Ministry Minded: A Podcast by Step Up To Life

From Text to Transformation: What Makes a Sermon Actually Work

In this episode of Ministry Minded, Dr. Nick Bank and SUTL Executive Director Lincoln Murdoch are joined by Step Up To Life’s newest team member, Alex Daum, to talk about what actually makes a sermon effective. With over 40 years of preaching experience as a pastor, missionary, and church planter, Lincoln reflects on a lifetime of communicating God’s Word. Alex brings a decade of experience preaching to middle and high school students in audiences ranging from 100 to 1,000, while Dr. Bank shares insights shaped by decades in pastoral ministry and his doctoral work in Advanced Biblical Preaching. Together, they tackle questions every pastor and Bible teacher should be asking: * What makes a sermon “good”—biblically and practically? * How can we interpret Scripture responsibly without losing clarity? * Why did Jesus rely so heavily on stories, and what can we learn from that? * Why do so many sermons fail to stick—and how can we preach so people actually remember and apply God’s Word? If you’ve ever wondered why people struggle to retain or live out what they hear on Sunday, this conversation will challenge and equip you to preach with greater clarity, faithfulness, and lasting impact. Support the show [https://www.stepuptolife.com/give] www.StepUpToLife.com

Why Gen Z Is Spiritually Hungry And What the Church Must Do Next

In this episode of Ministry Minded, hosts Nick Bank and Lincoln Murdoch (briefly, from bed post-surgery) introduce a major development within Step Up To Life: the appointment of Alex Daum as U.S. National Director of Youth Evangelism and Strategic Partnerships. Alex brings over a decade of frontline ministry experience with the Todd Becker Foundation—engaging public high schools, discipling gap-year students, and leading thousands of one-on-one gospel conversations across the Midwest. But his story begins much earlier—with a hidden life of sin, a crisis of eternity, and a moment of deep conviction that led to true repentance and saving faith. This episode is more than an announcement. It’s a window into a growing burden: -Why Gen Z is more spiritually open than we think -The evangelism gap in modern youth ministry -How apologetics and gospel clarity must work together -Why most believers don’t share their faith—and how to change that -A bold new initiative: the Step Up To Life Ambassadors Program Together, Nick and Alex unpack a vision to equip young believers not just to know their faith—but to articulate and multiply it. This isn’t about replacing existing ministries—it’s about refining them. Strengthening them. Igniting a culture where students move from passive belief to active disciple-making. You’ll also hear: -A powerful testimony of transformation from pornography and spiritual apathy to radical obedience -Real stories of students confidently defending the faith in everyday conversations -Insights into building resilient, gospel-centered leaders in a hostile and confused culture -Why fear—not theology—is the biggest barrier to evangelism -How God often leads step-by-step, not all at once This is a conversation for pastors, youth leaders, parents, and anyone burdened for the next generation. Because the question isn’t whether young people are searching. It’s whether the Church is ready to meet them with truth in a way they find compassionate and compelling. 🔑 Key Topics & Timestamps (Optional Add-On for YouTube/SEO) (00:00) Major Announcement: New Role at Step Up To Life (05:00) Alex Daum’s Testimony: From Sin to Saving Faith (15:00) Inside the Todd Becker Foundation Model (25:00) Why Gen Z Is Spiritually Open Right Now (35:00) The Vision: Step Up To Life Ambassadors Program (45:00) Apologetics + Evangelism: A Missing Link (55:00) Real Story: A Teen Defends the Faith at Work (1:05:00) The Future of Youth Discipleship Support the show [https://www.stepuptolife.com/give] www.StepUpToLife.com

Global Momentum & Ministry Updates

In this episode of Ministry-Minded, Nick and Lincoln reflect on a remarkable season of global ministry—spanning continents, cultures, and contexts—yet marked by a shared hunger for one thing: a clear, biblical gospel. Fresh off the Asia Summit in Bali, they recount powerful, firsthand stories of transformation—from unlikely leaders in hostile environments to pastors shaped through suffering and perseverance. These accounts don’t just inspire—they raise deeper questions about what true conversion really looks like. A striking theme emerges: across the world, many are beginning to recognize the difference between superficial responses and genuine saving faith. That same realization is now surfacing closer to home, with unexpected responses from students and church communities alike. As the conversation unfolds, Nick and Lincoln also share how new tools and training are helping equip believers to engage in clearer, more faithful gospel conversations—both locally and globally. This episode is both sobering and hopeful: a reminder that the gospel must be clear, and that real transformation still changes everything. Support the show [https://www.stepuptolife.com/give] www.StepUpToLife.com

Broadcasting from Bali: SUTL’s 2026 Asia Summit

In this episode, we sit down with several of our Step Up To Life champions from across Asia—pastors serving in Pakistan, Myanmar, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Japan. Through a series of honest, hope-filled conversations, they share how they continue to press forward in ministry amid persecution and ongoing financial challenges, while faithfully bringing the gospel into prisons, their local communities, and school children. You’ll hear how they are using Step Up To Life as a simple, powerful tool to communicate the gospel more clearly and effectively within their own cultures and networks. As you listen, we invite you to join us in praying for a smooth, fruitful season of ministry as these leaders return home and multiply what God is doing through them. Support the show: www.StepUpToLife.com/give  https://youtu.be/oFhq-9ucRSc?si=x7LMx8gNoxMIarNJ Support the show [https://www.stepuptolife.com/give] www.StepUpToLife.com

Beyond the False Divide: Scripture, Counseling, and the Gift of Common Grace

Modern psychology is often shaped by humanism and self-definition—frameworks that conflict with biblical anthropology. Many pastors sense that tension but feel unsure how to navigate it faithfully. In this episode of Ministry Minded, Lincoln Murdoch and Nick Bank are joined by licensed therapist Joe Slabaugh of CityCare Counseling (Omaha, NE) for an honest, theologically serious conversation about Scripture, counseling, discernment, and the care of souls. Joe draws from his background in ministry and clinical counseling to explain: * Why the “Bible vs. counseling” tension persists in doctrinally serious churches * How much of modern therapy is rooted in humanistic assumptions * Why discernment—not rejection or uncritical acceptance—is the biblical path forward * How the doctrine of common grace helps Christians evaluate counseling wisely * The difference between distress, dysfunction, trauma, and ordinary pain * Why shame is often the hidden root beneath anxiety, depression, and relational breakdown * How confidentiality and structure make counseling distinct from casual pastoral conversations * Why many pastors carry loneliness and emotional weight in silence * What pastors and church leaders should actually look for when evaluating a counselor * How Joe incorporates the Step Up To Life gospel framework in counseling when appropriate—without violating ethical or professional boundaries This is not an argument for replacing Scripture with psychology. It is a call to clearer theological thinking, wiser pastoral discernment, and more faithful care of human souls. This episode is especially for: * Pastors and elders who take the sufficiency of Scripture seriously * Ministry leaders wary of secular ideologies * Christians who care deeply about soul care, discipleship, and spiritual health * Anyone trying to understand whether counseling can be approached biblically You don’t need less conviction. You need clearer discernment. Guest: Joe Slabaugh, Licensed Therapist – CityCare Counseling Featuring: Lincoln Murdoch, Executive Director – Step Up To Life Host: Nick Bank, U.S. National Director – Step Up To Life CityCare Counseling: https://www.citycarecounseling.org/ [https://www.citycarecounseling.org/] Support the show [https://www.stepuptolife.com/give] www.StepUpToLife.com