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5 Ways to Avoid the Trap of False Power, Pt. 2
Posted on: Tuesday March 18, 2025

đź“ť Free Church Culture Assessment: How is your church doing in these 6 core areas? https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/churchhealth

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Are you leading out of true power—or false power?

Far too often, we mistake activity for effectiveness, urgency for wisdom, and influence for true authority. When we operate out of false power—power rooted in our own ambition, hurry, or need for approval—we’re actually moving backward, not forward. We might look like we’re leading well, but deep inside, something is off. Anxiety rises, peace disappears, and we start measuring success by numbers instead of names, by comparison instead of calling.

In this episode, I unpack five countercultural ways to guard your heart and leadership against the trap of false power. We look at Paul’s struggle with the “super-apostles” and how weakness—not strength—is the pathway to true kingdom power. We explore why embracing slowness, humility, and deep discernment is the only way to keep your leadership aligned with Jesus.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, driven, or subtly addicted to success—this episode is for you. True power is found in surrender. Let’s learn to lead from a different kind of strength.

 

Archives:
Thursday January 18, 2018

This podcast traces the history of Christianity and how this impacts our discipleship and our leadership today.

Thursday January 04, 2018

Embracing transitions is one of the critical leadership tasks every leader must master if we are to do God’s work, God’s way, and in God’s timing. Sadly, endings and transitions are often poorly handled in our families, ministries, organizations, and teams. This podcast explores the inner work we must do as leaders if we are to cooperate with God in this difficult work of endings and new beginnings.

Thursday December 14, 2017

How we do Christmas as leaders is critically important. Pete talks about the concept of a Blue Christmas, which offers permission for people to stop and pay attention to their losses, while at the same time remembering the power and goodness of God.

Tuesday December 05, 2017

It is hard to be a Christian at Christmas, especially if you are a pastor or leader. Pete shares five mistakes that we often make this time of year.

Thursday November 30, 2017

In part two of this podcast, Pete shares the final 5 of 10 shortcuts that leaders and pastors need to avoid.

Thursday November 16, 2017

In part one of this new two-part podcast, Pete expands on 5 of the 10 shortcuts that leaders and pastors need to avoid.

Tuesday October 31, 2017

In part 2 of this two-part series, Pete continues to share a biblical perspective on growing older and the hazards of aging we should be careful to avoid.

Thursday October 26, 2017

In part 1 of this two-part series, Pete shares a biblical perspective on growing older and how this informs our understanding of "retirement" (really only a transition to the next phase of what God has for us), of work, and of how we lead people of all ages in our churches.

Thursday October 19, 2017

How is Christian planning and decision making different from that of secular planning and decision making? Pete touches on the dangers of making plans and decisions without God, and the four characteristics of what it means to follow God’s slow ways in planning and decision making.

Thursday October 12, 2017

Pete discusses what we can learn about leadership from the life of King Saul, and how leaders today can finish well.