CNLP 737 | Toxic Masculinity and the Church: Derwin Gray on Using Ministry to Heal Childhood Wounds, Lessons from the NFL, and The Challenge of Finding the Right Team

What if our culture’s biggest crisis isn’t political, but spiritual and relational? New York Times columnist, bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist David Brooks talks about how American culture has changed in our lifetime and why he thinks it's overpoliticized and undermoralized. Plus, he shares how he became a Christian, his friendship with Tim Keller, and why he writes for 5 hours to get 1200 words each day. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   CHURCH PULSE Church Pulse is free, and gives pastors real-time insight into the hearts and habits of their congregation—how people are feeling, what they're struggling with, and what they’re looking for from their church right now. http://stateofthechurch.com/ Global Leadership Summit The Summit, happening August 7-8, delivers two powerful days with world-class faculty speaking into the real challenges you face as a church leader. Head to globalleadership.org/summit and enter GLS25CAREY at checkout for 10% off.   Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

There's nothing like honesty when it comes to hearing people's stories. CCV Lead Pastor Ashley Wooldridge returns to the podcast with his wife, Jaime. In a raw conversation, they open up about their first decade of marriage in corporate life, how that almost did them in as a couple, and how a journey into radical generosity transformed their marriage and their ministry at CCV.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   COMPASSION Visit my friends at Compassion International to learn how you can grow YOUR compassion today. Find out more at www.compassion.com/carey.   SPIRE CONFERENCE Give your church staff a place to learn, grow, and build momentum together as you hear from inspiring speakers—like Max Lucado and Kyle Idleman, hold intentional conversations, and discover practical insights. Spire Conference is happening in Louisville, Kentucky this September.  Use code CAREY for $50 off each ticket at spireconference.gloo.com   Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Lessons from one of America's fastest-growing and largest churches, Christ Church of the Valley (CCV). Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge talks about lessons he learned from a decade at Intel before working at a church, how teamwork trumps talent, EQ as a key to success, and why the pastor can't be the product. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   GLOO+ With the New Movers Program, Gloo+ makes it easy to send up to 50 personalized postcards each month to families who’ve just moved nearby. Activate your New Movers Program today by signing up for Gloo+ at gloo.com/glooplus.   GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT The Summit, happening August 7-8, delivers two powerful days with world-class faculty speaking into the real challenges you face as a church leader. Head to globalleadership.org/summit and enter GLS25CAREY at checkout for 10% off.   Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Derwin Gray talks about toxic masculinity and how it plays out in the NFL, the culture, and the church. Plus, insights on using ministry to heal childhood wounds and the challenge of finding the right staff in a growing church.  🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   STATE OF THE CHURCH From mental health, to Gen Z, to new apologetics, learn more about the research coming out of The State of the Church. BELAY Download BELAY’s free guide today: 5 Blind Spots That Sink Your Leadership. With this resource, you’ll learn how to navigate these leadership landmines with strength and confidence. Upward Sports Get your church outside its walls and into real connection with people. Right now is the perfect time to start thinking about a winter sport or planning for 2026.  Learn more about what Upward sports has to offer at Upward.org/carey   Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network      

Fact: Many churches with facilities and money lack people, while churches with people often lack facilities and funds. In this episode, Carey Nieuwhof argues why dying churches should transfer their buildings to growing congregations. He addresses the 5 key objections to this transition and demonstrates why overcoming these barriers creates a win for everyone involved in advancing the Kingdom's mission. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   GLOO WORKFLOWS Workflows let you automate messages so you can stay connected without doing everything manually. And the best part? It’s free! Yep—10,000 texts every month, no cost. Sign up today at gloo.com/messaging and start communicating with ease through automation!     Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network      

Imagine if your biggest question was, why did our church grow so fast? Jason Mitchell, Lead Pastor of LCBC, talks about what you need to do to see a 280% greater spike in first-time visitors returning to your church, what's changing in preaching, and the emotion of succession. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   SUBSPLASH With Subsplash, move from scattered to streamlined—media, giving, apps, messaging, event management—in one platform built for the Church. Go to subsplash.com/carey to save $500 when you sign up.     Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network      

The Unstuck Group's Amy Anderson discusses how to know if your church is overstaffed (it probably is), the key differences between growing and declining churches, and leading a company after its founder dies. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   GLOO MESSAGING With Gloo Messaging, it’s easy to segment your audience into Groups—think small group leaders, volunteers, parents, new visitors—so that you send the right message, to the right person, at exactly the right time.  Gloo gives you 10,000 texts every month and 3 groups at no cost. Start using group texting to lead better today. Sign up now at gloo.com/messaging.   Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network    

Has your calling become toxic? Biola Professor Arianna Molloy discusses the identity crisis most church leaders face: identifying with their calling so much that it becomes toxic. She also discusses burnout, how to get healthy, and the problems with boundary-shaming your team. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.  Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes   UPWARD SPORTS Upward Sports equips churches to share the gospel and make connections in their community. Learn how sports can impact your church and community at https://www.upward.org/carey/   Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network  

Kyle Idleman discusses why it's easier to admit a fault on stage than to a friend in person, the times you feel like you want to punch a hole in the wall (and what to do about it), vulnerability, insecurity, and the spiritual gift of disappointing people. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork   GLOO FEED It’s important to be an informed leader, and it doesn’t get any easier than the Gloo Feed.  Join for free in 5 seconds today by texting “carey” to 46816.   CHURCH.TECH Church.tech is the most complete pastoral AI suite anywhere: instant discipleship guides, outreach plans, kids‑min content, and more. Ready to trade editing for ministry? Visit church.tech and use code CAREY for 50 % off your first three months.     Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network  

Chris Hodges, founding pastor of Church of the Highlands, opens up for the first time about being bullied as a kid, having an inferiority complex, and how that's impacted his leadership. Plus, he shares how to multiply leaders to craft a successful succession. 🔗   Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork   STATE OF THE CHURCH From mental health, to Gen Z, to new apologetics, learn more about the research coming out of The State of the Church.   COMPASSION As a pastor, I desire all people to accept God’s compassion towards us and to live a full life of gospel-driven impact as a result. If you also desire this, I encourage you to visit my friends at Compassion International and begin learning how YOU can grow YOUR compassion today. Find out more at www.compassion.com/carey.     Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network