Leadership From The Cross | Ministry Training | Scott Thom

Leadership From The Cross is dedicated to ministry training hosted by Pastor Scott Thom of Cross Christian Fellowship in Albuquerque, N.M. We help advance your leadership skills. Topics include Pastoring, Lay Ministry, Church Management, Vision Casting, Character, Team Building, Faith, Ministry Planning, Church Planting, and so much more. Pastor Scott also has a ministry training college for pastors and leaders.

How Do You Know God Has Called You to Lead? God's Call, Part 1 11/01/2026

How Do You Know God Has Called You to Lead? God's Call, Part 1 Have you ever felt unqualified to lead your family, your team or your ministry, or wondered if your past rules you out? Most leaders quietly step back when ministry is not happening, when someone challenges them, or when the voice in their head says they are not good enough. In Part 1 of the Shepherd School teaching God's Call, Pastor Scott Thom shows why knowing your calling keeps you in the game. He tells the story of George Truett, whose church voted him into ministry before he was willing. From Ephesians 4:11-12 and Luke 10:1-2 he shows that every believer, and especially men, is called to shepherd at home, at work and in ministry. Then he walks through why knowing your call matters: when ministry is not happening, when you are challenged in your mind, when you are challenged by others, as Moses was by Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12, and so you can see God's call on others (1 Timothy 5:22). You only fail if you quit. To train with Pastor Scott in Shepherd School, text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Feel unqualified to lead? Most leaders were never trained to shepherd their home, their work or their ministry, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Struggling to stay faithful when you feel disqualified? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/43359974

4 Things Great Leaders Reject 05/14/2026

4 Things Great Leaders Reject What separates a true leader from someone who simply holds a position? Pastor Scott Thom, in a crossover with No Other Doctrine, says it is often what a leader refuses to accept. First, leaders reject groupthink for independent thinking: they "test all things and hold fast what is good," unlike the Pharisees who would not question their own, or Rehoboam, who listened only to friends who thought like him and split his kingdom. Second, they reject simple answers to complex questions; Nehemiah prayed, planned and inspected the walls before he built. Third, they often reject their own first idea, examining their thinking as Paul urged in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Fourth, they reject social pressure dressed up as truth and look for the evidence, as Peter and John ran to the tomb, without demanding unreasonable proof like Thomas. If you see yourself in these, Pastor Scott challenges you to use that gift at home, at work and in ministry, or risk sliding backward. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you see these leadership instincts in yourself but have never been trained to use them? Most leaders were never given that kind of development, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is going along with the crowd, or settling for the easy answer, a habit you want to break? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/41293925

Seven Steps to a Happier Life: What the Bible Says About Real Happiness 02/03/2026

Seven Steps to a Happier Life: What the Bible Says About Real Happiness What is happiness, and why do so many Christians still chase it? Pastor Scott Thom goes beyond the dictionary's "state of being happy" and gives seven steps to a happier life. Happiness starts with communion with God, not just being converted but knowing Him. It grows with peace with others, walking in humility and mercy instead of a critical spirit. It comes from accepting the bad with the good and giving God whatever time He needs to work it for good, because we have no right to act unhappy and rob others of their happiness. It deepens as we become more like Jesus, since bad character only buys fleeting pleasure. It rests on knowing the best things we have, above all God's love, can never be lost. It is free from trusting money and things, as a joyful family in a billboard plywood hut in South America taught him. And it is increased by a praiseworthy, godly goal, the very first thing God gave Adam and Eve. He closes with a challenge: have the courage to be happy. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is a praiseworthy, godly goal missing from your life right now? Many believers sense God calling them to lead but never get trained, because between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do worry, a critical spirit or chasing more things keep stealing your happiness? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/39985610

Why Every Leader Needs a Mentor: Pastor Scott's Interview with Pastor Raul Ries and Dale Goddard 11/26/2025

Why Every Leader Needs a Mentor: Pastor Scott's Interview with Pastor Raul Ries and Dale Goddard Do you have someone who sees in you what you can't see yourself? In this crossover with No Other Doctrine, Pastor Scott Thom opens with three things a mentor gives you: a vision of who you can become instead of who you were, the hard counsel and hard stops you would never give yourself, and an example to follow, as Paul said, "follow me as I follow Christ." Then he sits down with his own mentors, Pastor Raul Ries of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and his longtime assistant pastor Dale Goddard. They describe what they look for in a man called to ministry: the anointing, humility and a team player's heart, not a spotlight seeker. They explain why they took phones out of their staff's hands during services, why a young preacher must not preach someone else's sermon but find the fresh gold God has for him in the Word, why politics stays out of the pulpit, and why the hardest Tuesday staff meetings are the ones former staff miss most. Pastor Raul also shares stories of being mentored by Chuck Smith. Please note: the question line mentioned in this episode, 505-578-2040, has been retired. To reach Pastor Scott and Cross Fellowship, use 505-375-6560. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you sense God's call on your life but have no one to shape and sharpen you? Most men never find that kind of mentor, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is your phone, or another distraction, crowding out time with God and the people you lead? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/39185730

Exciting Update: A New Podcast Called Navigating Life From The Cross 07/24/2024

Exciting Update: A New Podcast Called Navigating Life From The Cross After about a two year break, Pastor Scott Thom shares what he has been doing and introduces his new podcast, Navigating Life from the Cross. It is not apologetics or leadership training but discipleship: short devotional teachings drawn from more than 30 years of discipling people and his book Discipleship on Fire, each with discussion questions and prayer points so you can meditate on the Word all week, or use it to disciple someone else. He recommends watching on , where the channel also carries original worship songs and Scripture readings to start your day, with the notes at . He also shares how God has opened doors for Shepherd School to train men for ministry not only across the United States but in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Cambodia, Qatar and Sri Lanka. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Could you be one of the men God is raising up to lead, wherever you live? Most were never trained for ministry, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you want to start each day in the Word but keep letting it slip? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/32269977

054 Don't believe in what but I believe in Him 12/30/2021

053 Courage in Difficult Times 03/23/2021

052 Managing Relationships versus Goal Directing 12/08/2018

051 Executing Your Plan 01/24/2017

051 Executing Your Plan Having a plan is not enough; most plans die a few weeks after the planning retreat. Pastor Scott Thom, pointing to the parable of the talents and Jesus' remark that the children of this world are often wiser in planning than the children of light, gives four steps to carry a plan through. First, focus: delete distractions, stop multitasking, jot interruptions on a pad, and work in scheduled sprints of 30 to 90 minutes, breaking a yearly goal into months, weeks, days and hours. That is how his book Discipleship on Fire finally got written. Second, be persistent, like Paul in 2 Corinthians 1: expect failures and more time and effort than you counted on, refine what works and drop what doesn't. Third, build relationships before you need them, for friendship, knowledge and accountability; be generous, ask more than you speak, and learn over meals as Jesus did. Fourth, start now: as General Patton said, a good plan vigorously executed now beats a perfect plan next week. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you have a ministry plan you never quite get to? Most leaders were never trained to turn vision into steps, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Does the tyranny of the urgent swallow your best intentions every week? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/5003921

050 How to Successfully Achieve Your Plan 01/17/2017

050 How to Successfully Achieve Your Plan Why do some people with little training thrive in ministry while others with every advantage fail? Pastor Scott Thom has never seen anyone wildly successful who did not work a plan, and he gives six keys highly successful people use to achieve theirs. First, put your spiritual and mental health at the top of the list, because unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). Second, form good habits instead of bad ones: good habits are hard to form but easy to live with, bad habits easy to form but hard to live with (Romans 6:20-22), and one nagging sin can unravel the whole sweater. Third, build habits through a positive, biblical mindset and timely repetition, unlike Elijah running from Jezebel or the ten fearful spies (Romans 12:2). Fourth, review your goals several times a day, as Deuteronomy 6 says to talk of God's Word when you sit, walk, lie down and rise. Fifth, measure progress by results and spend your time on the 20 percent that changes 80 percent of life (Philippians 3:12). Sixth, help others reach their goals (Philippians 2:3-4). Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you have the heart for ministry but no plan or training to carry it out? Most leaders never got that kind of preparation, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Good habits are hard to form but easy to live with. Is there one bad habit quietly unraveling what you have built? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4997007

049 A Servant's Creed 11/22/2016

049 A Servant's Creed Old movies had knights who swore to a code: sworn to valor, defending the helpless, speaking only truth. Pastor Scott Thom says Christians have a creed too, and he draws it from 1 Peter 3:15-16. A servant of the Lord is dedicated: "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" means serving for the King's glory even when no one says thank you, as the Levites lived on the Lord as their inheritance. A servant is prepared, ready to give a reason for the hope within, practicing like a swordsman and never stymied by the same question twice (2 Corinthians 5:11). A servant is humble, answering with meekness and fear: listening to understand, restating the other person's view, even letting them have the last word, as he did with a man in South America who believed Jesus was an alien. And a servant keeps a good conscience so that those who slander him are put to shame, which is how six coworkers at one job came to Christ. His creed: a servant of the Lord is dedicated to his Lord's wishes above his own, prepared to engage, humble even when injured, respectable in intent and blameless in actions. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College When someone asks the reason for your hope, are you ready with an answer? Most believers were never trained to give one, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life A creed only matters if you live it daily. Do your good intentions fade by Tuesday? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4844436

048 Worship 101 11/15/2016

048 Worship 101 If you lead any ministry where people worship, you need at least the basics of what worship should be, even if you never pick up a guitar. Pastor Scott Thom gives the do's and don'ts, built on Philippians 3:3: we worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Watch for performance and celebrity, where the worship leader becomes the show and the congregation becomes an audience; you want people leaving saying "God is good," not "that singer was good." A simple test: if the lyrics were swapped for generic ones, would people feel the same? Then it is a concert, not worship. Worship leaders should lead, not preach between every song, so people have time to break from the day and connect with the Lord. Choose songs people can sing in a key they can reach, celebrate God's power, glory and salvation, and avoid mindless repetition and weak theology (old hymns set to new music are a gift). Use lights, sound and screens to serve worship, never to distract from it, giving the Lord the glory due His name (Psalm 29:2). Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you lead people in worship, or oversee those who do, without ever being taught how? Most ministry leaders never were, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is your own time of worship crowded out by the rush of every day? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4816523

047 Seven Things Successful Leaders Ignore 11/08/2016

047 Seven Things Successful Leaders Ignore Like a NASCAR driver at 200 miles an hour, a successful leader has to keep his eyes forward and ignore what would wreck him. Pastor Scott Thom names seven things to ignore. First, others' occasional failures: be gentle, able to teach and patient (2 Timothy 2:24), and watch for patterns, not isolated slips. Second, insults: an attack on your person is not constructive criticism, as Paul's critics in 2 Corinthians 10 learned. Third, "I told you so" from people with no skin in the game, like those who preached Christ out of envy to add to Paul's chains (Philippians 1:15-17). Fourth, guilt over your own isolated failures once you have repented; Paul called himself chief of sinners so others would see Christ's patience (1 Timothy 1:15-16), and slashing your own tires after paying the ticket helps no one. Fifth, counsel from advisors who never ask questions and don't know the situation. Sixth, the cynics who only ever see the bad and drain your faith. Seventh, the people who never challenge you, because a leader needs those who will push him toward the high calling (Ephesians 4:1-3). Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Are critics and distractions pulling you off the calling God gave you? Most leaders were never trained to tell wise counsel from noise, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you replay every insult and every failure long after it is over? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4798589

046 Ten Causes of Ministry Conflict 11/01/2016

046 Ten Causes of Ministry Conflict Paul had to plead with Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord (Philippians 4:2), because ministry is messy: we are sinners at different levels of maturity and training. Pastor Scott Thom names the ten most common causes of ministry conflict and how a leader works through each. Jealousy and worldly competitiveness that pit ministries against each other (1 Corinthians 1), answered by keeping the whole team in view as David shared the spoil with those who guarded the supplies. Abuse of time and resources by the lazy or inattentive, down to the person who never refills the coffee pot. The right person in the wrong role. Ambitions out of step with the ministry's timing. Rebellious sin in the camp. Disputes over practical preferences, handled gently and patiently (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Theological differences that turn divisive. Unmet expectations and broken promises, mostly fixed by open communication. Favoritism, real or perceived. And pay and recognition, where elders who rule well deserve double honor (1 Timothy 5:17) and praise steals nothing from anyone. Ministry is messy, but these are the tools to clean it up. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is conflict on your team draining the joy out of ministry? Most leaders were never trained to handle it, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you avoid hard conversations until small problems become big ones? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4789808

045 Passing on Your Values 10/25/2016

045 Passing on Your Values A dad once asked Pastor Scott Thom to talk to his son, who did not seem to respect church. The boy's answer: his dad gave a quarter for the offering plate and twenty dollars for the movies. Our actions teach what we really value, whatever we say. Pastor Scott shows leaders how to pass on their core values so the people who follow them value the same things. If you say you value replicating yourself, are you discipling someone and promoting from within? If you say you want new ideas, do you let people dream and try, or shut creativity down? If you say you are passionate about enjoying God, do you model it so people can catch it? Ephesians 4:11-16 describes a church that is always progressing, from children to mature, from weak to strong, until we come to the unity of the faith, so leaders must keep changing and improving rather than coasting in the status quo. Like the student who finally understood that a black belt is only the beginning, a leader who keeps learning and communicates his values clearly will see God give victory after victory. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do the people you lead actually share your values, or only hear you talk about them? Most leaders were never trained to pass values on, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do your daily habits match what you say matters most? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4758279

044 Special Guest: Jason David 10/18/2016

044 Special Guest: Jason David How do you know God is calling you to plant a church? Pastor Scott Thom sits down with Pastor Jason David, a Shepherd School graduate who planted a young church and recently moved it to Belen, about 45 minutes south of Albuquerque. A shy new believer with a burden to teach, Jason took one step of obedience after another: joining a Bible study, asking to lead it, then looking for ministry training. About halfway through Shepherd School God called him to plant a church, and like Moses he argued for months before saying yes. He shares how his friends and his wife Kim responded, what the weekly school nights cost a young family, and the lesson of seeking and knocking: do everything you can without forcing it, and watch God open doors, as He did when they drove the streets of Belen praying for a building. He also speaks tenderly about the loss of a child and how God is turning that grief into a future ministry to other grieving families, reminding leaders that people, not programs or buildings, are what matter. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you sense a call like Jason's but don't know your next step? Most men never get the training to answer it, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you wait for a sign when God has already shown you the next step? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4715964

043 Five Characteristics of a Bad Leader 10/11/2016

043 Five Characteristics of a Bad Leader You can learn as much from a bad leader as a good one; serving under one can burn into you exactly what you never want to be. Pastor Scott Thom names five characteristics of bad leadership, some of which he admits learning the hard way. First, indecision: never having perfect information, or fearing the wrong call, when people will follow a decisive leader through an honest mistake. Saul caved to pressure and offered the sacrifice himself, while Nehemiah waited on God and then had every answer ready when the king asked. Second, complaining about a lack of resources to win sympathy instead of working with what God has provided. Third, shifting responsibility onto others. Fourth, abusing the freedoms that come with leadership. Fifth, building yourself up by criticizing and discrediting the leaders over you, like those Jude describes who reject authority and speak evil of dignitaries; followers will only learn to do the same to you. Instead, lift your leaders' arms, admit your weaknesses, keep improving, and people will follow. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you see some of these traits in yourself and want to grow past them? Most leaders were never trained to, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Is complaining or putting off decisions a habit you fall into without noticing? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4715983

042 People and Priorities 10/04/2016

042 People and Priorities A pastor emailed with a problem every growing ministry hits: when the church was 60 people you could stay until the pizza came, but past a hundred you cannot spend time with everyone who wants it. How do you love people well without burning out? Pastor Scott Thom says God won't give you more hours, but He will show you the way to walk (Jeremiah 42:3). Most pastors are reactive, and that stops working as a ministry grows; you have to become proactive. Start by letting yourself be discipled by the Lord and His Word first, even while you exercise. Then invest most in the people who shape everything else: your family, and the 20 to 40 percent who carry the ministry, because they in turn care for the hurting. Be proactive with those you know need you, set regular times to connect, and hand off what others can do, like leading the devotion or a study, step by step until they own it. Saying "I can't meet" is sometimes right; a plan beats the tyranny of the urgent, which leaves you no good to anyone. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is your ministry growing faster than your ability to care for everyone in it? Most leaders were never trained for that stage, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you spend your days putting out fires instead of doing what matters most? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4700326

041 Ten Ways to Spot a Church Bully 09/27/2016

041 Ten Ways to Spot a Church Bully Bible college rarely teaches it, but stay in ministry long enough and you will meet a church bully. Pastor Scott Thom says not everyone who criticizes you is one; God may be correcting you through them, and many strong personalities, like Peter, are a joy to work with. But some people manipulate for selfish reasons, whether a pet doctrine, authority issues or insisting the ministry be run their way. The apostle John dealt with one, Diotrephes, who loved to have the preeminence, slandered the apostles and put believers out of the church (3 John 9-11). Pastor Scott gives ten marks to watch for, and a bully shows several at once: a strong, uncompromising personality that must always be right, a trail of churches and burned bridges behind them, jumping at the first chance to slam you, always thinking of themselves first, never esteeming others better, and building unhealthy alliances. Then he explains how to respond: stay in the light (1 John 1:5), admonish them, and if they persist in causing division, reject them as Titus 3:10 instructs, stand firm, and don't waste energy defending yourself. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Would you know how to handle a manipulator on your team before they split it? Most leaders learn this the hard way, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you give in to pressure from difficult people instead of standing firm? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4686510

040 Special Guest: Marc McSweeny 09/20/2016

040 Special Guest: Marc McSweeny What does it look like when God calls a busy, happy staff pastor to the mission field? Pastor Scott Thom catches up with Pastor Marc McSweeny, whom he first spotted working in the church bookstore in California and who went on to teach some of the hardest Bible college classes, then planted in Frankfurt, Germany. Marc describes the strange season when God's grace on his ministry seemed to lift overnight, until a friend's mother suggested the Lord might be calling him out. Then it clicked: the German car, the German classes, the prayers for Germany. One email to a German pastor led to a lunch two weeks later and a free room at a church in Germany, the Lord moving him like the cloud in the wilderness. He talks about fear and doubt being normal, courage being moving on anyway, the response of family and church leadership, and what it takes to plant a church outside the United States. The church name is a play on words: the Main is the river that runs through Frankfurt. Please note: the College offer heard in this episode, texting CCF College to 33444, has ended. For CCF Bible College today, text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Could God be calling you somewhere you never planned to go? Most men never get the training to be ready when He does, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Does fear or doubt keep you from stepping out when God says go? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4668402

039 What to do When You Have Made a Bad Decision 09/12/2016

039 What to do When You Have Made a Bad Decision You hired the wrong person, launched a ministry that is failing or overcommitted yourself. What now? Pastor Scott Thom walks through what he has learned from his own bad decisions. First, identify the problem, which is harder than it sounds: walk through your ministry with new eyes like a first time customer, ask people for honest suggestions and let the awkward silence work, and don't ignore problems just because "that's the way we've always done it," like a dying church still wondering why its organ draws no young people. Second, see whether the situation can be remedied or redeemed, because God's first step is to restore. Sometimes it is resources, like the custom inventory system that rescued a radio ministry's orders; sometimes it is training, like the flaky youth pastor who, with help on the details, became one of the best. Third, when it can't be fixed, close it. The sunk cost fallacy keeps us holding onto failing ministries the way we keep a suit we'll never wear; selling a slow $20 book for $10 frees money that turns over many times. Debrief, learn and teach your team the process. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is there a ministry decision you know isn't working but can't bring yourself to change? Most leaders were never trained for moments like that, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you hold onto what isn't working because you've already invested so much? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4650410

038 Discipleship ABC's 09/05/2016

038 Discipleship ABC's "Thou shall not steal" means more than not taking. Pastor Scott Thom shows from Malachi and the rest of Scripture that we also steal by withholding, and that the positive side of the command is generosity: give and it will be given to you, pressed down and running over (Luke 6:38). A leader who hoards knowledge so no one passes him up is lording it over people like the Gentiles; in God's kingdom we serve by training others, as Barnabas did. If you are not mentoring someone for your position, you are shortchanging the ministry; if you are not discipling your children, you are shortchanging them. Be a player coach, not just a fan in the stands. Train little by little, the way you rehab a knee, the way Jesus built character in His disciples over time, and as Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, teach when you sit, walk, lie down and rise, with reminders on the doorposts, today maybe an email or a sticky note. Choose people who are coachable and correctable (2 Timothy 3:16-17); if someone won't take correction after two or three tries, move on. God wants to flow through you to others, not into a storehouse. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Are you pouring what you know into someone, or keeping it to yourself? Most believers were never trained to disciple others, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you mean to disciple your kids or a younger believer but never quite make the time? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4642767

037 How to Handle Difficult Conversations 08/29/2016

037 How to Handle Difficult Conversations Ministry is messy, and sooner or later you have to tell a leader that what they are doing isn't working, or that their behavior is hurting others. Most of us hate confrontation, so we put it off and the conflict grows. Pastor Scott Thom gives the steps he wishes someone had taught him. Pray first, specifically for understanding, impartiality and wisdom, because answering a matter before you hear it is folly (Proverbs 18:13); the person may be grieving, sick or struggling at home. Search out the matter as kings do (Proverbs 25:2): thank them, ask questions and listen before you say anything about the problem, since pride brings only strife (Proverbs 13:10). Seek counsel, but only from reputable, faithful people who can keep a confidence. Write down the main points so emotions don't take over the conversation. Then take action rather than letting it linger, and if someone with a hidden agenda refuses correction after two or three admonitions, let them go. Most of the time the conversation goes far better than you feared, and you win a brother or sister. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is there a hard conversation you have been putting off for weeks? Most leaders were never trained to handle conflict well, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you react first and listen later when tension rises? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4621691

036 Counting the Cost of Your Vision 08/22/2016

036 Counting the Cost of Your Vision Pastor Scott Thom tells the real story of planting Cross Christian Fellowship. Thirty-four people came to the first service and attendance passed a hundred within a year. Then a move into a movie theater cost 70 percent of the congregation, followed by a year in a hotel conference center and long nights building out an empty warehouse by hand. Plenty of people offered criticism and solutions; few offered help. The lesson for anyone with a God-given vision, whether a church, a ministry, a family or a business: the vision is the easy part, and the journey will cost you. You always pay sooner and more than you think. The bigger the dream, the greater the cost. You must be willing to pay any reasonable, biblical price, including facing your fears, and to make trade-offs. Most people stop at their pain threshold; the ones who achieve God's vision push through. You don't have to be the smartest, bravest or richest, just the one who doesn't give up, and God rewards that tenacity. Dream big, then buy in. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Has God given you a vision you are not yet equipped to carry? Most leaders start with the dream and no training, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you quit at the first real pain point? Tenacity is a habit you can build. Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4606366

035 All Great Leaders Did Not Start Great 08/15/2016

035 All Great Leaders Did Not Start Great Are leaders born or made? Pastor Scott Thom, after three decades of training leaders, puts natural talent at about 10 percent, 25 at most. Being personable can be learned, mental sharpness can come from over-preparing, and even charisma, from the root charis, grows out of genuinely loving people until you captivate their hearts, minds and loyalty. He gives three keys to growing as a leader and speaker. First, success does not come by luck or as a spiritual gift handed down complete; it is a process of knowledge, understanding and practical application, just as Jesus in His humanity grew in wisdom. Second, the influence of great leaders shortens the learning curve, as his own mentors did when they put young, untrained men into ministry and developed them. Third, don't be in a hurry: wait on the Lord, keep developing yourself and others, and be thankful for the instruction, the people, the opportunities and the path, because in due time you will reap. Please note: the College offer heard in this episode, texting CCF College to 33444, has ended. For CCF Bible College today, text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you think you are just not a "born leader"? Most great leaders weren't; they were trained. Between work, family and cost, Bible school can feel out of reach, but CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Growth happens one small habit at a time. Is impatience making you quit before you see results? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4592478

034 Working the Vision 08/08/2016

034 Working the Vision "I want to plant a church" is a desire, not a vision. A vision is measurable: how, where, when, who and with what. Pastor Scott Thom walks through how to work a vision until God's burden on your heart becomes reality. First, define it and get it out of your head and onto paper, as specific as you can, knowing it will change. Revisit it every six months, because our first vision rarely matches God's perfectly, and stay in the Word and in prayer (Proverbs 29:18), praying specifically for the people and the exact amount of money you need, then watching Him provide. Second, take the vision and work it, using the experience God has already given you, as his years in retail suddenly mattered when the first thing he was handed in ministry was a bookstore. Third, look honestly at where you are right now compared to where the vision says you should be, and take the next small step. Sacrifice a little time, money and effort every day over a long period, and you accomplish much; people will see it working and buy in with you. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Is the vision God gave you still just a desire in your head? Most leaders were never trained to turn burden into plan, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Big visions are built from small daily sacrifices. Do your days drift by without that next step? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4567458

033 Those That Achieve Biblical Success 08/01/2016

033 Those That Achieve Biblical Success Why do some leaders take off while others plod along or die on the vine, even when they had the same opportunities? Pastor Scott Thom says it is rarely raw talent; plenty of smart people only get smart at shortcuts. He compares high, average and low achievers in three areas. First, successful leaders make people the priority: they build people while building the vision, while average achievers care about people only as far as they produce, and people buy in for a while and then drift away. Second, successful leaders keep good relationships with other leaders instead of competing with them or isolating themselves. Third, successful leaders seek counsel and wisdom. Rehoboam rejected the elders' advice and lost most of his kingdom; the apostles stayed close to Jesus, attentive and eager to learn, then learned to pass it on, while the religious leaders clung to the old rabbis, rejected His wisdom and lost their place. Jesus Himself is the model high achiever in every one of these. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do you want to be a high achiever in ministry, not just get by? Most leaders never get the training and counsel that make the difference, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Are you so busy doing what you've always done that you never stop to grow? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4556444

032 Leading by Relating 07/25/2016

032 Leading by Relating Everything rises and falls on leadership, as the good and bad kings of Israel show, but leadership is more an attitude than a skill: it is about relating to people. Pastor Scott Thom explains that people will not stay passionate about your vision alone; they give their all when they sense you sincerely care about them and that the vision blesses their lives too. Leaders who sow into people only to get something back may be charismatic, but people eventually see the vision is all about the leader and drop away. Jesus spent His most valuable time building and developing leaders, not just teaching a class. Pastor Scott offers questions followers quietly ask: does this leader care for me, and will he help me reach my own goals within the greater vision? Drop the "me good, you bad, me top, you bottom" attitude and invest in people. If that seems far off, remember the French general who, told an oak would take a century to mature, said there was no time to lose and to plant it that afternoon. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College Do the people you lead follow your vision, or just your title? Most leaders were never trained to lead by relating, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Growing as a leader is like planting an oak: start today. Do you keep putting off the first small step? Wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4537472

031 Discerning Doctrine Example: To Sabbath or Not 07/18/2016

031 Discerning Doctrine Example: To Sabbath or Not Has someone told you that you are not really saved, or at least not obedient, unless you keep the Sabbath? Following last week's lesson on discerning doctrine, Pastor Scott Thom puts those tools to work on Hebrews 4:1-10, written to Sabbath keeping Hebrews. The Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16), never imposed on the Gentile nations, and Israel looked for rest in three places: the seventh day, a deliverer like Moses, and the promised land. None gave true rest; Joshua did not, or God would not have spoken of "another day." Romans 7:6-12 shows we have died to the law, which exposes sin rather than saving us. The rest that remains for the people of God is entering Christ's finished work by faith and ceasing from our own works as God ceased from His. So every day is Sabbath for the believer. And because our High Priest sympathizes with our weakness and has already paid the price, we can come boldly to the throne of grace and find rest from trying to earn God's favor (Hebrews 4:14-16). Please note: the College offer heard in this episode, texting CCF College to 33444, has ended. For CCF Bible College today, text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College When someone tries to load you with rules Scripture never gave you, could you answer from the text? Most believers were never trained to, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do guilt and striving keep you from resting in what Christ has done? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4522357

030 Discerning Doctrine 07/11/2016

030 Discerning Doctrine In an online group of thousands of pastors, someone asked whether Christians can cremate their loved ones. More than a hundred replies came in, and almost none answered from Scripture; most gave opinions or what pagans do. That moved Pastor Scott Thom to teach how a leader sets sound doctrine. Start with a sound method of interpretation, the inductive Bible study method with the historical grammatical method, asking what the words meant to the original author, in his culture and in context, since language changes so quickly. "You shall not kill," for example, means murder, as its use in the rest of the law shows. Then three reliable ways Scripture establishes doctrine: prescription, where God plainly commands how to live, like the Ten Commandments; principle, drawn from how God works throughout Scripture; and precedent, from what God approved in a recorded example, which is how the cremation question is actually answered. A leader must be equipped to give sound, consistent, loving answers, so get trained and get mentored. Cross Fellowship is a Bible teaching church home in Albuquerque. Learn more and plan a visit at . Get Trained at Pastor Scott's Bible College When someone asks you a hard question, do you answer with Scripture or with opinion? Most leaders were never trained to tell sound doctrine from personal preference, and between work, family and cost, Bible school feels out of reach. CCF Bible College () closes that gap with self paced, affordable training you can start any time, including Shepherd School, a two year program built for anyone pursuing pastoral and full time ministry roles. Pastor Scott will personally walk you through the next step if you qualify. Text COLLEGE to 505-375-6560 to learn more. Build Habits That Change Your Life Do you mean to study the Word deeply but rarely get past a quick read? Most of us know what we should change, but wishing never builds a habit, and old patterns keep pulling us back. Pastor Scott's free ebook, The Habit Revolution, gives you the information, motivation and coaching to change for good, with a video teaching for every chapter, discussion questions, prayer points and action steps. Text HABITS to 505-375-6560 to get it free. You can also catch Pastor Scott's other two podcasts, "No Other Doctrine" and "Navigating Life from the Cross," available on any podcast app. Author Pastor Scott Thom /episode/index/show/ccflftc/id/4505837

Leadership From The Cross | Ministry Training | Scott Thom

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