sermon preparation, and more.Some are hot takes. Some are questions I think deserve a lot more nuance. All of them come from the perspective of someone who loves pastors, loves the local Church, and wants us to build faithfully. #ChurchLeadership #Pastors #ChurchPlanting📝NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠ https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠ Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠ https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠ 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

October 2, 202624 min

Would You Still Follow Jesus If Nobody Was Watching?

What if we’ve become more interested in being seen following Jesus than actually following Him?In this episode of Conversations, I talk about aesthetic Christianity, social media, and the temptation to turn sacred moments into content.Using Matthew 6, we look at Jesus’ teaching on giving, prayer, and fasting, and the repeated invitation to build a life with God that doesn’t require an audience. We talk about generosity becoming content, vulnerability becoming performance, recording worship, our obsession with visibility, and the motives behind what we choose to share.Public faith isn’t the problem. Needing to be seen is.The question I keep coming back to is simple: Would I still do this if nobody ever knew?It’s time to recover the secret life. A life where communion with Jesus is enough, obedience doesn’t need documentation, and God seeing us in secret is enough of an audience.IN THIS EPISODE00:00 Being Seen vs. Actually Following Jesus01:12 The Aesthetic Christianity Problem02:41 Jesus’ Warning in Matthew 606:19 The Brutal Test of Our Motives06:59 Some Sacred Moments Should Stay Offline09:24 When Generosity Becomes Content13:13 Vulnerability or Performance?16:34 Worship Without the Camera18:54 Recovering the Secret Life20:32 The Future Is Human22:38 Final Challenges & Closing🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew ✨ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 ✨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC079uejq90Kj-q0sgZ0Bacg

September 25, 202627 min

Why Your Church Feels Heavy (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of Conversations, I talk pastor-to-pastor about bringing joy, faith, passion, expectation, and genuine hospitality back into our churches.Joy doesn't mean ignoring pain, and depth doesn't require heaviness. Scripture says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Our worship, preaching, hospitality, and church culture should remind people again and again that Jesus is alive and the gospel is good news.We talk practically about building joyful church services, creating expectation before Sunday, expression in worship, hospitality, and why faith changes the atmosphere of a room.Joy isn't hype. Expectation isn't performance. Church should feel alive.CHAPTERS00:00 Joy in the Middle of Pain00:22 Why Does Church Feel So Heavy?02:09 Passion Is Expression, Not Personality04:51 The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength07:59 Worship Should Inject Faith11:38 Why a Smile Creates Safety14:57 Hugs, Hospitality & Belonging17:50 Heaviness Is Not Holiness19:47 Expectation Changes the Atmosphere22:05 Church Should Feel Like Good News23:43 How to Bring Joy Back to Church26:42 Outro & Resources#ChurchLeadership #Pastors #ChurchCulture📝🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew ✨ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 ✨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC079uejq90Kj-q0sgZ0Bacg

September 18, 202630 min

Why We’re Starting A Church

Why are we starting a church in Omaha, Nebraska? In this episode of Conversations , I share the story behind Origin Church , why Lexi and I believe God is leading us to Omaha, and the kind of church movement we believe we’re called to build. The vision for Origin began years ago, but we’re starting differently. Before Sunday services, stages, or infrastructure, we’re building around tables, relationships, prayer, communion, hospitality, and the presence of God. We talk about why Origin is beginning with Supper Clubs, what we can learn from the early Church, why we want to empower local pastors and couples rather than build around one personality, and what the road toward Origin Omaha in 2027 looks like. This is the story of why we’re starting Origin and the convictions shaping how we build it. Learn more about Origin Church originchurch.cc 00:00 Why Origin Won’t Be Built Around a Personality 00:28 Why We’re Starting a Church 01:29 The Origin Church Story and Vision 05:44 What the Early Church Can Teach Us 08:23 What Is the Origin Church Movement? 10:48 Building Community Before Church Services 13:40 Why Supper Clubs Come Before Sundays 19:29 Why Omaha? Origin Church Omaha 2027 23:56 Learning to Wait on God’s Timing 27:16 The Invitation and What’s Next I send a free newsletter where I share thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe to the Conversations newsletter Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507 . Try HelloFresh Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off . Try ElevenReader 🎙️ Editing & Production I use Descript to edit and produce Conversations . It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. Try Descript Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube vidIQ JoshAndrew.org More links

September 12, 202634 min

Faith, Grief, Creativity & Entrepreneurship with Preston Zeller

In this episode of Conversations , I sit down with Preston Zeller to talk about faith, grief, creativity, entrepreneurship, and what it looks like to keep building without letting the outcome define you. Preston shares his journey from film and software into art, the loss of his brother, how creativity became part of his grieving process, and how that eventually led to The Art of Grieving and Psalm Log. We also talk about the ministry of presence, why unresolved grief can follow us into new seasons, the real cost of entrepreneurship, trusting God with outcomes, and what biblical stewardship actually looks like. This is a conversation about building, healing, faithfulness, and learning to release what you cannot control. NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠ https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠ Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠ https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠ Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew ✨ 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 ✨ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC079uejq90Kj-q0sgZ0Bacg

September 4, 202623 min

How to Lead High-Capacity Leaders in Your Church

Every pastor says they want high-capacity leaders. But what happens when those leaders have vision, ideas, ambition, and calling of their own?In this episode of Conversations, I talk about how pastors and church leaders can identify, develop, and release high-capacity people without controlling them or eventually driving them away.Drawing from Ephesians 4, Acts 13, Exodus 18, and Paul's relationship with Timothy, I unpack why healthy church leadership requires more than delegation. We have to give people real authority, mission and margin, permission to fail, credit when they win, and freedom to eventually outgrow the roles we've given them.The goal isn't finding talented people to build your vision.It's becoming the kind of pastor who helps build what God has placed inside them.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Leading High-Capacity People in Church02:26 Look for Leaders Who Already Have Vision04:40 Become Interested in Their Calling06:52 Give Leaders Mission and Margin08:25 Stop Making People Rent Authority09:42 Give Away the Credit11:51 Let Your Leaders Fail15:26 Don't Punish Leaders for Growing17:22 Your Platform Should Become Their Floor22:44 Final Thoughts#ChurchLeadership #Pastors #LeadershipDevelopment📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here:https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507:⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTubehttps://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.orgMore links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

August 28, 202630 min

Pastors, We Have a Trust Problem

Trust in pastors is declining, and as a pastor, I don't think our response should be better PR. We have to become trustworthy again.In this episode of Conversations, I talk pastor-to-pastor about church hurt, pastoral accountability, leadership failure, transparency, unhealthy honor culture, and why some distrust toward church leadership has been earned.I believe in strong pastoral leadership and spiritual authority. But our model is Jesus. The answer isn't defending leadership. It's becoming leaders worth trusting again. #ChurchLeadership #Pastors #ChurchHurt📝 📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts. Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean. 👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Make dinner easier with HelloFresh. Get simple, delicious recipes delivered to your door and claim 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life with code HF-1507: ⁠⁠https://www.filify.co/SHabE⁠⁠ Turn your reading list into a listening list with ElevenReader. Upload books, PDFs, articles, or documents and listen wherever you are. Get 30 days free plus 15% off through this link:⁠ https://www.filify.co/SHaTR⁠ Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew 🔗 Connect with Josh Andrew Website: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew

August 21, 202622 min

How to Build a Church That Doesn't Depend on You

What if the greatest threat to your church isn't opposition... it's dependency? One of the easiest traps for church planters and pastors is accidentally building a ministry that revolves around themselves instead of Jesus. It usually doesn't happen because of bad intentions. It happens one decision at a time. You preach every week. You make every decision. You baptize every person. Eventually, people become connected to you instead of taking ownership of the mission. In this episode, we talk about the difference between visibility and centrality , why Jesus intentionally prepared His disciples for His departure, and how healthy churches are built by developing leaders, sharing responsibility, and creating ownership. If your church couldn't function without you, this conversation is for you. Why churches become pastor-centered The danger of being needed Visibility versus centrality How trust creates ownership Why Jesus planned for His absence Building a church that outlives its pastor Developing leaders instead of followers If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing and sharing it with another pastor or church planter who needs to hear it. 📝 NewsletterI send a free newsletter where I share honest thoughts on leadership, ministry, faith, and building something that actually lasts.Subscribe here: https://conversations-with-josh-andrew.beehiiv.com/ 🎙️ Editing & ProductionI use Descript to edit and produce this podcast. It makes audio and video editing simple, fast, and clean.👉 https://descript.cello.so/5I4MealWKa2 Get More Views & Subscribers on YouTube https://vidiq.com/joshnandrew/ 🔗 Connect with Josh AndrewWebsite: https://joshandrew.org More links: https://linktr.ee/Joshnandrew