Episode 364: The Prayer Life of Jesus - Who Do You Say That I Am?
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
Release Date: 03/18/2025
Episode 388: Holiness of Heart and Life
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
Episode 388: Holiness of Heart and Life In this episode, Tim and Sara explore Micah 6:6–8 and the Wesleyan invitation to holiness of heart and life. Through the lens of justice, kindness (Hesed), and humble walking with God, they unpack what true worship looks like; far beyond religious performance. Together, they reflect on how holiness is formed from the inside out, why justice is inseparable from faithful leadership, and how leaders can practice presence, integrity, and attentiveness in everyday life. Practical examples, honest wrestling, and timeless wisdom make this a rich conversation...
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Episode 387: The Economy of Grace - Resources for Mission
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
Episode 387: The Economy of Grace In this episode, Tim and Sara unpack one of Jesus’ most practical and challenging teachings from Matthew 6:19–24. Through this passage, they explore what it means to live within God’s economy of grace: a way of life where grace, not greed, defines our values, vision, and priorities. They begin with Jesus’ reminder that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” inviting listeners to consider what truly captures their attention and shapes their lives. Together, they discuss how generosity, focus, and trust reveal where our hearts...
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Episode 386: The Wesleyan Way of Leadership - Accountability, Adaptability, and Vision
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
The Wesleyan Way of Leadership Scripture: Hebrews 12:1–2 Leadership is not a sprint. It’s a marathon of grace, perseverance, and faithful endurance. In this episode, Tim and Sara explore the Wesleyan way of leadership through the lens of Hebrews 12:1–2, focusing on three core practices that help Christ-centered leaders stay grounded for the long run: vision, adaptability, and accountability. You’ll hear how vision keeps us focused on Christ and the mission, how adaptability helps us lay aside what no longer fits so we can follow the Spirit’s leading, and how accountability reminds us...
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Episode 385: Building Grace Filled Communities
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
The earliest followers of Jesus didn’t just gather once a week—they lived their faith together. In Acts 2:42–47, we glimpse a community formed around grace: studying Scripture, sharing meals, praying, and caring for one another so that no one was in need. In this episode, Tim and Sara explore what it means to build a grace-filled community today. They remind us that community isn’t optional for followers of Jesus—it’s the context where faith is practiced, forgiveness is learned, and love takes shape. You’ll hear how the early church’s rhythms of prayer, fellowship, generosity,...
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Episode 384: Sanctifying Grace - Growing in Love
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
Sanctifying grace is God’s ongoing work of shaping us into the likeness of Christ. It does not happen through quick fixes or self-improvement, but through love that matures over time. In Episode 384 of Transforming Mission, we explore how God finishes what God starts, using the words of Philippians 1:3–11 as our guide. Through gratitude, prayer, partnership, and discernment, this conversation reminds us that grace isn’t a one-time moment. Grace is a lifelong relationship. You’ll be encouraged to notice where love is growing in your life, name your partners in grace, and practice habits...
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Episode 383: Justifying Grace - God's Gift of New Life
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
In this episode, Tim and Sara continue their journey through the movements of grace,this time focusing on justifying grace, God’s gift of new life. If prevenient grace awakens us to God’s presence, justifying grace is the moment we realize we’ve already been welcomed—fully, freely, and forever. Anchored in Romans 5:1–11, this conversation explores how God’s grace moves first, reconciling us and setting us free to live as beloved children of God. Tim and Sara unpack how repentance isn’t a price we pay to receive grace but our “yes” to God’s “yes.” They explore what it...
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Episode 382: Prevenient Grace - God's Grace that Goes Before
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
Episdoe 382 invites you to begin an exploration of God's grace in the Wesleyan tradition. That exploration begins with prevenient grace, the grace that goes before us, through the lens of John 1:1–9. Long before we act, plan, or even believe, God is already at work. That’s the heart of prevenient grace. It reminds leaders that ministry isn’t about starting something new, but discerning how to join what God has already begun. Through Scripture, Wesleyan theology, and personal stories, this conversation invites you to reframe leadership as an act of cooperation with God’s initiative....
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Episode 381: Expanding Your Leadership Neighborhood
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
In this episode of the Transforming Mission Podcast, Sara and Tim unpack Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16 to help Christ-centered leaders rethink who’s at their “gate.” Rather than a story about money, this parable challenges us to notice people at the edges of our leadership circles and respond before the “chasm” becomes unbridgeable. Drawing from their own experiences—everything from literal church parking-lot traffic patterns to ministry with people living with HIV/AIDS—Sara and Tim explore how churches and leaders unintentionally create “gates,”...
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Episode 380: Leading with Grace in a Critical World
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
In this week’s episode of the Transforming Mission Podcast, Tim and Sara dive back into Luke 15:11–32, the parable most of us call “The Prodigal Son,” but Tim calls “The Running Father.” Together they talk about what it really means to lead with grace in a critical world. As they unpack the story, you’ll hear why grace moves first, why it costs something, and how it keeps the way home open for people who’ve wandered off. You’ll also discover the trap of the older brother’s resentment — and why fairness isn’t God’s metric — plus why celebration itself is an act of...
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Episode 379: People First - Shepherding Like Jesus in a Program Driven World
Transforming Mission Podcast with Tim Bias & Sara Thomas
People Over Programs: Lessons from Luke 15 In Luke 15:1–10, Jesus shares two parables that continue to speak to leaders today, the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. On the surface, these are simple stories of something missing being found. But beneath that simplicity lies a challenge: God values people more than programs, systems, or even our best-laid ministry plans. Continue Reading at https://transformingmission.org/379
info_outlineDiscover Christ-centered leadership lessons from Luke 9 that will inspire and equip you to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose—whether you're on the mountaintop or deep in the valley. In this episode of the Transforming Mission Podcast, we explore the turning point in Jesus' ministry when he asks, "Who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9:20). This question is central to your identity and calling as a leader. How you answer shapes how you live, lead, and love in your church, community, and family. You’ll also learn how the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) prepares you for the valleys of leadership. We unpack practical insights for leading with hope in the messy, hard places where leadership gets real.
✅ This episode is for you if:
- You’re seeking clarity about your leadership calling.
- You struggle with public opinion and want to stay grounded in Christ.
- You desire to lead with hope, even in times of suffering or uncertainty.
- You want to understand the deeper meaning of the mountaintop and valley experiences in leadership.
Key topics include:
✔️ Kingdom leadership lessons from Luke 9
✔️ The identity and purpose of Christ-centered leaders
✔️ What the Transfiguration means for leadership today
✔️ How to navigate public opinion vs. your God-given calling
✔️ Leading with hope and presence in messy, real-life situations
✔️ Why listening to Jesus brings clarity in leadership
📖 Scripture Focus:
Luke 9:18-20 & Luke 9:28-36
Links
🔗 Read the full blog post here: https://transformingmission.org/364
🎧 Listen to the podcast episode here: https://transformingmission.org/364
💡 Explore more Christ-centered leadership resources: TransformingMission.org
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:35 - The Turning Point in Jesus’ Ministry (Luke 9)
01:30 - Who Do You Say That I Am? Leadership and Identity
03:00 - Peter’s Confession and Leadership Expectations
04:30 - The Hard Truth: Messiah and Suffering
06:00 - Leadership Lessons: Showing Up in the Mess
07:30 - The Transfiguration: Mountaintop Experience (Luke 9:28-36)
09:30 - Why You Can’t Stay on the Mountaintop
11:00 - How the Mountain Prepares You for the Valley
12:30 - Clarity of Calling vs. Public Opinion
14:00 - Listening to Jesus: Leadership Through Obedience
16:00 - Leadership in the Valley: Faithful Presence
18:00 - The Cross as the Leadership Journey
19:30 - Final Insights: Leading Between the Mountain and the Valley
20:30 - Benediction & Sending Forth ✨ Subscribe for weekly Christ-centered leadership insights!