Trent Stewart Leadership Podcast

Living on Mission in Everyday Life

Have you ever walked away from a conversation and thought, “That wasn’t random. That was God.” Maybe it started with small talk about work or the weather but somehow, it turned toward hope, healing, or even Jesus. What if those moments weren’t interruptions but invitations from God? Today, we’re diving into how to live on mission in your everyday life, and how to see every conversation as a divine appointment. What is a Divine Appointment? * Any God -ordained moment when he brings two people together to encourage, bless, or share the Gospel. * We usually miss these opportunities because we’re busy and distracted. * God is always at work, before us, around us, through us, and He often speaks through those ordinary moments with extraordinary intention. Phillip the Evangelist (Acts 8): * Philip obeys because he’s not just busy for God, he’s sensitive to God. * You can be doing ministry and still miss the mission if you aren’t listening to His Spirit. * Develop a holy attentiveness to the what the Spirit is doing around you; be on the lookout. “When you’re looking, you’ll start seeing.” Engaging in Spiritual Conversations: * Philip doesn’t lead with a sermon or a theological argument; he simply asks a good question. * You don’t need a seminary degree to engage in spiritual conversation. * You need a heart of compassion, a spirit of curiosity, and a willingness to speak when the Holy Spirit prompts you. * When God prompts you to speak, trust that He is already working in that person's life. “Don’t discount the value of your obedience just because you don’t see immediate results.” The Legacy of Charlie Kirk: * Charlie was committed to engaging the culture with the truth of Scripture, even amidst hostility. * You’re either shaping culture, or being shaped by it. * The Gospel isn’t just something we preach in church; it’s the lens through which we see everything. "Truth sounds like hate to those who hate truth." Having a Sense of Urgency * Philip didn’t delay; he acted immediately. * A simple question can lead to a divine encounter that transforms someone’s life. * There are over two billion people in the world who have never heard the gospel. * 82% of people say they would attend church if someone invited them. “We aren’t lacking opportunity. We’re lacking urgency.” How Do I Start Living on Mission? 1. Pray for one divine appointment every day. 2. Be mindful and willing to follow the prompting of the Spirit. 3. Ask questions. 4. Share your story. 5. Lead someone through Christ Killers [https://christkillers.com/] book. 6. Leave the results to God. Bottom Line: When you live on mission, there's no such thing as random. When you obey the Spirit, even small conversations can carry eternal weight. Subscribe & Share If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to: * Subscribe to the podcast * Leave a review on your favorite platform * Share this episode with someone who needs it Visit trentstewart.org [https://www.trentstewart.org/] for more resources. Visit Christkillers.com [https://christkillers.com/] to get your copy of my latest book.

Episode 39: When Tragedy Strikes – Processing the Death of Charlie Kirk

Episode 39: When Tragedy Strikes – Processing the Death of Charlie Kirk This week has been heavy. The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk has left many of us brokenhearted, wrestling with questions of evil, justice, and God’s purposes. But here’s the truth: even in the darkest moments, God is still working. Nothing is wasted in His hands. In today’s episode, we’re processing the heartbreaking death of Charlie Kirk and asking: Where is God when tragedy strikes? We’ll look to Romans 8:28 and see why it’s not just a verse to memorize, but a rock to stand on.   “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) “We know.” This is not a guess or blind faith; this promise is rock solid. ·       The promise is for those who love God. ·       The promise is for those called according to His purpose. ·       The promise stands firm not because of our performance, but because of God’s purpose. ·       It’s God’s love and God’s work, not ours, that keeps this promise true for us. “Your love for God may be shaky, but His call on your life is unshakable.” Three ways God uses ALL THINGS, even suffering, for our good: 1.     To Deepen Our Devotion “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…” (James 1:2-4) ·       Evaluate trials through the lens of eternity ·       Joy is delight in God in the middle of pain ·       Steadfastness is remaining under the pressure  2.     To Advance the Gospel “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard…” (Philippians 1:12-13) ·       Paul’s pain had a purpose. ·       We don’t know the why, but we can know and trust God is at work. 3.     To Bring Us Back to Him “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…” (2 Corinthians 7:10) ·       Suffering wakes us up ·       The Holy Spirit is working, drawing us to do more, to bring us back to our purpose in Christ. Examples from Scripture: ·       Joseph said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20) ·       Job lost everything and still declared, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) ·       Esther was placed in a pagan king’s court “for such a time as this” to save her people. ·       The Cross was God’s plan to save the world. “Romans 8:28 isn’t a vague encouragement. It’s a battle cry.”   Bottom Line: The trial might bend you, but it will not break you, because if you love God and you're called according to His purpose, nothing is wasted. Subscribe & share. If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to: * Subscribe to the podcast * Leave a review on your favorite platform * Share this episode with someone who needs it

Real Friends: Why You Can't Follow Jesus Alone

Episode 38: Real Friends: Why You Can’t Follow Jesus Alone Have you ever felt completely alone, even in a crowded room? Maybe you're surrounded by classmates, coworkers, or followers online, yet deep down, you're starving for something real. What if I told you that your loneliness isn't a flaw? It's a signal. It's a holy ache, pointing you to the kind of friendship your soul was made for.   Today’s episode is not just about friendship. It’s about spiritual growth. It’s about how God designed your soul to grow and thrive, and why you’ll never become the leader He’s calling you to be if you’re alone. Real friends don’t just make life better – they make you more like Jesus.   The Most Connected Generation is also the Loneliest: ·       Almost half of Americans say they feel alone  ·       43% believe their relationships aren’t meaningful. “We were created for deep connection, but we’ve become professionals at pretending we’re just fine while we quietly drown in isolation.” What Happens When We Don’t Have Real Friendships?  ·       We lose perspective  ·       We isolate ·       We grow selfish ·       Our health suffers “Loneliness isn’t just about the absence of people. It’s about the absence of meaningful connection.” A Real Friend Helps You Grow Closer to Jesus: ·       Proverbs 13:20 ·       The people closest to you either pull you toward Jesus or away from Jesus ·       All friendships share a common bond. When the common bond of a friendship is Jesus, it changes everything.  ·       Proverbs 18:24 “If you want a real friend, you’ve got to start being a real friend.” Why Small Groups are so Important: ·       A small group is not just another church activity. It’s a place where you can be real, ask honest questions, be with people who will point you to Jesus, help you study the Bible, celebrate your wins, and pray with you. ·       The theological anchor of why real friendship is so important goes back to Genesis. ·       Gensis 1:26: “Let us make man in our image.” - Community is seen in the Godhead ·       Genesis 2:8: “It is not good for man to be alone.” – Isolation is a spiritual danger. ·       Because of sin, we run from the relationships and settle for shallow connections. ·       Ephesians 4:1-3: You need to be connected to God’s people through a local church to “walk in a manner worthy of your calling.” Roadblocks to Real Friendships: ·       Busyness - Even good things can become barriers to God’s best for you. ·       Laziness ·       Spiritual Apathy – people don’t care enough about Jesus to care about the people who follow Him How to Prioritize Gospel-Centered Relationships: “If you want real friends, you’ve got to make space for them.” ·       Show up – go to small group. Don’t just attend, engage. ·       Open up – let people see the real you ·       Reach out – don’t just wait for an invitation. Jesus was always the initiator. Bottom Line: You were made for community, and real friends don't just make life more fun, they help you follow Jesus.   Subscribe & Share. If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to: * Subscribe to the podcast * Leave a review on your favorite platform * Share this episode with someone who needs it

Don’t Waste Your Life – Four Phases of a Calling

What if the biggest threat to your calling isn’t failure—but comfort? In this episode, Pastor Trent unpacks a powerful message from Acts 20:22–24 that reveals four phases every leader walks through when God calls them to step into something greater. If you’ve ever felt a divine nudge, battled fear of the unknown, or wondered how to move forward when life gets hard—this message is for you. We’re not called to live a safe life. We’re called to live a significant one. Don’t settle for success that’s void of purpose. Learn to recognize the Spirit’s prompting, embrace uncertainty with confidence, endure opposition with faith, and live on mission with gospel urgency. Key Scripture: “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there… However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” — Acts 20:22–24 (NIV) In This Episode You’ll Learn: * Why Deo Pneuma moments (being “compelled by the Spirit”) are critical to your calling * How to move forward in “confident uncertainty” even when you don’t know what’s next • What to expect when opposition comes—and how to push through it * Why a clear sense of mission matters more than comfort or security * How to stop chasing success and start pursuing significance * Practical leadership questions to ask yourself in every phase of your journey * Why your story, your obedience, and your courage matter for God’s Kingdom Episode Highlights: * The Mission Beneath the Process - You’re not in a holding pattern. God is refining you for His purpose—today. * Phase 1: A Nudge You Can’t Ignore – Learn how to discern the Holy Spirit’s prompting. * Phase 2: Confident Uncertainty – Why God often gives light for only the next step. * Phase 3: Expect Opposition – Faithfulness doesn’t guarantee ease. It guarantees resistance. * Phase 4: A Mission That Matters More Than Comfort – Purpose always outweighs security. Leadership Challenge: Identify which phase you’re in—and take your next step with courage. Reflection Questions: 1. What’s a God-given nudge you’ve been ignoring? 2. Are you waiting on full clarity before stepping out in faith? 3. How has fear, opposition, or comfort kept you from moving forward? 4. What mission would you be willing to give your life to? Challenge of the Week: God isn’t calling you to a safe life—but a significant one. Don’t waste your life. Take the next step He’s calling you to. Resources Mentioned: * Main Text: Acts 20:22–24 (NIV) * Visit trentstewart.org to subscribe and get free access to the "How to Pray" video course. * Connect on socials to stay up-to-date with content and leadership insights. Subscribe & Share - If this episode encouraged you, please take 30 seconds to: * Subscribe to the podcast * Leave a review on your favorite platform * Share this episode with someone who needs it

“A Holy Unrest: When Your Soul Wants More”

Welcome to the Trent Stewart Leadership podcast! I’m here to help everyday leaders make every day count. My goal is to help you grow as a leader and make a difference in your church, business, and home by influencing others to look to Jesus.   Episode 36: “A Holy Unrest: When Your Soul WantsMore” What if your dissatisfaction isn’t a problem to be solved—but a gift from God? What if the ache inside you isn’t meant to be silenced by more noise or numbed by more stuff, but awakened into something eternal? Today, we’re talking about that divine discontent—that holy unrest—and what it really means to thirst for God.   When your body is thirsty, it’s not just a mild suggestion—it’s a desperate signal. Your brain is telling you, “You need water to live.” If that’s true physically—how much more essential is the spiritual thirst within us?   We try to quench the thirst of our souls in different ways that might feel satisfying in the moment—but actually make things worse. This is because we often drink from the wrong spiritual cups.   Cups We Reach For: ·     Entertainment, achievement, appearance, relationships ·     It might feel good going down, but it’s not going to fill us. ·     What tastes good to our flesh often harms our soul. ·     These cups are designed to gratify your senses and not nourish your spirit. ·     We laugh, indulge, chase while quietly dying of spiritual dehydration   King David Truly Thirsted for God (Psalm 63): ·     To thirst for God, you have to know who God is(v1-2) ·     Thirst changes your perspective of God (v3) ·     Thirst leads to worship (v4-5) ·     Thirst awakens spiritual attentiveness (v6-8) ·     Are you thirsting for God?   Symptoms of Spiritual Dehydration: ·     Negative attitude – complaining has become your default ·     Loss of purpose – you’re just going through the motions ·     Increased appetite for sin – and less conviction when you indulge ·     Apathy towards Jesus – you’re not against Him, you just don’t care about Him ·     Lack of gratitude – you only focus on the negative   Only Jesus Can Quench the Thirst of Your Soul: ·     We naturally thirst for love, friendships, and happiness ·     God designed your body to tell you when you’re thirsty, so you won’t die of dehydration ·     The love, acceptance, hope and peace you need is found in Jesus, the Living Water   When your spirit is craving more, run to Scripture, run to prayer, and drink deep of the living water that Jesus promises to give you when you worship Him.